Project News

Activity of Aquaculture team

Aquaculture extension activities of LIPS are conducted at five initial clusters. The aquaculture extensionteam appliedaquaculture extension system called RAPP (Rural Aquaculture Promotion Package) formulated by AQIP2 (Aquaculture Improvement and Extension Project Phase II, 2005 -2010) and authorized the Department of Livestock and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Lao PDR. Based onthe RAPP, the main extension activities at the target clusters are to fosterVADWs (Village Aquaculture Development Workers) and to operate group aquaculture.

Specifically, the aquaculture extension team supports to organize aquaculture technical training, to demonstrateaquaculture techniques by progressive farmers, to select core farmers and to operate group aquacultureat eachtarget cluster.

At first the aquaculture extension team provides training on basic aquaculture techniques to aquaculture farmers at the target clusters. Then the team supportsfive progressive farmers in each clusterto demonstrate the adequate aquaculture techniques introduced by the training. In the process, the aquaculture extension team selects and fosters VADWs from the participating farmers. The VADWs will play important roles on aquaculture extension through selling fingerlings and giving guidance on aquaculture technique to other farmers in the cluster. It is called the extension system of "farmer to farmers". The project also provides opportunity to learn aquaculture technique through group aquaculture for the farmers who are not able to conduct aquaculture individually due to lack of money and /or labor force.

Initial clusters of aquaculture extension activity
Somboun cluster, Xanxai district, Attapeu province
Boungkeo cluster, Sukhouma district, Champasak province
Nabon cluster, Laongam district, Salawan province
Phon cluster, Lamam district, Sekong province
Kapeu cluster, Tateng district, Sekong province

The aquaculture extension team consists of three Lao counterparts and one short term expert on aquaculture extension technology. The three young staff does not have enough experience, but they have good mobility in the field.