Outline of the Project

Objectives

"Aquaculture Improvement and Extension Project Phase II" is to improve agricultural living conditions of small scale farmers in rural areas where problems of poverty and insufficient food supply exist, through dissemination of suitable aquaculture techniques applicable to natural, social and economic conditions of the areas.

Project purpose :

Aquaculture suitable for local conditions is established in the 4 target provinces

Adequate aquaculture methods are verified according to the local conditions of pilot sites.

The capacity of relevant persons such as target farmers, province/district extension staff and staff of PASs regarding aquaculture technology and extension is improved.

Fish farmers of the focal districts introduce improved aquaculture methods.

The roles of relevant organizations are clarified and their collaboration mechanism is developed regarding the aquaculture extension matched with the local conditions.

Target group and area

Target group: rural farmers who have water areas for aquaculture, and government personnel related to aquaculture extension.

Target area: Xai and Beng districts in Oudomxai, Xaignabouli and Phiang districts in Xayabouli, Phin and Xepon districts in Savannakhet, and Salavan and Laongam districts in Salavan (Fig 1).

Fig 1. Target provinces

Project strategy

Target of pilot operation and expansion operation

Fig 2. Target of pilot operation and expansion operation

Step 1:
A pilot operation is conducted in four poor focal districts. Aquaculture methods suitable to each pilot site are verified in the pilot operation.

Step 2:
An aquaculture expansion operation is conducted in eight poor focal districts, two districts in each of four target provinces including four districts targeted in the pilot operation. Those methods verified in the pilot operation are applied in the expansion operation.

Improvement of aquaculture method

Fig 3. Improvement of aquaculture method

Improvement of aquaculture method

Fig4. Function of Target farmers

The extension activity by provincial and district organizations alone is not sufficient for the sustainable aquaculture extension, since their human resources and budget are very limited. Active participation to the extension activity by highly motivated farmers is essential for the sustainable aquaculture development. In this project, target farmers are trained on technique of not only grow-out culture but also intermediate culture of seed (to grow small fry to seed size). Those core farmers who produce seeds will be motivated to contact and teach culture method to other farmers in order to sell their seeds. By establishing target farmers as local seed suppliers, the problem of inadequate seed supply will also be solved (Fig 3,4).

Role of the on-site guidance team

Fig 5. Role of the on-site guidance team

The pilot operation is started in August 2005. Prior to the start of the operation, an aquaculture guidance team is formed for each focal district. Each team is basically composed of five members, one each from JICA team, NADC, PLFS, PAS and DAFEO. In Oudomxay and Saravan, members of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV) join the team. Each team visits and gives necessary guidance to core farmers and VAPC of respective district at least once in two months. The team submits a report on each guidance trip to DLF and NADC. The report should describe the contents of guidance, problems or constraints in activities of core farmers and VAPC and general aquaculture information obtained during the guidance trip. This report provides DLF and NADC with the necessary information to monitor the pilot operation. Also it suggests topics for technical improvement experiments at NADC. The function of aquaculture guidance team is illustrated in Fig 5.