Aquaculture development priorities have been presented in Part I, Table 16, and summarized in Section 3.1.2, most of them being related to non-technical subjects. The major identified development priorities for sub-Saharan Africa were as follows:
Other important priorities for future aquaculture development, identified by 41% of the countries reviewed, were:
Aquaculture development constraints have been presented in Part I, Annex 9 and a summary given in Table 11. Most of these main constraints pertain to public administration and organization. Second in overall importance are Social and Human constraints. Most technological and all physical constraints have a low rank.
These constraints hamper aquaculture development and are reflected in the development priorities. When comparing the major development priorities with major identified constraints, it can be observed that almost all development priorities relate to major development constraints, even if some constraints remain unaddressed (see Section 3.1.6).
To increase overall aquaculture production, development constraints have to be alleviated as much as possible. As most of the identified constraints relate to planning, government administration, government personnel and sometimes mismanagement, it is obvious that they can only be alleviated by appropriate actions to be undertaken at government level. As they cannot be alleviated by research, they are not further addressed in this action plan for aquaculture research.
In fact, of all the development constraints listed in Annex 9, only the following can be alleviated by research (see Section 2.6.6):
Research priorities on the other hand, have been summarized and ranked in Table 20. According to their ranking, they were the following (see Section 3.2.6):
Through a logical process (Figure 4), these development priorities, development constraints and research priorities have been matched and classified into four broad development priority areas:
For each of these four development priority areas, the relations between development priorities, development constraints, research priorities and proposed research programmes are shown in Figures 5 to 8.
Figure 4. Selection process for the definition of research programmes related to four priority development areas
Figure 5. Priority development area - Education of researchers
Figure 6. Priority development area - Aquaculture information
Figure 7. Priority development area - Administration and management
Figure 8. Priority development area - Aquaculture production
Following on the research priorities identified for removing the development constraints, research programmes have been designed to help meet the aquaculture development priorities for sub-Saharan Africa. Most of these programmes have been formulated at the regional level to address constraints within and among the agro-ecological regions.
The programmes will in the main be implemented by networks of existing national institutions (Table 21) comprising:
A regional network of national institutions drawn to the extent possible from each of the five agro-ecological regions. Some of these institutions may require strengthening to fully implement programme activities.
Lead centres for each programme. One of the participating national institutions is designated as the lead centre, responsible for organizing and coordinating the network. The lead centres have been chosen based on their competence and interest in the field.
A research programme's activities in its area of competence will include:
Nine regional research programmes have been elaborated (Table 22). One of these programmes, the Fertilization and Feeds Programme, is divided into three sub-programmes: supplementary feeds, organic fertilization, and integrated farming.
The research programmes are directly related to the aquaculture development priorities for Africa (Figure 9). Seven programmes address the Production development priority area, two address the Information priority area, and one addresses the Administration and Management priority area. Only the Socio-economic Programme is addressing two areas. The Researcher Education priority area is addressed by all programmes as part of training and research activities.
Two of these research programmes, Small Water Body Fisheries and Marine Aquaculture, respond to low-ranked research priorities but are of special importance to specific regions or countries. The Information programme also addresses a low-ranked research priority which is an inherent and complementary part of research needing special attention in sub-Saharan Africa; all countries will benefit from its activities.
The Irrigation programme emerged from the integrated farming systems research priority identified in the synthesis. While the Integration Fish/Livestock sub-programme (Fertilization/Feeds) will address issues relating to aquaculture inputs from plants and animals, the Irrigation programme will focus on methods to raise fish in water stored and conveyed for irrigation. This is an important distinction in approach which merits establishment of a separate research programme.
One additional research topic (Table 22) has not been assigned to regional research programmes but deserves attention at the national level in nearly every country: market research, identified from the national studies, is specific to local markets and is better carried out at the national level.
The programmes have been grouped into short- and medium-term time frames (Table 22). The action plan specifically excludes long-term research. The two short-term programmes are expected to complete their activities and give concrete outputs within five years. The seven medium-term programmes will attain their objectives within 10 years, giving incremental outputs in the interim.
Within the short- and medium-term time frames, the research programmes have been assigned relative priorities based on regional aquaculture development and research priorities.
In the short term, the Production Indicator and Information programmes have been given equally high priority. Their outputs will have immediate use in other programmes and/or immediate impact on development priorities. No lower-priority programmes were identified in this time frame.
In the medium term, the Socio-economics, Fertilization/Feeds and Broodstock Management programmes have been given highest priority, since they will have significant impact on the Production development priority area across all regions. The Small Water Body Fisheries and the Irrigation Schemes programmes have second highest priority since they benefit a more select group of countries. The Local Species and the Mariculture programmes are given third priority due to the limited and focused effects their outputs are likely to have on fish production.
The national level programme, Market Research is not assigned priorities.
It is recommended that all the five research programmes indicated as first priority be considered for implementation as a single block.
As part of the overall research action programme designed to address regional aquaculture development priorities, the research programmes will have important interactions, as shown in Figure 10. These interactions are reflected in their prioritization.
Interactions will take the form of information exchange through newsletters, reports, seminars, exchange of scientists, and collaborative research on specific interdisciplinary topics. They will be coordinated by the lead centres of the six most interactive programmes (Figure 10). The Information programme will establish its own mechanism for information dissemination (e.g. six-monthly newsletter) and interaction with all other programmes.
Most proposed research programmes would benefit from a close collaboration with advanced research teams and institutions from both developing (Asia in particular) and developed (in particular Europe and North America) countries. The proposed research networks could even be extended to include specialized research laboratories/institutes from developed countries.
Table 21. Proposed aquaculture research networks
| REGION | COUNTRIES2 | AQUACULTURE RESEARCH NETWORKS 1 | ||||||||||
| INFORMATION CENTRES | SOCIO-ECONOMICS | PRODUCION INDICATORS | FERTILIZATION/FEEDS | BROOD STOCK | SWB FISHERIES | IRRIGATION SCHEMES | INDIGENOUS FISH | MARINE AQUACULTURE | ||||
| ORGANIC FERTILIZ. | FEEDS | INTEGR. SYSTEM | ||||||||||
| SUDANO | (MALI) | * | * | * | * | * | * | |||||
| SAHEL | (SEN) | * | ||||||||||
| WEST | IVC | *** | * | *** | * | |||||||
| NIR | * | * | * | * | *** | * | *** | |||||
| (GHA) | * | *** | ||||||||||
| CENTRAL | PRC | * | ||||||||||
| CMR | * | * | * | |||||||||
| CAF | * | |||||||||||
| EAST | KEN | * | *** | * | * | * | ||||||
| RWA | * | * | *** | |||||||||
| MAG | * | * | * | * | * | |||||||
| SOUTHERN | URT | * | * | * | ||||||||
| MLW | *** | *** | * | * | ||||||||
| ZAM | * | * | ||||||||||
| ZIM | * | * | * | * | ||||||||
| (NAM) | *** | |||||||||||
Remark: 1 *** Lead centre; * Other research centres of the network
2 In Parentheses, countries which have not been reviewed in this study
Table 22. Classification of the proposed aquaculture research programmes
| RESEARCH PROGRAMMES (SUB-PROGRAMMES) | PROGR. NO. | GEOGRAPHICAL COVERAGE | DURATION | PRIORITY 1] | STRATEGY 2] | ||
| NATIONAL | REGIONAL | SHORT TERM | MEDIUM TERM | ||||
| Information centres | 1 | R | S | 1 | R | ||
| Socio-economics | 2 | R | M | 1 | N | ||
| Production indicators | 3 | R | S | 1 | N | ||
| Fertilization/feeds | 4 | R | M | 1 | N | ||
| * Organic fertilization | 4.1 | ||||||
| * Feeds/feeding | 4.2 | ||||||
| * Fish/livestock | 4.3 | ||||||
| Broodstock management | 5 | R | M | 1 | N | ||
| Small water bodies | 6 | R | M | 2 | N | ||
| Irrigation schemes | 7 | R | M | 2 | N | ||
| New indigenous species | 8 | R | M | 3 | N | ||
| Marine Aquaculture | 9 | R | M | 3 | N | ||
| Marketing research | - | N | |||||
1 From high (1) to low (3)
2 Reference Centre (R) or Specialized regional network (N)
Figure 9. Interactions between aquaculture research programmes and identified development priority areas
 | strong interaction |
 | limited interaction |
Figure 10. Interactions among aquaculture research programmes
The proposed aquaculture research programmes are described in detail in a series of information sheets presented in Section 4.
Each information sheet provides the following:
justification of the research programme, by defining the problems to be solved, the expected outputs and the ultimate beneficiaries
the strategy adopted for the research programme, defined under objectives to be attained, duration and eventual phasing, location of the research institutions involved, possible links with other institutions, and interactions with other research programmes.
the resources needed to implement the research programme under the form of infrastructure, equipment, staff, and kinds of operating costs to be expected. Only very general guidelines can be provided at this stage.
The various activities of the research programmes (as discussed in Section 2.1 above) are not described. They should be further defined during the preparatory phase of each research programme (Section 3.2.2).
During the Third Consultation of Fisheries Donors, it is hoped that the proposed research programmes will raise the interest of donors.
In such case, for each selected research programme, a formulation mission will be necessary to obtain a general estimate of the financing required for the implementation of the programme.
During a next phase, detailed planning of the funded programme should be done, in preparation for the implementation itself:
additional information on the various research institutions to be involved in the programme will be collected and critically evaluated;
detailed operating plans will be drawn up, in close collaboration with these institutions and the government of each future host country.
The programme will start as soon as the necessary administrative agreements have been reached.
A first meeting of the senior research staff of the various institutions participating in the programme, will be organized under the leadership of the lead centre. Its objective will be to discuss the research programme in detail and to agree on the specific responsibilities of each centre toward the common goals
1. JUSTIFICATION
All research programmes depend on access to and dissemination of information. Knowledge of past research experiences and current problems is used to define research protocols. The results of research work are made known to other scientists for evaluation and use in further investigations. Results with practical applications are interpreted by technicians and extensionists for use by farmers.
Documentation of aquaculture research and access to aquaculture information in Africa is inadequate. This limits the scope, quality and utility of aquaculture research activities. The Information Programme will complement the research documentation activities of the other research programmes by improving access to aquaculture information in Africa.
The immediate beneficiaries will be researchers, technicians and extensionists who receive information from the information centres. The ultimate beneficiaries will be farmers who learn about improved aquaculture methods developed and disseminated in part using information provided by this programme.
2. STRATEGY
The overall objective is collection, storage and dissemination of aquaculture information at closely linked centres established in anglophone and francophone Africa.
The expected outputs are:
The programme will be established and become fully functional within five years. Thereafter it will operate in support of the other research programmes and serve aquaculture development activities in general.
The two information lead centres should not only represent the two main official languages of Africa, English and French, but also represent different geographical regions. To fulfil these criteria, these two centres will be in:
Côte d'Ivoire at IDESSA, Bouake, for francophone Africa, which currently houses an excellent library especially strong on Sudano-Sahelian, West and Central Africa.
Malawi (University or National Aquaculture Centre), for anglophone Africa, where the definitive collection for East and Southern Africa is currently established.
Other information centres which could be linked to these two lead centres are for example:
Kenya, Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Mombasa (RECOSCIX-WIO, Scientific information exchange project supported by Belgium and the Indian Ocean Commission).
Mali, Bamako, Institut du Sahel (CILSS), Réseau Sahélien de Documentation et d'Information Scientifique et Technique (RESADOC).
Rwanda, University, Butare.
Zimbabwe, Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute (supported by NORAD/SADC ZAM/ZIM project).
Zimbabwe, National Parks and Wildlife Management library, Harare
The Information programme will directly strengthen the existing capabilities of and collections at the selected centres of the network. Strong linkages will be established between the centres for exchange of information between the two linguistic areas of Africa, and among the different agro-ecological zones. The information centres will establish formal linkages with the lead centres of the other research programmes through regular communications with their information officers. Research network members will communicate directly with either information centre on requests for or submission of information.
The two Information centres will establish links to exchange information with the major international information centres on aquaculture located in Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America.
3. RESOURCES
3.1 Infrastructure
Library buildings (construction and/or upgrading)
Offices for information specialists
3.2 Equipment
Microcomputers and printers
Digital data storage devices (high capacity)
Telecommunications equipment:
Telephones, modems, facsimile machines
Microfiche readers
Photocopiers
Offset printing press
3.3 Staff
| High level: | Centre Directors/Senior Librarians |
| Librarians | |
| Database specialists | |
| Information officers (journalist) | |
| Medium-level: | Research assistants |
| Translators | |
3.4 Regular Operational Cost Areas
Purchase of books, reports and periodicals
International telecommunications
Electricity
Printing
Mailing
Training
Regional travel
1. JUSTIFICATION
Aquaculture is a farming activity which utilizes many of the productive resources (land, labour, water, organic materials, tools) at the disposal of the farmer. In the past, much attention has been given to technical aspects of the use of these resources to produce fish through aquaculture. The social and economic dimensions of aquaculture have not been properly considered, in terms of access and control of productive resources, the quantity of resources available for fish farming vis-à-vis other on-farm activities, and the disposal of fish produced. This has been a major cause of the failure of farmers in Africa to apply their resources to produce fish by adopting otherwise sound aquaculture techniques.
This research programme will study socio-economic aspects of aquaculture in two key areas:
The programme will provide socio-economic information and guidelines for researchers in other aquaculture research programmes and for extension workers, who are the direct beneficiaries of this programme. Through application of this knowledge by researchers and extensionists, improved aquaculture techniques will be increasingly likely.
2. STRATEGY
The overall objective is the development of aquaculture techniques with regard to the availability and use of productive resources by farmers and the disposal of fish produced.
The expected outputs are:
The outputs will be achieved in the medium-term, within ten years, although some of the outputs will become available to researchers in the other research programmes and to extension workers much earlier.
The lead centre will be located at Chancellor College, University of Malawi, Zomba, and work in collaboration with the National Aquaculture Centre, Domasi, Malawi. This centre has recent in-depth experience in socio-economics of aquaculture, existing pond research facilities, a strong cadre of senior and medium-level research staff, and a library to be upgraded as part of Research Programme No. 1.
The other network centres (Table 21) will be located at:
Mali, University, Bamako: interest in socio-economics in relation to small-holders in large irrigation schemes.
Côte d'Ivoire, IDESSA, Bouake: research staff have experience in socio-economics of extensive (reservoirs) to semi-intensive (ponds) fish farming.
Nigeria, NIOMR, Lagos: great interest and experience in socio-economic research for fish farming development.
Madagascar, University, Antananarivo: experience with small-scale fish farming socio-economic surveys and studies.
Tanzania, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro: University research staff have initiated research on socio-economics of aquaculture, and a pond research station is planned.
All of these countries have significant numbers of fish farmers in various target groups who will benefit from the results of this research.
It is recommended that the research centres for this programme be preferably housed in universities, which are more able to provide the multi-disciplinary resources and knowledge needed to carry out socio-economic research. However strong links will be established with other research institutes involved in aquaculture.
The Socio-economics Programme will provide important information for research under the Fertilization and Feeds Programme, the Production Indicators Programme, and the Irrigation Schemes Programme. It should develop linkages with institutions dealing with the socio-economics of aquaculture in Asia for exchange of information and expertise.
3. RESOURCES
3.1 Infrastructure
Offices for researchers (construction and/or upgrading)
Use of experimental ponds for harvesting trials at each centre
3.2 Equipment
Microcomputers and printers
Vehicles for field work
3.3 Staff
| High level: | Centre Directors/Senior Socio-economists |
| Socio-economists | |
| Aquaculturists | |
| Medium-level: | Research Assistants |
3.4 Regular Operational Cost Areas
Local travel
Vehicle operation and maintenance
International telecommunications
Research pond operations (water, feeds, minor materials)
Printing
Training
Seminars/workshops
1. JUSTIFICATION
One of the critical elements for the design and monitoring of national aquaculture development programmes is production information from fish farmers. The lack of production statistics in Africa has been recognized as a constraint to efficient sectoral planning and management, and it has two causes:
Only the first problem can be directly solved by research, which should seek to find measurable and reliable aquaculture production indicators for use in statistical systems. The application of these indicators will make the eventual administrative effort to collect statistics more effective.
The immediate beneficiaries will be extensionists, technicians and planners who directly collect and utilize aquaculture production statistics. The ultimate beneficiaries will be farmers who benefit from services provided under improved aquaculture development plans.
2. STRATEGY
The overall objective is to identify and test indicators of aquaculture production and socio-economic impact which are measurable and reliable in the rural farming context.
The expected outputs are:
The outputs will be achieved in the short-term, within five years. Thereafter, the guidelines will be used by national-level aquaculture extensionists, technicians and planners as part of the aquaculture planning and monitoring process.
The lead centre will be located at an institution to be identified in Kenya, which has a large number and variety of rural fish ponds and several institutions with capabilities in data collection and analysis. The other network centres will be located in Nigeria and Zambia for similar reasons.
The Production Indicators Programme will interact with the Socio-economics Programme, which will provide socio-economic information on aquaculture production and target groups. It should work closely with national planning units on the identification of needs and testing of results.
This is an interdisciplinary research programme on a topic which concerns both the natural and social sciences. It should therefore preferably be kept separate from the Socio-economics Programme, although strong linkages should develop between these two programmes.
3. RESOURCES
3.1 Infrastructure
Offices for researchers (construction and/or upgrading)
3.2 Equipment
Microcomputers and printers
Vehicles for field work
3.3 Staff
| High level: | Centre Directors/Senior Aquaculturists |
| Socio-economists | |
| Planners | |
| Medium level: | Research Assistants in each discipline |
3.4 Regular Operational Cost Areas
Local travel
Vehicle operation and maintenance
International telecommunications
Printing
Training
Seminars/workshops
1. PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES
Establishment of a regional network specialized in research on organic fertilization, supplementary fish feeds and integrated fish-livestock production to obtain the fundamental understanding of how small earthen ponds respond to fertilization and feeding. On this basis, to develop practical methods to optimize juvenile and food-fish production in such ponds on an economic basis, using locally available inputs.
The programme consists of three closely inter-related sub-programmes:
2. STRATEGY: aspects common to all three sub-programmes
Duration: At least 10 years
Phasing: into three periods of 3–4 years each, according to pond facilities available
Lead centre: Institut des Savanes (IDESSA), Bouake, Côte d'Ivoire
Location of other centres of the network
Mali, Department of Fisheries, Molodo/Niono: some ponds, very little laboratory facilities and equipment, no research staff
Côte d'Ivoire, CRO, Abidjan: Centre of excellence for laboratory facilities and scientific staff; involved in organic fertilization research (bamboo/animal wastes).
Nigeria, ARAC, Port Harcourt: national centre for aquaculture training/research, with good facilities and some staff
Cameroon, IRZV, Foumban: upgraded facilities for aquaculture research (labs, ponds, equipment), with some national research staff.
Rwanda, Faculty of Agriculture, University, Butare: upgraded aquaculture research station (labs, ponds, equipment), with some national research staff.
Zambia, Department of Fisheries, Chilanga/Lusaka: labs and pond facilities, little equipment and no research staff; water problems in periods of drought.
The pond fertilization and fish feeds research network
| AGRO-ECOLOGICAL REGIONS | LEAD CENTRE | COLLABORATING CENTRES | MAIN FISH SPECIES |
| SUDANO-SAHELIAN | Dept of Fisheries Molodo, Mali | Nile tilapia | |
| WEST | IDESSA Bouake, IVC | CRO Abidjan, IVC | Nile tilapia African catfish |
| ARAC Port Hartcourt, NIR | |||
| CENTRAL | IRZV Foumban, CMR | Nile tilapia African catfish | |
| EAST | Faculty of Agriculture University of Butare, RWA | Nile tilapia African catfish ? Common carp | |
| SOUTHERN | Dept of Fisheries Chilanga, ZAM | Three-spotted tilapia Common carp |
Interactions
Links with other institutions
This programme would benefit to be linked to other specialized institutions, both in Europe (methodology/technology/training) and in Asia (technology/training).
3. RESOURCES common to all three sub-programmes
The additional resources needed as infrastructure (ponds/laboratories), equipment and staff are briefly presented in the attached chart.
In general, additional national research staff (senior and medium levels) is required in most centres, except in CRO (IVC) and ARAC (NIR).
Expected operating costs will include local travel, international telecommunications, research pond operations, printing, training and seminars/workshops.
Additional resources needed for the fertilization/feeds programme
| RESEARCH CENTRE | INFRASTRUCTURE | EQUIPMENT | STAFF |
| IDESSA, IVC | Info centre to be upgraded (see Res. Progr. 1) | Some additional lab equipment | Staff and training |
| IRZV, CMR | Some additional ponds would improve centre | - idem - | Staff and training |
| University, RWA | Nil | Nil | Staff and training |
| DOF, ZAM | Improve water storage capacity plus boreholes | - idem - | Staff and training |
| DOF, MALI | Build 2nd pond series (12) and livestock housing | Full lab equipment necessary | Full staff and training |
4. SUB-PROGRAMMES PARTICULARS
Justification
The problem: To increase the role of natural food in semi-intensive pond systems. The contribution of natural food organisms such as microbes, phytoplankters and zooplankters, to the nutrition of farmed fish can be significant, particularly under tropical conditions where natural primary/secondary productivity can be relatively high. Compared to the nutritional needs of fish, natural food organisms generally contain an excess of protein, the most limiting and most costly nutrient in supplementary feeding.
Expected outputs: If the contribution of natural food organisms to the nutrition of fish raised in earthen ponds is increased through organic fertilization, it can be expected that:
Ultimate beneficiaries: All producers using semi-intensive aquaculture systems for the production of fish in earthen ponds, but in particular small-scale commercial farmers.
Strategy
Sub-programme objectives: To increase juvenile and food fish production on an improved economic basis, in small earthen ponds, through the regular use of locally available plant material and various wastes. This could include the following research topics:
Aquatic composting, still little understood, especially if based on wild vegetation commonly available in rural areas.
Methodology for estimation of qualitative and quantitative contribution of natural food organisms to the growth of farmed fish.
Qualitative and quantitative aspects of this contribution.
Guidelines definition for optimization of supplementary feeds utilization and fish production.
Microbial ecology in ponds and potential for enhancement of microbial flora as fish food.
Justification
The problem: Efficient utilization of local fish feed ingredients in semi-intensive pond systems.
The nutrition and feeding of fish in semi-intensive pond systems is still poorly understood and empirical feeding strategies are commonly applied. Locally available agricultural products and by-products can be efficiently used to feed farmed fish, either directly or as mixed cheap feeds prepared on the farm (New and Csavas, 1992).
It would appear that the nutrient requirement approaches used primarily in intensive fish culture systems is inappropriate in semi-intensive systems where a large part of the nutritional requirements can be provided by natural food (see above) and where major producers in Africa are large numbers of small farmers (De Silva and Davy, 1992). Another research approach should therefore be tried, more appropriate to the conditions prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa.
Expected outputs:
Ultimate beneficiaries: All producers using semi-intensive aquaculture systems for the production of fish in earthen ponds, but in particular small-scale commercial farmers.
Strategy
Sub-programme objectives: To increase juvenile and foodfish production on an improved economic basis, in small earthen ponds, through the regular use of locally available feed ingredients. This could include the following topics in three research areas:
Supplementary feed ingredients:
Find inexpensive and sustainable alternatives to costly animal proteins.
Pond feeding strategies
alternating different feeding rates
Storage of feed ingredients under tropical conditions, to avoid rancidity, oxidation and development of mycotoxins in fish feed ingredients.
Justification
The problem: Efficient organic fertilization of extensive and semi-intensive pond systems through associated livestock production.
Organic fertilization of fish ponds can be obtained through the application of livestock manure, either directly or indirectly. Several kinds of manures, such as rabbit, poultry, pigs, sheep, goat and cattle manures, are actually used in Africa on an empirical basis, without any sound scientific approach. The problem is further described under sub-programme 4.1, Organic fertilization strategies.
Expected outputs: In addition to sub-paragraph 4.1 outputs, this particular sub-programme should define the most appropriate technologies for integrated fish-livestock productions on scientific bases.
Ultimate beneficiaries: All fish producers using extensive or semi-intensive pond culture systems close by livestock production units, from where manure can be regularly obtained, but in particular small-scale commercial farmers.
Strategy
Sub-programme objectives: To increase juvenile and foodfish production on an improved economic basis, in small earthen ponds, through the regular use of locally available animal manure. This could include the following research topics, to complement these proposed for sub-programme 4.1:
Optimum distribution methods, level and frequency for each kind of manure, for each fish farming system
Guidelines for optimum siting of livestock housing in relation to ponds, kind of livestock and fish production
1. JUSTIFICATION
Broodstock with known aquaculture performance characteristics, used for the propagation of farmed species such as tilapias, African catfish and common carp, is a key element in improved aquaculture production strategies. Broodstock programmes have two main elements: selection of improved strains of a particular species, based on growth performance, body shape and other desirable characteristics; and, maintenance and propagation of the selected broodstock for use in fish farming.
There is a noted lack of improved strains of the common cultured fish in Africa. Selection programmes have been haphazard and the limited results have not reached farmers. Poor broodstock management has led to inbreeding on fish farms and even research stations, as well as natural hybridization, mostly between different species of tilapia.
This research programme will establish breeding programmes and broodstock lines at a regional level, with strong links to national institutions for broodstock management and propagation. The direct beneficiaries will be researchers and fish breeders. The ultimate beneficiaries will be producers using fingerlings from selected broodstock.
2. STRATEGY
The overall objective is establishment of a regional network specialized in broodstock improvement and national capability in broodstock management, for the most commonly farmed species in sub-Saharan Africa.
The expected outputs are:
This is a high priority, medium-term programme which will take place over at least 10 years.
Location of Lead Centre: Faculty of Agriculture, University, Butare, Rwanda
Location of other centres of the network:
Madagascar, MERH, Ambatolampy Fish Farm. Ponds (to be rehabilitated) and small laboratory (to be equipped). Station to specialize in common carp broodstock improvement
Zimbabwe, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management, and University of Zimbabwe Lake Kariba Research Station. Facilities to be strengthened and equipped. Staff to be trained. Main work on O. mossambicus, but also to carry out trials as in Rwanda, to compare growth rates of O. andersonii (from Zambia) and O. niloticus Egyptian strain (from Rwanda). Could also become involved in broodstock improvement of common carp.
Cameroon, IRZV, Foumban. Upgraded facilities for aquaculture research (labs, ponds, equipment), with some national research staff.
Central African Republic, National Fish Culture Centre, Landjia. Large hatchery for African catfish, ponds, limited national research staff.
Nigeria, Nigerian Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research (NIFFR), New Bussa. Good staff capabilities.
There will be important interactions with the Small Water Bodies, Irrigation Schemes and Fertilization/feeds programmes. The Broodstock Improvement programme would benefit from linkages with specialized institutions in the Republic of South Africa, Europe and Israel.
3. RESOURCES
Additional resources will be needed for upgrading existing infrastructures (hatchery, tanks, ponds, laboratories) and equipment. More trained national research staff will be required.
Operational costs will include maintenance of facilities, research ponds operations, maintenance/operation of vehicles for field work, laboratory supplies, some small farm equipment and temporary labourers. In addition, they should include printing, training and seminars/workshops costs.
1. JUSTIFICATION
Small water bodies in the context of sub-Saharan Africa are small man-made impoundments of water built primarily for domestic use, cattle watering, and/or irrigation, where fish production is usually a secondary use but can nonetheless produce an important amount of fish for local consumption and sale. A more precise definition of small water bodies is a location specific function of potential fishery management intervention related to size, morphology and age. Small water body fisheries differ significantly from natural lake fisheries and are susceptible to enhancement. Seasonally variable water levels and the resulting magnification of environmental variation, artificial assemblages of mainly riverine species in a lacustrine environment, and relatively small surface areas are all characteristics which could be exploited through improved management and aquaculture techniques to increase fish production.
This research programme will contribute to a better understanding of small water body fisheries potential and produce techniques for production enhancement.
The immediate beneficiaries will be fisheries officers and technicians who apply small water body fishery management and aquaculture methods developed by the research programme. The ultimate beneficiaries will be fishers and farmers living near small water bodies who harvest more fish as a result of these fisheries enhancements.
2. STRATEGY
The overall objective is the enhancement of small-scale fisheries practised in small water bodies.
The expected outputs are:
The programme will take place over at least 10 years, with progressive results on all outputs at each of the network centres. Because of the widespread interest, these results should be readily disseminated to all interested countries.
The lead centre will be located at the Nigerian Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research (NIFFR), New Bussa, Nigeria, which has good staff capabilities in small water body fisheries.
Other network centres will be located at:
Mali, research centre to be identified, in relation to the Office du Niger programme to develop small water body fisheries enhancement near Segou.
Côte d'Ivoire, IDESSA, Bouake. Good laboratory facilities and experience in the study of small reservoirs.
Ghana, Institute of Aquatic Biology, Accra. Good laboratory facilities, library and research staff experienced in natural waters studies. Some specialized training will be necessary.
Kenya, Sagana Fish Culture Research Station. Pond and laboratory facilities being reinforced under Belgium technical assistance. Private and public SWB in neighbouring areas have been stocked with various local and exotic species.
Zimbabwe, McIlwaine Research Station, Harare. Limited number of ecologists with experience in small reservoir fisheries. Good pond and tank facilities. Laboratory needs to be rebuilt and re-equipped. Located on Lake Chivero, 5 000 ha. Over 10 000 small reservoirs in the country.
Tanzania, Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI), Dar-es-Salaam. Laboratories hydroacoustic equipment, some research staff to be specialized.
The Small Water Bodies Programme will benefit from the research results of the Broodstock Management, Local Species, and Socio-economics Programmes. It will establish linkages with small water body fisheries research programmes in Asia.
3. RESOURCES
3.1 Infrastructure (construction and/or upgrading)
Laboratories and offices for researchers
Experimental ponds and hatchery facilities
3.2 Equipment
Laboratory equipment
Limnology sampling equipment
Fish sampling gear
Vehicles for field work
Small boats with motors
Microcomputers and printers
3.3 Staff
| High level: | Centre Directors/Senior Officers (see disciplines below) |
| Fisheries Biologists | |
| Limnologists | |
| Aquaculturists | |
| Fishing Technologists | |
| Socio-economists | |
| Medium-level: | Research Assistants (see disciplines above) |
3.4 Regular Operational Cost Areas
Local travel
Boat operation and maintenance
Vehicle operation and maintenance
International telecommunications
Research pond operations (water, feeds, minor materials)
Printing
Training
Seminars/workshops
1. JUSTIFICATION
The problem: To integrate aquaculture into large surface irrigation schemes, as one of the production diversification possibilities.
Most existing large irrigation schemes have been established for the monoculture of a specific crop, such as rice, cotton or sugarcane. A changing economic environment has gradually lead to the necessity to diversify productions in these schemes by introducing cash crops such as vegetable and fruit production, and small animal husbandry. Fish production particularly in ponds and small reservoirs, and possibly in cages and enclosures, can greatly contribute to this diversification policy as a cash crop complementary to vegetable and livestock production (waste recycling). Whenever the major crop is processed locally, by-products such as rice husks/bran, cotton seeds/cotton seed cakes, and sugarcane bagasse/molasses can easily contribute to fish production, either indirectly through organic fertilization (see sub-programme 4.1) or directly through supplementary feeding (see sub-programme 4.2).
Such surface irrigation schemes are mostly found in relatively dry areas where drought can severely handicap the management of standard aquaculture production systems. They provide under such limiting climatic conditions an exceptional opportunity for multiple use of available irrigation water, in some cases all the year around, and for the local production of relatively cheap animal proteins together with an additional cash income. Depending on the kind of exploitation practised on the irrigation scheme, this can be of interest either to the small farmers (for personal benefits) or to a larger company as social benefits for its workers.
Expected outputs
Ultimate beneficiaries: Small-scale farmers and agricultural workers from irrigation schemes.
2. STRATEGY
Programme objectives: To promote the integration of farmed fish production into large irrigation schemes by defining appropriate culture systems and their management practices, on the basis of the prevalent socio-economic conditions. This could include the following research topics:
Research on the economics of including fish farming as one of the productive uses of irrigation water should provide an additional element to calculate return on irrigation scheme financing by development agencies.
Duration: from 8 to 10 years
Lead centre location: University, Kumasi, Ghana. Good laboratory facilities, library and scientific staff. Some ponds available. Need for specialization of the research staff in this programme's subjects.
Location of other centres of the network:
Kenya, Department of Fisheries, Sagana: Research Station to be upgraded soon through Belgian technical assistance, mainly for laboratory and pond facilities. Research staff to be trained.
Madagascar, Department of Fisheries/Aquaculture, Antsirabe: Work in progress on the privatization of common carp propagation for fish production in irrigated rice fields by small farmers. Studies on biotechnical, economic, and social aspects.
Malawi, National Aquaculture Centre, Domasi, (collaborating with Kasinthula Fish Farm): Good laboratory facilities, regional information centre (see Research Programme 1) and some scientific staff.
Mali, Molodo Aquaculture Centre, Niono: Training and research centre to be upgraded (see Research Programme No. 4). Situated within the Office du Niger rice irrigation scheme, where production diversification and some integrated fish farming developments have started.
Nigeria, Nigerian Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research (NIFFR), New Bussa: Good staff capabilities. Will act as Lead Center for Research Programme No. 6
Remark: In Cameroon (Central Africa) a well equipped research centre has been established with Dutch technical assistance at the Lagdo Reservoir and irrigation schemes developed downstream. The inclusion of this centre in the research network depends on the interest of the Government.
Interactions with other programmes (Figure 10)
There will be strong interactions with the Socio-economics (Res.Prog. 2) and Fertilization/Feeds (Res.Prog. 4) programmes. Interaction will also take place with the Small water bodies and Broodstock management programmes, but on a lesser scale.
Links with other institutions
This programme would benefit to be linked to other specialized institutions, in Asia in particular.
3. RESOURCES
The additional resources needed will consist mainly in strengthened communication facilities (lead centre), vehicles, and training of senior staff to be specialized in the subjects of this particular programme.
| Staff: | Centre Director/Senior Aquaculturist |
| Experts in socio-economics and rural extension | |
| Research assistants |
Operating costs will concentrate on local travel, vehicle operation/maintenance, international telecommunications, printing, and organization/attendance for seminars and workshops.
1. JUSTIFICATION
The problem: Many indigenous species are preferred by consumers but have not yet been fully tested as candidate species for aquaculture. In some countries, introduction of exotic species commonly used elsewhere in aquaculture is restricted. It is thus necessary, particularly in this last case, to test local species as potential candidates for fish farming. The market value of some of these indigenous species can be quite high.
Expected outputs: Once new indigenous species have been tested and found to have the required characteristics for profitable farming, they should be made available to farmers, through the extension services. Native species having feeding habits different from the species already commonly used can fill unexploited niches in ponds and small water bodies, increasing their yields and farmers earnings. Some indigenous fish species may also contribute to the control of water-borne disease vectors, filamentous algae, macrophytes and fish populations.
Ultimate beneficiaries: Small rural farmers (and possibly small-scale fishermen) farming (and fishing) the new indigenous species.
2. STRATEGY
Programme objectives: Establishment of a regional network specialized in the selection and thorough testing of indigenous species to be used in aquaculture. This could include the following research topics:
This should be a region-specific research programme due to the specific ranges of most fish species. Therefore, it will be necessary to link national centres to the regional network to rapidly transfer methodologies and facilitate national level research.
Duration: 10 years, with periodic evaluations allowing reorientation of the programme, if necessary.
Phasing: Depending on availability of sufficient number of ponds for broodstock and trials
Location of Lead Centre: Nigeria, National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research (NIFFR), New Bussa
Location of other centres:
Congo, Fisheries/Aquaculture Department, Brazzaville (Djoumouna). National Centre for aquaculture with ponds, some laboratory facilities and some research staff. Centre to be strengthened.
Zimbabwe, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management, or University (KRS). To be strengthened for laboratories, equipment and staff.
Kenya, Department of Fisheries, Sagana Fish Farm. Good pond facilities. Laboratories and equipment are being improved under Belgian assistance. Staff to be strengthened.
Malawi, Department of Fisheries, National Aquaculture Centre, Domasi. Existing pond research facilities. Some senior and middle-level research staff and equipped laboratories. Regional information centre (see Research Programme No. 1).
Madagascar, Department of Fisheries/Aquaculture, Antananarivo
Interactions with other programmes: This programme will mostly interact with the programmes on Small water bodies, Irrigation Schemes, Fertilization/Feeds and Socio-economics (Figure 10).
Links with other institutions: This programme would benefit to be linked to other specialized institutions outside Africa (to be identified).
3. RESOURCES
Additional resources needed are infrastructure (ponds, holding tanks, aquaria), collecting and sampling equipment, fish farming equipment.
More national research staff, both senior and medium level is required.
Expected operating costs will include maintenance of facilities, research pond operations, laboratory supplies, vehicles for field work and temporary labourers. They will also cover printing, training and organization/participation to seminars and workshops.
1. JUSTIFICATION
Seventy per cent of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa are maritime states with a total coastline of just over 31 000 km. Marine aquaculture development has been successful in some countries, often as a result of the initiative of the private sector. Despite the potential for further marine aquaculture development, one of the main constraints has been the lack of applied research. An increase in the demand for fish, the possibilities of export earnings from high value cultured marine species and the need for alternative employment opportunities in coastal areas justify the need for more applied technical, socio-economic and market research and increased networking of information within the continent.
The ultimate beneficiaries will be coastal populations and private entrepreneurs engaged in marine aquaculture activities.
2. STRATEGY
The overall objective is greater applied research in marine aquaculture carried out and disseminated throughout the continent.
The expected outputs are:
Duration: 10 years
Phasing: In two periods of five years, with an evaluation at the end of the first period to reorient the second phase, if necessary.
Lead Centre Location: Marine Fisheries Research Station, Swakopmund, Namibia: The station has good laboratory facilities, an extensive library, and access to expertise in seaweed and oyster culture.
Location of other centres of the network (Table 21):
Madagascar, MERH, Nosy Be: Ponds, shrimp hatchery, laboratory, feed processing facilities.
Tanzania, Institute of Marine Sciences, Zanzibar: Laboratory facilities for research on seaweeds and research staff available. Research on seaweeds funded by Sweden (SIDA).
Cameroon, Fisheries/Oceanographic Research Centre (CRHO/IRZV), Limbe: Laboratory facilities to be upgraded and staff to be specialized.
Senegal: Research centre on oyster (and maybe shrimp) production to be identified.
Interactions: With the other programmes will be minimal except for the Information Centres.
Links with other institutions: This programme could benefit from linkages with specialized institutions in the Republic of South Africa and in Asia.
3. RESOURCES
Additional resources will be needed for upgrading infrastructures (tanks, ponds, laboratories). Equipment will also be needed.
More research staff, both senior and medium level, is required. Operating costs will include local travel, vehicle operation and maintenance, maintenance of facilities, laboratory supplies, research operations, international telecommunications and temporary labourers. Also training, printing and seminars/workshops attendance.
