1. INTRODUCTION
Justification for aquaculture development plan (duration ten years)
Strategy should be in line with ‘Statement of Development Policies 1987–1996’ of OPC
Aquarium: production + value (MWK)
From total production: calculate consumption per capita/year
2. HISTORY OF AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT IN MALAWI
1952: First trials using tilapia
1957: Construction at Domasi Station
1959: Activities in Nchenachena transferred to Domasi and Nchenachena abandoned
1964: Construction of fish farm at Bunda College
1971: Construction of Kasinthula fish farm after FAO mission of Pruginin in 1969
1988: Construction of Chisitu fish farm near Mulanje (ODA-funded)
Japanese assistance: Macrobrachium at Domasi
Trout at Zomba Plateau
Oxfarm for farmers around Domasi
List of species used and introduced with date of introduction and origin
ODA, Mulanje/Phalombe
Proposed National Aquaculture Extension Service (UNDP for funding).
Fisheries (FF) Extension: Fisheries Department (in the fifties-sixties) based at Domasi, after abandonment of Nchenachena.
Others
Reasons for failure of aquaculture development at the end of the sixties
3. PRESENT AQUACULTURE SITUATION IN MALAWI
Region | Extension area | Number of farmers | Number of ponds | Total surface area | Total production (kg) |
Species cultured: O. shiranus, T. rendalli, common carp, O. mossambicus, Macrobrachium rosenbergii and crocodiles
Research
4. FISH FARMING POTENTIAL IN MALAWI
Commercial
Map with all potential areas for pond culture in the three regions
Map with all potential reservoirs/dams for culture-based fisheries
Socio-economic factors
Availability of agro-industrial by-products
Surface area
Number of persons/villages around the dam
Culture-based fisheries in small water bodies
Description of existing facilities:
Year of construction
Number of ponds
Production of fingerlings or food fish (kg/year)
Building and other infrastructure
Equipment
Staff
Labourers
Annual budgets
Full time aquaculture personnel in Fisheries Department and in projects.
5. TEN-YEAR AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Culture-based fisheries in small water bodies
Prepare a map (or several maps) of identified potential areas, thus aquaculture development areas
Description of fishing gear to be used and its cost
Same procedure for each aquaculture development area (Y1 to Y10)
Staff requirements (Y1–Y10)
Required | Existing | To be trained | Total | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PO | TO | TA | Ex | Rs | PO | TO | TA | Ex | Rs | PO | TO | TA | Ex | Rs | PO | TO | TA | Ex | Rs | |
North region | ||||||||||||||||||||
•Chitipa | ||||||||||||||||||||
•Nchenachena | ||||||||||||||||||||
•etc. |
PO = Project Officer
TO = Technical Officer
TA = Technical Assistant
Ex = Extensionist
Rs = Research worker
6. EXPECTED OUTPUTS PER DEVELOPMENT AREA
Pond culture | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
• Number of ponds | ||||||
• Total surface area (ha) | ||||||
• Number of farmers | ||||||
• Productivity (t/year) | ||||||
• Total value (MWK) |
Small water bodies | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
• Number rehabilitated | ||||||
• Total surface area (ha) | ||||||
• Number of fishermen | ||||||
• Total production (t/year) | ||||||
• Total value (MWK/year) |
Same (similar) table for Region, i.e. totals of development areas of the region
Same (similar) table for Malawi, i.e. totals of three regions = national level
Regional stations, sub-stations and aquaculture development areas
Regions | Regional stations | Sub-stations (fingerling production) | Aquaculture development area/Extension area |
---|---|---|---|
Northern | Mzuzu, CNRFFP | Chisenga Misuku Nchenachena Limphasa Kanyanji | Mzuzu Chitipa Nchenachena Mpompha Limphasa Chikwina Mzimba |
Central | Madisi (WB/Fisheries Department), CNRFFP | Bunda | Madisi Mponela Dowa Ntchisi Dedza Hills Bunda |
Southern | Domasi (Fisheries Department) | Chinseu, MAGFAD | Domasi Zomba East Zomba West Machinga |
Kasinthula (Fisheries Department) | Namwera, MAGFAD | Mangochi (Namwera) Lower Shire Tholo Mulanje Phalombe | |
Chisitu (Mulanje/Phalombe), ODA and FD | Kunenekude, MAGFAD Neno, MAGFAD | Mwanza Neno |
Grace A.L. MAFWENGA
Regional Fisheries Office
Arusha, Tanzania
Figure 1. Administrative districts of Tanzania
ALCOM | Aquaculture for Local Community Development Programme (SIDA/FAO) |
CUSO | Canadian University Service Overseas |
ELCT | Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, Babati |
FFDP | Fish Farming Development Programme, Hombolo (Anglican Church) |
FFP | Fish Farming Project, Babati (ELCT) |
GCP | Government Cooperation Programme (FAO) |
ICP | Italian Cooperation Programme (FAO) |
IDRC | International Development/Research Centre, Canada |
IFS | International Foundation for Science, Sweden |
NGO | Non-Governmental Organization |
NORAD | Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation |
ODA | Overseas Development Administration, U.K. |
OXFAM | Oxford Committee for Famine Relief |
PCV | Peace Corps Volunteers (USAID) |
SIDA | Swedish International Development Authority |
SUA | Sokoine University of Agriculture |
TAFIRI | Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute |
TZS | Tanzanian Shilling (in April 1993, 1 USD = 343 TZS) |
UNDP | United Nations Development Programme |
UNHCR | United Nations High Commission for Refugees |
UNICEF | United Nations Children's Fund |
USAID | United States Agency for International Development |
VSO | Volunteer Service Overseas, U.K. |
Tanzania has an area of 942 600 km2 and ranges from 40° to 30°E longitude and from 1° to 12°S latitude; 6.55 percent of its area is of open waters (61 500 km2) (Figure 1). Its Indian Ocean coastline extends for approximately 800 km. It is characterized by a narrow shelf. The total fishing area from shoreline to the 400 m isobath is approximately 19 000 km2 (FAO, 1979).
Presently the production of marine fisheries make up only 13.71 percent of the total national fish production (Fisheries Department, 1990). The remaining fish production comes from fresh waters, covering a total area of 58 000 km2. This includes three big lakes (Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Nyasa), as well as major reservoirs, small water bodies, rivers and ponds.
The annual sustainable yield for all marine and inland waters is estimated to range from 400 000 to 500 000 t.
The average annual per caput fish consumption in Tanzania is estimated at 38 kg. Fish contributes 40 percent of the total animal protein supply.
On the basis of a minimum annual requirement of 15 kg/head, the projected demand for fish has been estimated at 368 873 t for 1990. But capture fisheries have produced 359 000 t only, leaving a deficit of 9 873 t, which is expected to come from aquaculture. According to the data collected aquaculture produces 375 t only (Fisheries Department, 1989). This by far lags behind the projected annual demand from aquaculture, which has been estimated to reach 145 000 t by 1995 (Ibrahim, 1975).
The present report is an appraisal of the aquaculture status in Tanzania. To the best knowledge of the author, there has not been any in depth review of aquaculture development in Tanzania since 1984 (Balarin, 1985), despite the fact that different organizations have been offering both technical and financial support.
During the preparation of this review, the author has contacted officials from the Fisheries Division, various organizations and institutions as well as individuals fully involved in promoting aquaculture (Appendix 1).
It is not well documented as to when modern fish farming started in Tanzania. Records show that, in the fifties, the Fisheries Department under the colonial government started experimental ponds in Korogwe and Malya areas to produce fingerlings for reservoir restocking. By 1955, these had become important centres for distributing fingerlings, and over 50 percent of the reservoirs were restocked. These records suggest that early fish farming in Tanzania was mainly on restocking dams as opposed to farming ponds.
However, other authors allege that fish farming started in 1927, while others document that it started between 1949 and 1951 (Meschkat, 1967; Goult, 1951).
After independence, the Fisheries Department was established in 1964 under the Ministry of Agriculture. Since then it has been shifting from one ministry to another. At present, it is under the Ministry of Tourism, Natural Resources and Environment. Aquaculture development falls under the Department of Fisheries.
It appears that, for many years, the Department of Fisheries neglected aquaculture due to the relative importance of capture fisheries. This attitude has contributed a lot to the present underveloped state of aquaculture.
Table 1
Number of ponds in Tanzania (1975–1992)
Region | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1992 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arusha | 18 | 18 | - | - | - | - | 20 | - | - | 50 | 56 | 136 | 234 | 244 | 356 | 497 | 678 |
Kagera | 850 | 950 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Dodoma | 98 | 78 | 80 | - | - | - | 88 | - | - | - | - | - | 108 | 33 | 33 | - | 33 |
Dar es Salaam | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Iringa | 100 | 100 | 184 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 753 | 753 | 821 | 1 116 |
Kigoma | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 49 | 49 | 56 | - | - | 241 | 241 | - | 245 | |
Lindi | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 63 | 64 | 136 | 136 |
Mara | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Morogoro | 498 | 546 | 546 | 559 | 559 | - | 565 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 400 | 400 | - | 300 |
Mwanza | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Mbeya | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 634 | - | - | 600 | 600 | - | 849 |
Kilimanjaro | 84 | 84 | 84 | 105 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 106 | 106 | - | 106 |
Mtwara | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 94 | 94 | - | - |
Ruvuma | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 043 | 4 584 | 4 960 | 4 960 |
Shinyanga | 22 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Singida | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Sumbawanga | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Tanga | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 155 | 155 | - | 155 |
Pwani | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | - | - | - | - | 26 | 26 |
Tabora | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7 | 7 | - | 7 |
Total | 1 670 | 1 776 | 894 | 664 | 559 | - | 673 | - | 49 | 99 | 748 | 136 | 342 | 4 739 | 7 393 | 5 601 | 8 611 |
Source: Regional Annual Reports, 1975 to 1991
Figure 2. Structural organization of the Department of Fisheries
It took until the second five-year development plan (1969–1974) for aquaculture plans and strategies to be laid down. By 1964, there were about 8 000 fish ponds in different regions (Fisheries Division 1967), out of which 15 regions had their own government breeding ponds. Since then, the number of ponds has been decreasing in most regions, as Table 1 shows. For example, Morogoro Region, which had 565 ponds in 1981, had only 300 ponds in 1992, and most of them were in a bad condition. Kagera Region, which had 950 fish ponds in 1976, is reported to have none at present.
By 1992, only few regions were actively engaged in fish farming, either through external assistance or operating under a limited budget allocated to aquaculture. These include Ruvuma (4 960 ponds), Mbeya (849 ponds), Iringa (753 ponds), Arusha (700 ponds) and Lindi (63 ponds).
Despite the growing number of fish ponds in these regions, fish production is unknown due to the absence of data recording. However, Arusha reports a production of 2 to 2.5 t/ha/year and Lindi reports 1.2 to 2 t/ha/year.
The size of the ponds differs from one region to another. In Arusha, the minimum pond size is 100 m2, while in Lindi it is 375 m2. In Ruvuma, Mbeya and Iringa, the average size is 207 m2, 1 257.8 m2 and 851.3 m2 respectively.
There are a number of reasons which have contributed towards the decline of aquaculture development in Tanzania. The major reasons are the structural organization of the ministry, the low priority given to aquaculture for funds and training and land rights.
Under the Land Ordinance Cap. 113 of the Laws, all land belongs to the government. All people with title deeds have the right to a piece of land. This leaves a number of rural fish farmers without valid legal rights over land on which they have constructed their fish ponds. Thus, most of them cannot get loans from banks which require mortgaging of a title deed.
However, the government has simplified other procedures. Before foreign investors can engage themselves in fish farming they require a fish farming permit to be granted by the Department of Fisheries. Other authorities are also involved in the process. These include the Investment Promotion Centre (IPC), the Ministry of Energy and Water (for water right) and the Ministry of Land (for lease of land). The licence for exporting fishery products is given separately and is granted by the Department of Fisheries and the Bank of Tanzania.
The structural organization of the ministry leaves much to be desired.
The Department of Fisheries which deals with aquaculture, has offices in all regions and districts, down to the village level. However, under the decentralization policy of 1972, the regional fisheries administration is under the Regional Development Director (RDD), who is directly answerable to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and not to the Ministry of Tourism, Natural Resource and Environment, responsible for promoting aquaculture. At the same time, the district fisheries administration is under the Ministry of Local Government and Cooperatives (Figure 2).
The above institutional framework is a hindrance towards the development of aquaculture. This clearly manifests itself in aquaculture development plans at different levels. Different administrative levels give different priorities to aquaculture development.
Under the Department of Fisheries, there are three training institutes: Kunduchi Marine Fisheries Institute, offering diploma courses, Nyegezi Freshwater Fisheries Institute and Mbegani Training Institute, both offering certificate courses. The Kunduchi and Nyegezi institutes give a very low priority in teaching aquaculture courses. For example, fisheries biology is among the five major courses taught at Kunduchi, but only 22.5 percent of the hours used are for this course (Appendix 4). Under this course there are several subjects, aquaculture being one of them (Appendix 5). Again, only 20 percent of the total hours allocated to fisheries biology is for aquaculture. At Nyegezi, aquaculture is only one of the five main topics.
During the National Annual Meeting of 1991 held at Songea, it was proposed that aquaculture refresher courses for field officers be introduced in these institutes. Nyegezi and Megani Institutes are already advertising a three-month aquaculture course. It was also proposed that the amount of hours used for theory be increased. The Kunduchi Institute and TAFIRI are planning to have a fish farming centre with ponds. The students will be among the beneficiaries, if implemented.
At Kunduchi it is intended to place more emphasis on applied subjects so as to enable the graduates to be self-employed. Aquaculture, therefore, will be among the main courses (Kimaro, pers.comm.).
The University of Dar es Salaam offers a three-year B.Sc. course in marine biology and oceanography. The course is made up of 130 units, out of which only three units (2.3 percent) in the third year are on aquaculture. The same faculty offers an M.Sc. course in marine biology, with only three out of 30 units on aquaculture. At present, there is an acute shortage of lecturers in aquaculture, and students who join the M.Sc. programme do not specialize in aquaculture.
Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) is planning to include an aquaculture component for the Animal Science degree students. The course is expected to consist of 40-hours lectures and 20-hours practicals. The four-year degree programme was due to begin in September 1993 (Katule, pers.comm.). It is planned to have 20 ponds for practicals.
Because of the above situation, Tanzania lacks high cadre personnel for research, training, data processing and planning of aquaculture development.
National development plans and projects are prepared by the Aquaculture Section within the Fisheries Department before being later scrutinized by the Fisheries Development. Then, the department forwards the plans to its ministry for approval before forwarding them to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning for final government budgeting. However, the annual budgets show that a very limited amount of money is allocated to aquaculture. For example, in the 1985 budget, a total of TZS 23.3 million was allocated to the Department of Fisheries, out of which only TZS 1.93 million for aquaculture. This represents only 8.2 percent of the Department of Fisheries' budget.
At the regional and district levels there is no specific budget for aquaculture activities. Funds which can be used for aquaculture development fall under the operations vote which is limited and is meant for variable fisheries development activities. Aquaculture gets a very low priority under this vote1.
The Department of Fisheries organizes annual meetings. All regional fisheries officers, company directors, private organizations and institutions involved in fisheries are invited. Before 1991,. non-governmental organizations (NGOs) involved in fisheries were not being invited. It was during the 1991 annual meeting that it was resolved that NGOs involved in aquaculture development should be invited to attend the annual meetings.
Table 2
Evaluations made by foreign teams since 1985
Year | Description | Comments | |
---|---|---|---|
1985 | National reviews for aquaculture development in Africa: Tanzania, FAO | Assessed the development potentials based on: geomorphology, climate, local resources, marketing, infrastructure, economics and national policy | |
- | High potential | ||
1988 | Contribute to the formulation of a five-year plan for the fisheries sector (FAO Consultant, Economist) | - | Encourage small and self-sustained projects |
- | Concentrate on areas with small competition (less capture fishery activities) | ||
1992 | Aquaculture survey in Ruvuma Regional (ALCOM) | 1. | Lack of quality fingerlings. Farmers should be involved in seed production. |
2. | Village-based aquaculture extension agents. | ||
3. | Introduce fish-farming module for school curriculum. | ||
4. | Introduce polyculture (tilapia and Clarias) | ||
The economic and social feasibility of aquaculture in Northern Tanzania | 1. | All projects should be preceded by an in-depth social and economic study to assess their acceptance and viability. | |
2. | Implement projects with minimum external financial assistance. | ||
3. | Hatcheries and training centres should be guaranteed before extension efforts begin. | ||
4. | Strengthen the extentionist knowledge of aquaculture. | ||
5. | Local fisheries officers (aquaculturists) should be heavily involved in programmes. | ||
6. | Strictly use indigenous species. | ||
7. | Emphasize integrated farming after the farmers have mastered it. | ||
8. | Provide transport and facilities to the extensionists. |
During these meetings, evaluations of aquaculture research and development are made. Foreign organizations and individuals have contributed a lot towards this task, as shown in Table 2. It is worth mentioning that all evaluations made by different agencies show that Tanzania has a high aquaculture development potential.
Several constraints to aquaculture development have been identified:
The evaluations have shown that the prime market for fish from aquaculture is in areas far from fishery supply routes (Balarin, 1985; Bonzon, 1988). Export trade is common in regions bordering other countries, although export statistics are not reliable as some fish consignments find their way outside the country illegally. The government is encouraging the exporters to use PTA markets.
The financial assessment of production practices for aquaculture under local conditions has not been done. However, the advantage of aquaculture is that it can be implemented on land that has a very low or zero opportunity cost, for example in mangroves and swampy areas. Despite the fact that there is no nation-wide assessment on economics of fish farming in Tanzania, the author's study in Arusha Region shows that labour costs vary from one place to another. The greatest single factor inhibiting villagers is the lack of money to finance the initial construction of ponds. Appendix 2 shows the cost and profits expected from one 100-m2 pond in the Arusha Region.
Due to the relatively high construction costs of fish ponds and the inability to meet preconditions for loans from banks, most individual subsistence farmers who comprise 90 percent of all farmers cannot take the risk of starting commercial farms/ponds.
The second target group comprises commercial fish farmers. These may form a better target group as aquaculture calls for an entrepreneurial approach. However, very few farmers belong to this group.
Evaluation of aquaculture practices shows that emphasis has been placed on small-scale farmers (Table 3).
Due to the lack of data on number of ponds and production, the aquaculture status in Tanzania is not very clear. Table 4 shows estimates of aquaculture production in Tanzania. According to regional annual reports, there are 8 611 ponds with an average production of 1 900 kg/ha/year. Most of the regions are silent on fish farming activities in their areas.
Four regions are particularly active in aquaculture: Arusha, Iringa, Mbeya and Ruvuma. Available aquaculture statistics concerning these regions are given in Table 5. See also Table 1 for number of ponds in Tanzania.
Table 3
Evaluation of the state of aquaculture in Tanzania
Agent/year | Development potential | Suitable farming systems | Target groups | Constraints | Comments | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FAO, 1985 (Balarin) | High | Semi-commercial approach | Existing farmers | • | Poor institutional and social attitudes | ||
• | Low technological state of the art | ||||||
• | Fish culture is a part-time activity | ||||||
FAO, 1988 (Bonzon) | High | Subsistence (avoid industrial aquaculture) | Small-scale farmers | • | Fragmented administrative structure of the ministry | • | Encourage self-sustained projects |
• | Concentrate in areas with less capture fisheries | • | Concentrate in areas with minimal capture fisheries | ||||
• | Incompetent extensionists | • | Adjust the present administration structure | ||||
• | Low priority given to aquaculture | ||||||
National Seminar of Fisheries Policy and Planning (University of Dar es Salaam, 1988) | High | Not specified | Commercial and small-scale farmers and women | • | Poor statistical data | • | Improve the existing pond management practices in areas with high potential |
• | Fragmented structure of administration | • | Socio-economic research is needed | ||||
• | Lack of know-how technology | • | Adjust the existing structure of the ministry | ||||
• | No funds allocated for aquaculture development | ||||||
• | Lack of sound research | ||||||
National annual meeting (1990), Mara | High | Semi-intensive | Commercial and small-scale farmers | • | Few staff with modern aquaculture technology | • | Encourage formation of farmers' associations |
• | Lack of funds and transport | • | Wave the importation tax on fishery raw materials | ||||
• | Lack of capital for investment in commercial mariculture | • | Retrain extensionists and give them facilities | ||||
• | Promote mariculture | ||||||
National annual meeting (1989), Mbeya | High | Not specified | Not specified | • | Nothing is reported on aquaculture activities by many regions | • | Farming activities and constraints must be reported by each region |
• | Fish farming needs more recognition by the government | ||||||
National annual meeting (1991) Songea | High | Semi-intensive commercial farming | All farmers and investors | • | Inadequate funds and facilities | • | Utilize IPP to encourage more investors on mariculture and commercial culture |
• | Lack of quality seeds | ||||||
• | Few trained extensionists of aquaculture techniques |
Table 4
Aquaculture statistics for Tanzania
Year | Source | Number of ponds | Total pond area (ha) | Average production (kg/ha/year) | Total estimated production (t/year) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1963 | Ibrahim, K. | 10 000 | 1 000 | 2 000 | 2 000 |
1981 | UNDP/FAO | 600–1 000 | 60–100 | 130 | - |
1983 | FAO/GCP | 800 | - | 130 | - |
1983 | Lema, R. | 1 000 | - | - | 200 |
1988 | Department of Fisheries | 5 000 | 500 | 750 | 375 |
1992 | Mafwenga, G.L.A. (author) | 8 611 | 877.41 | 1 9001 | 1 667 |
Table 5
Aquaculture statistics from four active regions for 1991
Region | District | Number of ponds | Total production (kg) | Total pond area (m2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mbeya | Mbozi | 230 | - | 177 550 |
Ileje | 135 | - | 20 960 | |
Rungwe | 142 | - | 62 322 | |
Mbeya rural | 287 | - | 737 903 | |
794 | - | 998 685 | ||
Iringa | Iringa | 352 | 192 229 | |
Mufindi | 266 | 221 845 | ||
Njombe | 216 | 229 310 | ||
Ludewa | 114 | 18 190 | ||
Makete | 168 | 37 319 | ||
1 116 | 698 893 | |||
Arusha | Arumeru | 83 | - | 8 300 |
Mbulu | 27 | - | 2 700 | |
Babati | 491 | - | 49 100 | |
Monduli | 24 | - | 2 400 | |
Hanang | 42 | - | 4 200 | |
Arusha | 11 | - | 1 100 | |
678 | 8 492 | 77 700 | ||
Ruvuma | Songea | 3 007 | - | |
Mbinga | 896 | - | ||
Tunduru | 1 056 | - | ||
4 959 | 15 000 |
Table 6
Aquaculture aid projects
Project/Location | Agency | Period | Description of the projet | Comments | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kunduchi fish farming marine biostation, Dar es Salaam | IFS | 1978 | Coastal fish culture (Siganus canalicullatus) | Completed | |
Aquaculture development | UNDP/FAO | 1978–81 | Construction of demonstration ponds at Morogoro and renovation of mainland and Zanzibar ponds | Abandoned/terminated | |
Aquaculture development and coordination | UNDP/FAO | 1982–87 | Support to government development plans | ||
Coastal aquaculture | FAO | 1980–82 | To develop pilot brackishwater fish farm at village level | No development | |
Fish ponds | U.S. Peace Corps | 1979–83 | Production of pond fish in rural areas | Successful (Ruvuma) | |
Aquaculture survey | ODA (Stirling University) | 1983 | Survey of aquaculture and recommendations for development | Complete | |
Fish farming project, Babati | Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT) | 1983 | • | Two aquaculturists to assist over 400 ponds in Babati district | Successful |
• | Started outreach programme to neighbouring districts/ regions | ||||
Bwawani impoundment pilot fish farm | FAO/ICP | 1975–76 | • | Use of volunteer farmers to train the farmers | Not successful |
Hombolo leprosy centre | Anglican church | 1981- | To set up a pilot fish farm project in an impoundment in Zanzibar | Successful | |
Rwanda refugee camp, Ruvuma | UNHCR (UNICEF) | 1982- | To set up small-scale demonstration pond and tanks system for extension and breeding. Distribute the fingerlings all over the country | ||
Tandara fish farm | CUSO | 1983 | Ponds for refugee camps at Kibondo, Kosula, Kigoma and Sibuanda | Completed | |
A volunteer surveyed Lake Nyasa area potential for fish farm plus project at Tandara | |||||
Rural project | Christian Council of Tanzania | Assist at rural level to develop small-scale farmer projects | |||
Ruvuma fish farm project | USAID | 1978- | PCV were stationed in the villages for 2–3 years and trained the fish farmers by working closely together | Successful | |
Tabora regional fish hatchery | OXFAM | 1980 | Four ponds, 0.7 ha, constructed by Mbega Melvin Consulting Engineers | Completed but now abandoned | |
Mixed fish culture - Other seaweed trials | IFS | 1978 | Estimation of colloidal content in seaweed, with weed farming component | Not completed | |
Lindi/Mtwara | ODA | 1980 | Fishery and fishculture experts include village pond rehabilitation as well as assistance to fishermen and revolving fund for gear | Successful | |
Zanu liberation | UNDP/FAO | Fish farm unit as part of 16 poultry/horticulture farms | Abandoned | ||
Rufiji Basin (fish crop) | FAO | 1979–82 | To establish three pilot farms to demonstrate feasibility of integration | No development | |
Lindi/Mtwara Fish Culture Development Project | ODA | 1986- | Rehabilitation and research studies at Mahiwa and Mtwara | In progress; results are encouraging | |
Seaweed collection and culture in Tanzania | ALCOM (SIDA/FAO) | 1991 | • | Identify suitable sites for seaweed cultivation | Survey was completed and comments were given as in previous column |
• | Trials on culture of other species | ||||
• | Preparation of handbook on seaweed farming in Tanzania | ||||
• | Encourage local community involvement | ||||
• | Compile market information for prospective investors | ||||
Fish farming development project, Arusha (FFDP-AR) | OXFAM | 1993–94 | • | Training fish farmers (volunteers) and fisheries extensionists | Just started |
• | Assist rural fish ponds in Mbulu, Arusha, Arumeru and Hanang districts | ||||
Fish farming programme, Masasi district | VSO | 1991- | Improving demonstration ponds and extension services | In progress |
A | Aquaculture |
R | Research |
T | Training |
P | Production |
P/S | Planning/Statistics |
M | Marketing |
Figure 3. Estimate of foreign aid allocation in 1976 and 1988 to the fisheries sector by activities
For quite some time, Tanzania has been receiving financial and technical assistance from different donors, as shown in Table 6 and Figure 3. By 1980, different donors had already assisted seven regions.
Of the technical assistance offered to Tanzania, the U.S. Volunteer Peace Corps and USAID in Ruvuma, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT) in Arusha and the Anglican Church in Hombolo have been successfully implemented. Other foreign-funded projects which have just been started and show signs of success include the fish farming development project in Arusha (OXFAM) and the fish farming programme in Masasi district (British Volunteer Organization).
As shown in Table 6, most of the financial assistance received has been on capture fisheries (production) and not in fish farming. Within a period of about 10 years (1976–1988), only 3 percent of the financial aid was given to aquaculture, while capture fisheries received 90 percent. This indicates that even foreign donors have given priority to capture fisheries.
To accomplish the Department of Fisheries' policy on fish farming (promoting and encouraging integrated fish farming with the ultimate objective of developing rural fish farms), different projects have been started, almost all externally funded. Table 6 shows a list of major projects and funding agencies between 1978 and 1993. By 1982, half of the regions involved in fish farming had externally funded projects. This aid was mainly for the renovation of the regional/district breeding/nursery ponds. This was done with the view of strenghtening the government centres so as to facilitate the extension work to the farmers. But these centres were not integrated with other income generating projects like husbandry and agriculture. Also, most of the local staff running the centres were not conversant with advanced fish farming techniques. As such, the centres died of natural death after the termination of aid.
Visiting consultants often failed to take adequately into account the social and economic structure of the local society. Most of the projects were based on large-scale showpiece constructions, using sophisticated techniques, alien to the villagers who were supposed to be the beneficiaries of the work. Due to the failure to involve local expertise in these projects, they were not sustainable. Only few donors and NGOs such as the U.S. Peace Corps, Church groups (Lutheran and Anglican) and USAID worked closely with local expertise.
Fish farming development potential is high in Tanzania, but its success very much depends on the skills of extension workers. The government and donor organizations should give a high priority in funding and training personnel so as to lay concrete foundations for aquaculture development.