ALCOM NEWS
Issue No. 20, October 1995
Contents
EditorialJoining forces
National Seminar on fish farming
ALCOM on the Net
Aquaculture in Zimbabwe
Exchange of visits with PD/A CRSP
Aquaculture pilot project areas
Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), experiences in Pilot project areas of Zimbabwe
Small water bodies update
Lake Chicamba fisheries project
New Sida coordination
ICLARM Research planning workshop
ALCOM library
Bookshelf
Coming together
By Boyd A. Haight, Coordinator
This issue of ALCOM News reflects the wide range of aquaculture and fisheries issues we and our colleagues in Southern Africa are actively addressing: extension methods, fingerling production strategies, reservoir fisheries management, participatory rural appraisal methods, cutting-edge information services, institutional collaboration, project coordination, and future project planning and financing. These are the issues which hold the key to improved, sustainable inland fish production through aquaculture in the region.
As ALCOM completes its ninth year and plans for a future more closely integrated with national and regional institutions, it is already evident that these institutions are taking an increasing and crucial role in the formulation and implementation of ALCOM's activities. The participatory extension methods and integrated aquaculture-agriculture extension services approach are now being used, and in some cases hotly debated, by the main development agencies in Mozambique and Zambia. Local communities and organizations have become intimately involved with small reservoir resource assessment and use in Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. And the lead regional fisheries institution, the SADC Inland Fisheries Sector Technical Coordination Unit, is getting ready to take on the regional coordination, information and development functions of ALCOM.
We have just over one year to go before ownership of ALCOM is transferred from its independent Steering Committee to existing regional bodies. The signs are good that, at both national and regional levels, ALCOM's approach and activities will be carried on as part of the normal development process.
ALCOM will have a new coordinator during 1996, as I leave ALCOM at the end of 1995 to join FAO's Fisheries Department in Rome under the Organisation's Regular Programme. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with so many dedicated collegues in the region these past nine years, and I am proud that they, their governments and the farmers themselves are working to continue and expand the work of ALCOM in the region.
JOINING
FORCES: Extensionists promote fish farming in Manica Province,
Mozambique
By Mercedes Sayagues
Ten Years ago, Norbeto Empapas built a pond to store stream water on his farm, perched on a steep slope of Chazuca, a valley along Mozambique's border with Zimbabwe. Encouraged by the local agricultural extensionist, the wiry farmer put some carp and tilapia in the pond. The carp died during the cold winter of 1994 but the tilapia survived - and thrived. Earlier this year, Empapas sold 30 fish in Chazuca and 60 in the nearby border town of Machipanda. At 1,000 meticais per fish, he made about US$15 at the time - not bad in a country where GNP per capita was US$60 in 1994 (1).
Some 120 kms to the south, in Rotanda valley, another farmer has sold seven kg of fish to his neighbours, earning 49,000 meticais (US$5) that bought a new overcoat. In both valleys, dozens of fish farmers are eating fish from their ponds at least once or twice a month - a needed source of cheap protein in these remote valleys where meat is a luxury, dried fish expensive, and fresh marine fish, difficult to obtain.
Because the province has few perennial rivers and permanent water bodies, local fishing is highly seasonal, secondary to agriculture even near the Zambezi river, and accounts for less than 4% of the fish in provincial markets. Yet fish is the protein most consumed in Manica province. A 1995 study (2) reported that 99% of people interviewed consume fish once or twice a week, and that fish is eaten four times as often as meat and poultry. The reason is the scarcity of poultry and livestock due to 16 years of civil war, resulting in prices beyond the means of most people.
"There is little fish in our local market; costly if dried, often rotten if fresh because there is no refrigeration, no electricity," says Saul Maceites, an extensionist in Chua. "So, when I talk to farmers about the nutritional and economic benefits of rearing their own fish, they see it." Two farmers in Chua have ponds and six more are being built.
In Chazuca, ponds increased from eight in 1994 to 120 by January 1995; more have been built since. Rotanda has more than 100 ponds. This development of small-scale aquaculture of tilapia and common carp in Manica province is largely due to ALCOM and the provincial Department of Agriculture, partners in a pilot project.
The first training course on aquaculture took place in 1991. The harsh drought of 1991/92 didn't allow much fish farming but good rains in 1993, coupled with peace in the war-torn country, and more training courses for both farmers and extensionists were an incentive.
Fish farming was also viable because both Rotanda and Chazuca valleys have quite complex systems to distribute stream water for irrigation, and these are used for the fish ponds. Fish are fed "farela" or maize husks, manure, and left over "massa" or cooked mealie meal, the local staple food.
As word gets around and neighbours see fish growing, being fished, eaten and sold, requests for demonstrations and training pour in to the agricultural extensionists who are the backbone of the project.
"The dynamism and commitment of the extensionists is the key," says aquaculture technician Moises Balate, who runs the training courses. The trained extensionists, who live among the communities, plant the idea, build demonstration ponds, provide information and correct mistakes.
"The extensionists are the link between farmers and aquaculture technicians," says Dr. Albertino Geronimo. Provincial Director for Agriculture and Fisheries. "To undertake fish farming, peasants need advice and monitoring: the best way is for the extensionists to have a demonstration pond to show construction, maintenance and fishing."
Albeit well disposed, the extensionists work in adverse conditions: lacking transport and fuel; pedaling in old bikes through vast, hilly areas; without essential supplies such as pens and papers. As of October, their salaries had not been paid for four months, and this is not the first delay.
"The extensionists suffer a lot," says Rafael Godinho. He should know: the small man with the big smile covers on foot and by bike the Machipinda district where Chazuca is located, an area so large and mountainous he simply cannot visit all of it. When asked what keeps him going, he says simply: "I enjoy talking to farmers, solving their problems if I can or channelling their requests to supervisors. I like it: that's my reason."
When first confronted with the idea of fish farming, many peasants are incredulous." They laughed and said that fish can only grow in rivers or the sea," remembers extensionist Julio Antonio, from Rotanda. "Now farmers build ponds on their own, but this leads to mistakes that could be avoided with our help."
Getting farmers interested and building ponds is only the beginning. A number of problems have now to be tackled. To this end, in July 1995 ALCOM placed a Mozambican aquaculturist, Maria do Carmo Carrilho, in the provincial capital of Chimoio.
"Our objective in this second phase is to improve the technology," says Ms. Carrilho. "To improve pond construction, preventing erosion and seepage; to control fish reproduction, avoiding in breeding; and to explain when and how to fish."
One problem is fish mortality during the cold season . A sudden drop in pond temperature to below 14 C, kills tilapia. To help farmers, Carrilho has prepared basic instructions on proper pond depth, adequate food and techniques such as placing dry grass as hiding places for fish in the ponds. The information is circulated in, four-page quarterly newsletter, GAZETA DO PISCICULTOR (3) that Carrilho publishes.
Another problem is that fish were left for too long in the ponds leading to overbreeding, inbreeding and starting due to lack of space. It turned out that some farmers and extensionists were not aware of these dangers; others didn't have nets or implements to fish. Lacking a tradition of fishing with traps and nets, these inland farmers improvise with chicken wire mesh, bamboo traps, potato sacks joined together, and the classic hook and line.
Developing fingerling production is a priority. Currently fish farmers depend on the state-owned Chizizira Fish Station, in Sussundenga, for fingerlings. In 1994, the Station reported that some 32,800 fingerlings had been distributed, of which nearly 26,000 were Tilapia nilotica, 6,240 Tilapia rendalli and 560 common carp.
But Sussundenga is too far away for many fish farmers, so individuals in several areas are being identified for training in fingerling production. "That is one key to sustainability," says Carrilho. In the absence of locally available fingerlings, many farmers hesitate to fish and drain the ponds in the cold season, afraid of loosing breeding capacity.
Meanwhile, in Machipanda district, farmers have pooled to buy fuel while German cooperation (GTZ) has provided a vehicle to fetch fingerlings from Chizizira. Only by pooling efforts of all actors involved in agricultural development in Manica province can aquaculture prosper.
Carrilho notes that, because the ponds belong to farmers, they are willing to invest more time and effort in them. "If something is yours, you take more care of it," she says, remembering past experiences in Mozambique. "At a state-owned dam, they wouldn't put in so much effort."
At a weekly meeting of extensionists in Manica town, they all agree that aquaculture is gaining momentum in Manica province. "Now, if only the rains would come," sighs Simao Jassina, an extensionist at Forte-Macequessa. Several farmers in his area want to build ponds but water is scarce.
References
(1) World Bank Development Report, 1994
(2) A survey of river fishing, aquaculture and fish marketing in Manica
Province, Mozambique, May
1995, prepared by N.R. Deacon for GTZ, Chimoio.
(3) To receive the newsletter, contact Ms. Carrilho at P.O. 68, Chimoio
1406, Mozambique. Tel:
(258-51) 23373/4. Fax: (258-51) 23256.
True to it's call as a neutral forum, ALCOM recently provided a mechanism for the discussion of
the various methodologies used to promote fish farming in Zambia. The Department of Fisheries,
with funding from ALCOM convened the National Seminar on Fish Farming Extension from 2-6
October at the Pan African Institute for Development in Kabwe.
Kabwe is a mining town 173 km. north of Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia.
The seminar gathered staff of all levels from DoF , DoA, ( Department of Agriculture) and
representatives from on going projects involved in aquaculture. Their mandate was to discuss the
effectiveness of extension approaches and prepare guidelines concerning their use.
Mr. Charles Maguswi, Assistant Director (Aquaculture), started the seminar by summarizing the
current status of aquaculture in Zambia;
After this presentation, the participants had a free-ranging discussion with DoF Director, Mr.
Mudenda, who was present on the first day of the seminar. Most of the queries were related to
constraints extension workers face in their work.
Mr. Mudenda praised ALCOM for its long term assistance the collaborative efforts of DoA, DoF
and other donor agencies by funding meetings for information sharing and planning purposes. He
emphasized that it was the role of DoF to coordinate donor activity on fisheries issues. The
other donors currently assisting with aquaculture development are NORAD, JICA and AFRICARE;
each is involved in one province while ALCOM works in four provinces.
Henk van der Mheen, Aquaculturist ALCOM, who coordinated the seminar, introduced the next
session, on presentation of provincial reports, including;
The extension workers heard from Mr. Dilip Kumar, the FAO Fish farming Extensionist, who gave
a presentation of fish farming extension in Bangladesh. He demonstrated a range of audio-visual
aids which his project used in extension. His description of the demonstration farmer, and the
criteria used to choose one among a host of interested fish farmers was particularly relevant to the
Zambian situation. In Zambia, a few fish farmers will be selected and encouraged to start fingerling
production; they will function as demonstration farmers.
The working groups undertook exercises on problem solving as an approach to extension
promotion. The staff used their field experience to plan and execute an extension programme. The
topics for discussion were the constraints and problem and identified during the Provincial reports
presentations and discussions that followed.
Mr. Chintu, Provincial Agricultural Officer Central Province, gave an outline of the unified
extension system. The NEAP encompasses a wide range of development issues as perceived from
the rural farmer's point of view. This requires a complete reorientation and retraining of all agro-
related agencies. DoA is currently using this extension system. Some of the main features of the
National Extension Action Plan are:
Towards the end of the seminar, DoF staff were engaged in a battle of wits as they formulated the
objectives and recommendations to be forwarded to the Director for action. Some of the higher
level DoF officials were apprehensive of a possible assimilation by DoA. However, most of the
field workers welcomed increased cooperation as this would facilitate their extension work.
ALCOM established its own homepage on the World Wide Web (WWW), on 1 October 1995. It is
situated in Zambia at ZamNet Communications Systems (http://www.zamnet.zm).
The homepage gives information about the objectives and activities of ALCOM as well as the
different pilot projects. You can also find the latest issue of ALCOM News and we plan to keep an
archive of previous issues if there is enough interest. It is not yet possible to search the complete
ALCOM library on this page, but we are working on it. However, all ALCOM publications and a
number of selected FAO fisheries and aquaculture reports are listed and you can order
publications directly by e-mail.
In addition to this regional homepage, we have set up a smaller national homepage in Zimbabwe at
Data Control (http://harare.iafrica.com). The national page in Zimbabwe intends to make people in
Zimbabwe aware of ALCOM and its activities. It provides information on location and opening
hours of the ALCOM library and links visitors to the regional homepage in Zambia. The full
addresses of both pages are:
Regional page in Zambia: http://www.zamnet.com/zamnet/alcom/alcom.htm
National page in Zimbabwe: http://harare.iafrica.com/alcom/alcomzim.htm
Some of you may be thinking : "ALCOM has moved completely away from its target group, the
rural communities; use of the Internet can't be something for development organizations; Internet for
rural Africa? Crazy; how much money is ALCOM spending on this fancy, trendy gadget? ALCOM
has lost track......!"
Here are the appropriate answers:
ALCOM still focuses on rural farmers and fishers, it is only using a booming communication
medium to disseminate information to fellow researchers in other countries in a cheap, easy and
fast way.
As a non-governmental development organisation, maintaining 100 Kb on the server in Zambia
costs one US$ per month, the page in Zimbabwe is for free. Additionally, we will be able to
reduce the mailing costs for ALCOM News especially to developed countries, as people that are
connected can download the newsletter from the home page.
It is not difficult to set-up or operate: it took very little time to reformat existing documents into
E-mail providers and interactive Internet connections. Because of expensive and unreliable mail
delivery in hypertext files with software that was downloaded from the Internet (shareware).
And finally, the Internet is also meant for Africa: most of the countries in the SADC region
already have some countries, the Internet might become THE way of communicating in
Africa.
ALCOM has prepared Field Document No. 35 on the use of the Internet for development
organizations in Africa. The paper gives a comprehensive view for the layman on how the Internet
works, what you can use it for and how you should proceed to get connected. It will also explain
how to set up a low-cost homepage on the World Wide Web, based on ALCOM's experience. It
can be requested free of charge from ALCOM Harare, or down loaded from our home page.
Although Zimbabwe is a landlocked, semi-arid country with relatively limited natural water
resources, over the past decade there has been growing enthusiasm for aquaculture in the
smallholder (communal) sector. According to a 1991 census carried out by the Department of
Agricultural Technical and Extension Services, Agritex, over 40 hectares of ponds had been
constructed by 1991. In addition, according to a recent marketing study, there is enormous demand
for fish, in particular tilapia (bream) that is yet to be met, (Sen, 1995).
Because so much effort has gone into the promotion of pond construction, out of which not much
fish is being produced, the next step is to ensure that the ponds are productive. This can be
achieved in several complementary and synergistic ways:
Optimisation of fish production from existing ponds
While efforts by government agencies in the promotion of pond construction are commendable, this
is only the beginning of a process. Observations in the field have shown that after the pond has
been dug, in a number of cases, not much else is done with the pond. There are usually a plethora
of reasons why farmers jump onto the "pond construction bandwagon", some of which may have
very little to do with the actual farming of fish. Some of the reasons are;
Existing government fish seed production centres are far from areas of production, which means
that there is a large transport cost that has to be borne by the government. Furthermore, in the face
of ever-dwindling funding, government-run seed production centres are fighting a losing battle to
survive from one financial year to the next. Thus the capacity of these centers to meet the demand
for seed is steadily declining.
In view of all this, there is dire need to look at alternative seed production centers. Ideally, seed
production centers should be located within, or as near as possible to the areas of production. This
is not only an efficient way of operating, but it also eliminates high transport costs, and
consequently the price of seed is cheaper for the farmers. Furthermore, it allows government
researchers to concentrate on research and development on improving production methods, instead
of routinely producing seed.
This therefore calls for enterprising farmers to take up the challenge, to go into the uncharted
waters of producing fish seed for sale to other farmers in their areas. Given the reproductive
biology of the species in use in this country , this is a lot easier and cheaper than on-growing. Thus,
some farmers would concentrate on producing and selling seed, while others would on-grow these
to market size.
Therefore, the way forward for smallholder, and indeed commercial aquaculture in Zimbabwe is in
promotion of smallholder/private sector seed production centres, and the better funding of existing
government research stations to enable them to function optimally, since the skills are certainly
there.
1. Agritex Fisheries Unit (1991) Census of communal/small scale fish farmers and fish ponds.
FAO/Agritex "Support for Rural Aquaculture Extension" ZIM/88/021.
2. Sen, S. (1995) The market for fish and fish products in Zimbabwe. Alcom Field Documents
No. 34. ALCOM, Harare, Zimbabwe.
The PD/A CRSP (Pond Dynamics/Aquaculture Collaborative Research Support Program) is a
multi-national consortium of seven American universities and host country institutions in
Honduras, the Philippines and Thailand. It is implementing a long-term research programme
designed to improve the efficiency of pond aquaculture production by improving our understanding
of pond dynamics (biological, chemical and physical elements). The CRSP has previously worked
with institutions in Egypt, Indonesia, Panama and Rwanda and is currently seeking a new site in
Africa. Funding is provided by USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and
the collaborating institutions.
To enhance ALCOM's linkages with relevant programmes, and to provide information to the PD/A
CRSP on aquaculture research opportunities in SADC-member countries, an exchange of visits
was organized in the second half of the year. The PD/A CRSP sponsored a two-day visit by Boyd
Haight, ALCOM Programme Coordinator, to its Management Entity at Oregon State University in
Corvallis, Oregon in early August. A three-person team from the PD/A CRSP, comprising Jim
Bowman and Wayne Seime of Oregon State University and Karen Veverica of Auburn University,
made a presentation at the third meeting of the Working Group on the Future of ALCOM in Harare
in early October.
The result of these exchanges was enhanced awareness among ALCOM management, the SADC
countries and the PD/A CRSP on the activities, results, potential and future plans for aquaculture
research and development in the region. Initial practical collaboration will be confined to
information, research and extension exchanges until the PD/A CRSP makes a decision on where to
locate its new prime and companion research sites in Africa. Look for a more detailed article on the
PD/A CRSP in the next issue of ALCOM News.
As featured elsewhere in this issue of ALCOM News the National Seminar on Aquaculture
Extension was an important event in Zambia. The seminar focused on aquaculture activities
in the whole country and gave the opportunity to discuss problems and identify possible
solutions. The drought of the last years has had a serious impact on aquaculture in most of the
country. Many of the Government fish farms are dry and far more farmers ponds than usual are
dried up. The aquaculture extension service faces the enormous task of getting fingerlings to all
these ponds when they fill up with water again in late 1995.
The Government farms can not provide these fingerlings, and nor can most of the small scale
farmers. The pilot project in Zambia tries to assist those farmers with water with the
necessary training and broodstock to boost their fingerling production. It is crucial that this activity
succeeds so that farmers do not lose their interest in fish farming.
Private fingerling production is important for the future development of fish farming in the region.
Without a local source of fish seed the uptake of aquaculture may come to a halt. The preliminary
results of the impact study recently carried out in Eastern Province of Zambia showed that supply
of fingerlings is one of the most important factors stimulating farmers to continue with the activity.
Although tilapia species reproduce very easily in ponds, producing good quality fingerlings requires
some skills. Farmers often tend to harvest the largest fish in their pond for consumption and tend to
leave many small fish in their pond. This results in a negative selection on growth, and stunted fish.
Training and extension material on fingerling production is therefore needed.
Private fingerling production in Tanzania is also an issue of importance for that pilot
project. The water supply to the Kingolwira fish farm has not yet been constructed and no fish have
been produced at this station. The pilot project therefore sourced their fingerlings from Hombolo
near Dodoma. This is a 300 km. trip from the pilot project site, which does not make it a
sustainable source in the long run. The project emphasised from the beginning the importance of
fish farmers in project areas to become self sufficient in fingerling supply. A limited number of the
first fish farmers in an area can buy fingerlings through the project. For instance in Mgeta area,
where fish farming was introduced, nine ponds are now stocked and the latest four farmers
purchased 890 fingerlings from the other fish farmers. This has created interest amongst the fish
farmers to become selling points for fingerlings.
In Gaza province, Mozambique, the issue of fingerlings is completely different. The pilot
project team identified an area where there was interest in fish farming. A technical and socio-
economic study was carried out to identify the suitability of the area for fish farming and for the
culture of Chinese carps. The study revealed that the only possible way to culture fish in that area
and to increase the overall fish production, was to stock fish in natural lakes situated between the
dunes along the coast. The Chinese carps will not reproduce in these lakes and have to be stocked.
One private business man is now planning to reproduce these fish in a hatchery, stock the lakes and
market the surplus catches of the fishermen. The issue of the introduction of exotic species in
natural water bodies is being considered in terms of pontential biological and socio-economic
impact.
Carrying out of PRA's is a requirement of the "Enhancement of Fish production in Small Water
Bodies" project of ALCOM.
In line with this, seven PRA exercises were carried out in the pilot project areas of Zimbabwe
comprising of the following dams; Mutuvi, Vurasha, Biri and Imbahuru, Gwavamutangwi,
Chiturike, Denje, Avoca and Siwaze.
In preparation for these PRA's a two part workshop was held at Buchwa Mine in Mberengwa to
The course participants were taken through a crash programme covering such topics as fisheries
regulations in Zimbabwe, fisheries development policies, status of the fisheries resource,
information requirements in fisheries management, principles of communication and PRA
techniques.
With the assistance of the CASS consultants and based on our knowledge of the fisheries in
question we designed the PRA exercises incorporating the tools that we felt would help us gather
the required information. The tools used were mainly visualized focused group discussions on the
following topics: community problems and needs assessment; current fishery resource management
regulations; proposed fishery resource management regulations; users and uses of reservoir(s);
community group assessment of changes in their multi species fishery; fishing gear utilized in the
reservoir(s); other communal resources; other collaborating institutions
In the case of Chiturike dam an extra topic, "Proposed fish species for stocking " was included as
this dam does not have any fish at the present moment.
Group mapping exercises were carried out separately with a smaller group of people after the
group discussions.
When the time permitted household interviews aimed at gleaning more information on fisheries
related activities and household income levels were conducted.
Brief report back sessions were held at the end of each exercise to give back the findings of the
PRA to the community and also to triangulate the information gathered.
The two pilot project areas lie in areas ravaged by drought such that shortage of water is always at
the top of the problems list. In Mberengwa district, starvation was cited as a critical problem. Dam
siltation also came out as a very serious problem.
The economic significance of fishing did not rank high. It was evident that there was a lot of
introvertness as far as this activity was concerned. During the report back sessions where we were
informed of how the communities were suspicious of our activities and how they had with held
information or deliberately misinformed us .
All but one of the reservoirs that we are working on are built primarily for livestock watering and
the provision of drinking water. Other activities of economic significance such as group vegetable
gardens fishing and irrigation schemes later evolved. Siwaze dam was specifically built for the
establishment of irrigation schemes but fishing as well vegetable gardens ancillary activities happen
around it. There is evident conflict between the use of these dams as sources of domestic water and
the fishing activity as people complained that fishers were polluting the water.
There is no clear understanding of the current fisheries regulations, nor of their origins. One
unfortunate notion which seems to prevail is that fishing is illegal only if fishing gear other than the
rod and line are used. Despite this, a very destructive method of fishing using mosquito netting
drag nets is widely used. The communities are fully aware of the detrimental effects of using this
method .The underlying cause seems to be the fact that the fish resource is considered as no man's
resource and any fish left behind will just be taken out by the next fisher.
The invitation to propose new fishing regulations was not successful as people did not seem to
appreciate exactly what a regulation was. In two cases there was a rather weird suggestion that a
crocodile should be introduced in the dams to stop people from getting into the water to fish as this
pollutes the water.
In most cases the communities seemed to have a full appreciation of fish species in their reservoirs
and understood the detrimental effects of the fishing gear that they were using. The breeding
biology of fishes and how this was affected by fishing activities was not fully appreciated. For
instance, an explanation for the seasonal fluctuations of the Clarias catches using their breeding
behavior was given. The villagers categorically refused to accept it as they reasoned that it was not
possible to see a fish breeding .
Despite the drought, crop fields and cattle were considered to be the most important of the
communal resources.
Agritex came out as the most trusted government institution and in most cases, the only one the
communities were aware of. There seems to have been an influx of donor agencies in the period
soon after 1980 but left the people with a hopeless case of donor dependency syndrome. Under
these circumstances it becomes very difficult to mobilize communities to articulate solutions to
their own problems.
In all the cases we were asked to keep in constant touch with the communities as they felt we had a
lot to teach them about how they could benefit more from fishing.
Besides continuing the sampling campaign to gather biological and physico-chemical data on small
reservoirs, the four ALCOM SWB pilot projects in Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe
focused on PRA exercises to obtain information about the sociological and economical background
of the communities around the reservoirs.
In Tanzania, the final reports on three different small water bodies, (two reservoirs and
one small lake), are being revised and should be published soon. The reports describe the socio-
economic background of the communities that use the water bodies and focus on the fishery and its
management. Most of the information was obtained by PRA's but some technical information on
the fishery obtained by sampling is also included. The first results of a community based
management in two reservoirs, initiated by Mr. Henrik Nilsson and Mr. Kitojo Wetengere are
presented.
The pilot project in Malawi is advancing very well. There is a monthly water sampling
campaign and a bi-monthly fish sampling campaign which are executed and coordinated by Mr.
Sloans Chimatiro. Furthermore, a PRA of three dam communities in Blantyre District was carried
out by Mr. Alfred Nkhoma and his team. The draft report of this appraisal points the way to
CBM (Community Based Management): the ownership problem has to be resolved, and
communities fell that they have no say on what was happening to the dams and only benefited from
the water for domestic use. They would like to have full ownership of the dams with the headmen
acting as overseers of the dam committees.
Sampling of six reservoirs in Southern Province Zambia, had a late start but is catching
up. The biological and physico-chemical sampling campaign of the six reservoirs that are spread
all over the province is coordinated by Mr. Robbert Houthuijzen. PRA's of two different dam
communities have been executed by Mr. Roy Wakumelo and Mrs. Lenah Simunkombe with the
help of a PRA team from the Agriculture Department. The main problems related to the dam
management were siltation and water conflicts. Ownership was also a hot issue of debate within
the communities.
In Zimbabwe an initial dam survey was carried out in all the nine dams concerned by
Sophie Mutsekwa with the help of Mr. Wellington Binali of Agritex. The results of this survey
showed that the dams in Mberengwa district were overfished and that there was very little species
diversity. As a result of this and because of the impending cold season, it was decided that the
management issues should be addressed immediately through the conduction of PRA's. Refer to the
next article by Sophie Mutsekwa for details of the exercise.
From all these appraisals, it has become clear that in most of the small reservoirs people are more
concerned about water issues than about fishing issues, certainly in this period of persistent
drought. In order to mobilize the population for a better fisheries management of the dams through
CBM, we will have to consider the establishment of dam committees that will manage the whole
resource (dam, water and fish) instead of the fishery alone. A staff workshop to brainstorm on the
follow-up of the appraisals has been planned for November.
Chicamba dam wall was completed in 1968, with the lake filling for the first time in the early
1970's. The full capacity of the lake is two billion cubic meters. Although the majority of the rural
population of Manica province are subsistance farmers, estimates made in December 1993 put the
local fishing population at 600 households. Fifty percent of these households were in four villages
on the northern shore of the lake. The northern shore falls within the Beira corridor which provided
a safe refuge to the local population during the Mozambique civil war. The fishing activity on lake
Chicamba is believed to contribute towards the wealth and well being of the families in the
immediate vicinity of the dam.
Three fish species form the backbone of the fishery; the Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis
mossambicus, and the red breast tilapia Tilapia rendalli, the largemouth bass Micropterus
salmoides. Other fish that contribute to the catch are the red eyed labeo Labeo cylindricus, the
African sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus as well as two barbus species.
The local fishermen target these fish by using four principal methods; gill netting, seine netting,
hook and line fishing and trapping. Gill netting is performed in two ways. The first is the more
traditional approach of leaving the gill net in the water overnight and harvesting the entangled fish.
The second involves laying the gill net and chasing fish into it.
The fish targeted by gill nets are the two tilapia species with largemouth bass, African sharptooth
catfish and the larger labeos also being occasionally caught. Seine nets are less selective and the
catch is therefore mainly composed of all the principal fish species with the two tilapias being the
most common. Seine netting with shade cloth has become common practice on the lake. This
method harvests juveniles of all major species as well as some smaller cichlids and barbus
species not affected by gill and conventional seine nets. The largemouth bass is targeted by the local
fishermen with hook and line. The hooks are baited with small live fish and are set near submerged
trees. The small bait fish are caught in woven reed traps which seem to be employed primarily for
bait collection. Most fishing is carried out from bark and dugout canoes. Shore fishing is very
limited.
Although fishing is common practice on lake Chicamba, the sustainability of the lake at current
levels of exploitation level is unknown. Therefore, the sustainable utilization of the lake depends on
the development of a management plan based on both the biological and anthropogenic factors of
the fishery.
GTZ-MARRP in conjunction with Rhodes University is currently undertaking a major research
project on the lake with the express purpose of developing a sustainable management plan for the
fishery. The main objectives of this project are to define the current exploitation rate, investigate
local fishing methods and practices and to assess the biological and population parameters of the
fish stock.
Thus, an appropriate, workable and least disruptive management plan for the sustainable utilization
of Lake Chicamba fishery can be developed.
The fisheries resources of this inland water body is seen as important sources of protein to local
populations living in the vicinity. However, only through the sustainable utilization of these
resources, will they continue to contribute to the well being of the local communities. The Lake
Chicamba project aims to make a significant contribution to the sustainable management of inland
water bodies.
Sweden has been intimately involved with the formulation and implementation of ALCOM
since the mid-1980's. The following announcement appeared in the international press in
September. Sida's new logo can be found on our masthead.
The Swedish development cooperation authorities have been merged into one all-encompassing
body to be known as Sida. On 1st July 1995, SIDA, SwedeCorp, BITS, Sarec and the Sando
Centre were wound up and their activities transferred to the new organization. Sida will also be
responsible for coordinating Swedish development cooperation work in Central and Eastern
Europe.
The main aim of the reorganization is to make Sweden's development cooperation more effective
and efficient. With a single agency responsible for coordinating Swedish support, it will be easier to
adapt Swedish assistance efforts to the constantly changing demands and conditions in recipient
countries.
ICLARM (International Centre for Living Aquatic Resources Management), a member of the
CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research), invited Boyd Haight,
ALCOM Programme Coordinator, to participate in its research planning workshop for sub-
Saharan Africa, North Africa and West Asia held in Cairo, Egypt, 23-27 September.
In its strategic plan, ICLARM has given first priority to establishing a regional centre in Africa.
Egypt has offered ICLARM, through the Chair of the CGIAR, its Central Laboratory for
Aquaculture Research at Abbassa, and the ICLARM Board of Trustees views it as an opportunity
for ICLARM to prepare and implement a research agenda for the region. The research agenda was
drafted by ICLARM staff in August and the workshop was subsequently convened to obtain input
and guidance from African aquatic resource experts. The workshop identified prioritized long-term
regional research issues in ICLARM's six programme areas (coral reef systems, coastal aquatic
resource systems, inland aquatic resource systems, African great lakes and reservoirs, co-
management and social sciences, and partnerships with NARS - National Aquatic Research
Systems). The research agenda will be finalized by ICLARM and presented to its Board for review,
along with a recommendation on how to utilize the facility at Abbassa.
The results of the workshop were presented to the third meeting of the Working Group on the
Future of ALCOM in October. At the same meeting, Dr. Randall Brummett, ICLARM Research
Scientist based in Malawi, explained that ICLARM, in collaboration with SACCAR (Southern
African Centre for Cooperation in Agricultural Research), has prepared a regional project entitled
"An Aquaculture Research and Development Network for Smallholder Farms in Southern Africa".
In line with ICLARM's strategic action plan, the project would:
The ALCOM library comprises of over 5 000 holdings of books, published and unpublished
manuscripts, reprints, data bases and journals on the technical and socio-economic aspects of
aquaculture and small reservoir fisheries in Southern Africa. Documents are obtained by ALCOM
through selective purchase, donation, and exchange of publications.
The library's computerized catalogue, a CDS/ISIS application for the MS-DOS operating system is
available to any interested user or institution. It is accessible to all users at the library itself and at
selected remote sites in several countries.
The library loans materials to local users, carries out literature searches and provides a reference
service for ALCOM staff, government and non-government agencies, students and other members
of the public with an interest in aquaculture and small reservoir fisheries.
The library is part of ZIMAGRINET (Zimbabwe National Agricultural Information Network), a
computerized information network that collects, processes and disseminates scientific information
on agriculture and related subjects.
We will be pleased to be of use to our readers. Just write, phone, fax or E-mail to the Librarian,
ALCOM. If you would want to learn more about ALCOM's activities visit our home page on the
following addresses;
Regional page in Zambia:
http://www.zamnet.com/zamnet/alcom/alcom.htm
National page in Zimbabwe:
http://harare.iafrica.com/alcom/alcomzim.htm
Activities under the pilot project 'Utilization of Small water bodies, Lesotho', which were carried out by
the Fisheries Section with ALCOM assistance are documented. Since 1992 ALCOM has been
collaborating with the Fisheries Section in the Ministry of Agriculture, Lesotho to assess the potential of
SWBs in the country and identify methods to enhance fish production.
The objectives of the seminar were to familiarize government and non-government workers with
Lesotho's Lowlands reservoir fishery resource and potential fish production strategies; suggest
solutions to fish production issues; and identify opportunities to implement these strategies.
The paper explains the different uses of the Internet for development organizations and in particular
describes how ALCOM is taking advantage of this booming low-cost communication medium.
This paper is a result of practical experience with Internet use and the establishment of ALCOM's
home page in Southern Africa, using locally available tools. It is written in a language that can be
understood by regular PC-users.
National Seminar:
Fish Farming Extension, Zambia
By Margaret Zunguze
Present status of aquaculture in Zambia
There are 21 government fish culture stations that serve as demonstration units and sources for
extension, located in the provinces. The value of such units has been eroded due to inadequate
training of personnel and lack of transport. ALCOM's role
Provincial reports
The Bangladesh experience
Working groups
National Extension Action Plan (NEAP)
Mr. Chintu mentioned that DoF was being encouraged to modify their operations to fit in with
DoA for collaboration to continue well. This was food for thought for DoF. In some Provinces and
Districts DoF has functioned well within the DoA extension service, enabling fish farming messages
to reach the grassroots level. However, there is need for DoF to improve on the monitoring of how
these messages have been implemented by the farmers. The existing resources do not allow
specialized monitoring by DoF, who rely on DoA for transport.
ALCOM on the Internet: is there a rural cybercommunity out
there?
By Lieven Verheust
Aquaculture in Zimbabwe: the way forward for small-scale rural
aquaculture
By Farayi Zimudzi, Senior Fisheries Extension Specialist, Agritex,
Zimbabwe
Thus at the individual level, the farmer benefits nutritionally, financially and economically.
All these reasons point to the need for better researcher-extensionist-farmer linkages so that the
farmer is furnished with enough information and knowledge from the onset so that he is well aware
of just what he is getting himself into. Furnished with the right knowledge, the farmer can then
make decisions on the scale of the operation and the level of management required in order to
realise production targets.
Production and provision of quality seed
References
Exchange of visits with PD/A CRSP
Aquaculture pilot project
notes
By Henk van der Mheen
Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)
Experiences in Pilot project areas of Zimbabwe
By Sophie Mutsekwa
This was done to help facilitate communication with the local communities. The PRA team
members were chosen with the assistance of the local Agritex Extension Workers of the particular
dam areas. Trainability was the only criteria specified for their selection. The idea was to make
sure that we did not end up with the most powerful members (political and civic post holders) of the
communities who would influence the information gathered. The selected team comprised of;
This team was taken through a special training course with the assistance of two consultant socio -
economists from the University of Zimbabwe's Center for Applied Social Sciences (CASS);
Messers Wellington Muriritirwa and Kefasi Nyikahadzoi.
Design of the PRA Exercise
What Were The Findings
Some hints to take note of.
Small Water Bodies Project notes
Lieven Verheust
The Lake Chicamba fisheries
project
By Olaf Weyl
(GTZ MARRP/RHODES
UNIVERSITY), Manica province,
Mozambique
Large inland water bodies can potentially provide significant amounts of harvestable fish protein to
local populations. However, the sustainable utilization of this protein source depends on the level of
exploitation subjected to the fish population of the lake. Lake Chicamba in Manica Province of
Mozambique, provides a livelihood to a large number of subsistence to semi-commercial fishermen.
New Sida coordination
ICLARM Research Planning Workshop, Cairo
The project's target group was researchers. It aimed to strengthen their research and training
capabilities so they could better serve development activities such as ALCOM. While discussing
with donors, the ICLARM Board of Trustees had reiterated its commitment to the project and
decided to start immediate implementation using ICLARM core funds, which would limit its initial
scope. An initial research network was being formed, linking Bunda College of the University of
Malawi with the University of Zimbabwe. This limited sub-regional mode of operations would be
presented to the SACCAR Board Meeting in Maputo 13-17 November for endorsement. The
network would be used to channel funds for research and improve information exchange, including
collaboration with ALCOM activities in the field.
ALCOM library
Bookshelf
Strategies for fish production in Lowlands reservoirs, Lesotho. By C. Tilquin, Associate
Proffessional Officer, ALCOM and L. Lechela, Senior Fisheries Assistant, Lesotho.
Field
Document No.31 Report on the Seminar on Fish Production in Lowland Reservoirs, Lesotho.By Boyd A. Haight,
Senior Aquaculturist and Sevaly Sen, Socioeconomist, ALCOM.
Report No.18 Use of the Internet for development organizations in Africa. By Lieven Verheust Fisheries
Officer, ALCOM.
Field Document No. 35
For more information contact:
The Information Officer, ALCOM
Mail: PO Box 3730, Harare, Zimbabwe
Location : Fisheries Research Unit, National Parks Complex,
Sandringham Drive, Harare, Zimbabwe
Telephone: 263-4-724985, 734797
Fax: 263-4-736847
Telex: 260-40 FAO ZW
E-mail: ALCOM@Harare.iafrica.com