TERMINAL REPORT OF
DR. V.R.P. SINHA
DR. V.R.P. SINHA
Senior Aquaculturist (Research and Training)
25 May 1986 – 24 May 1988
| TERMINAL REPORT OF DR. V.R.P. SINHA Senior Aquaculturist (Research and Training) 25 May 1986 – 24 May 1988 |
Hyperlinks to non-FAO Internet sites do not imply any official endorsement of or responsibility for the opinions, ideas, data or products presented at these locations, or guarantee the validity of the information provided. The sole purpose of links to non-FAO sites is to indicate further information available on related topics.
This electronic document has been scanned using optical character recognition (OCR) software. FAO declines all responsibility for any discrepancies that may exist between the present document and its original printed version.
Dr. V.R.P. Sinha was appointed on 25 May 1986 as Senior Aquaculturist (Research and Training) under the UNDP/FAO regional project, RAS/76/003, initially for one year, but the assignment was extended for another year under RAS/86/047. The Terms of Reference were: under the overall supervision of the Project Coordinator, organize and implement the long and short term training courses of the project; participate in theoretical and practical instruction work; assist in the implementation of project activities through close cooperation with the Centre Directors and technical staff of the regional lead centres; and to undertake other related activities as appropriate to fulfill project activities.
TOR 1: ORGANIZATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF LONG AND SHORT-TERM TRAINING COURSES
A. TRAINING
1. One-Year Training Course for Senior Aquaculturists in Asia, RLCP.
Assisted in the organizational activities for the sixth training course that was concluded in March 1987; and assisted in the organizational activities as well as implementation of the seventh training course that started in March 1988. Delivered lectures and assisted in instructional work in both sixth and seventh courses.
2. Four-Month Training Course in Integrated Fish Farming, RLCC.
Assisted in the organizational activities for the seventh and eighth batches of this course in 1987 and 1988.
3. Composite Carp Farming Training Course, RLCI.
Assisted in the organization and implementation of this training course at RLCI in 1986. Delivered lectures and also assisted in instructional work.
4. Short-Term Training Course on Netcage Culture of Marine Finfish in Coastal Waters, Singapore.
Assisted in organizing this course in 1986.
5. Training Course on Environmental Monitoring and the Relationship of the Environment with the Fish Ulcerative Disease, RLCT.
The training course which was held in November 1987 was in preparation for the eleven-country regional research programme on the environment and the fish ulcerative disease. Assisted in its organization and implementation, in close coordination with the RLCT staff who were considerably responsible for the conduct of the said course.
6. Training Course on Backyard Hatchery, RLCT.
Assisted in the organization and implementation of this course which is being held in nine batches at the Chachoengsao fisheries station of the department of fisheries, Thailand. At this date, two participants have already completed the four-week course and presently two participants from China are undergoing the course.
B. RESEARCH
1. Working Group Meetings
Assisted in the organization and conduct of the meetings of the three working groups, viz. Legal and Financial, Training and Research, which had been formed by the NACA Advisory Committee Meeting in 1985 for preparation for recommendations towards the setting up of the inter-governmental NACA; and prepared an extensive background paper to facilitate the work of the Research Working Group.
2. Research Project Proposals
Prepared draft project proposals on fish genetics and reproductive physiology, fish diseases, nutrition and feed formulation, as research components under NACA.
3. Secondment of junior Scientists Programme
Assisted in the implementation of the programme of secondment of junior scientists which was initiated by NACA in 1985 and being continued. The first batch of junior scientists to complete this programme consisted of seven scientists from the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, all of them either from regional or national aquaculture centres linked to NACA. They conducted their research through their participation in multidisciplinary research activities of the Centre and produced excellent pieces of research work in their respective fields. They were given the opportunity to observe and participate as members of the team working at their Centre. The research work was reviewed.
The second batch of junior scientists to undergo this programme consists of five scientists from the Philippines, Indonesia, China and Bangladesh. Assisted in the placement of these fellows and presently, two of them have initiated their work at RLCT.
4. Research Work of Associate Expert: Macrobrachium Studies
Supervised the research programme of the Associate Expert assigned to NACA. The preliminary work which he finished focused on the differentiation of the sex of Macrobrachium rosenbergii. The sex differentiation was studied morphologically and histologically over a period of 145 days using a population of M. rosenbergii bred and reared in a laboratory. The study found that the gonad differentiation is not a uniform development within a population of Macrobrachium rosenbergii. of the same age. The fast growing prawn (0.062 cm/day) develop earlier testis and ovary than slow growing ones (0.022 cm/day).
Supervised two other related research projects of the Associate Expert; the first, studies on the culture of the freshwater prawn at various stocking size and density in ricefields; and the second, experiments on sex deviation in the giant freshwater prawn through application of steroid hormones, Queen Bee hormone and an androgenic gland hormone analogue. Preliminary results have been reported regarding these studies.
5. Regional Research on the Fish Ulcerative Syndrome
Assisted in the organization of the regional research on the fish ulcerative syndrome. Worked very closely with the regional coordinator on fish disease (from RLCT) and the consultant (Stirling University) on the implementation of the research programme. The disease has spread to other parts of Asia and the research programme includes a monitoring component. NACA also provides a support service in the case of widespread epidemic.
6. National Aquaculture Centres: Research Programmes
Assisted the Project Directors in the national aquaculture centres in Nepal and Bangladesh in drawing up adaptive research programmes in these countries. The research thrusts in Nepal were directed towards integrated farming systems and polyculture in undrainable ponds, seed production; and in Bangladesh, carp farming, and integrated farming.
7. Research Reports
Reviewed the research reports from the National and Regional Lead Centres and edited these for publication into in-house working papers.
TOR NO. 2: PARTICIPATE IN THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL INSTRUCTION
1. As Lecturer
As part of the main instructional programme in the senior aquaculturists training course at RLCP, prepared and delivered lectures on the following: Introduction to Aquaculture, Basic Prinsiples of Aquaculture, Aquaculture Farming Systems, Integrated Fish Farming and Rice-Fish Culture. Also delivered lectures on the Aquaculture systems; Potentials and Prospects in the NACA-organized training programme on Economics and Socio-Economics of Aquaculture in 1987.
2. As Resource Person
Complementing the TCDC efforts of NACA, served as resource person at the FAO-implemented International Training Course in Aquaculture held at Szarvas, Hungary in September 1987. Lectures covered Asian fish farming systems involving carp, catfishes, snakehead culture and their propagation, and also crop-fish-livestock production systems. The project implementing the training course is financed jointly by the Arab Gulf Programme for the United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUN) and the Hungarian Government and it promotes aquaculture development in developing countries through the specialized training of aquaculture technicians.
TOR NO. 3. ASSIST IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES THROUGH CLOSE COOPERATION WITH THE CENTRE DIRECTORS AND TECHNICAL STAFF OF THE REGIONAL LEAD CENTRES
1. Working Group Meetings
Assisted in the organization and implementation of the three Working Group Meetings held in Bangkok in June 1986. The recommendations of the working groups would help NACA in its transformation into an inter-governmental NACA, particularly in its legal and financial structure, and its future research and training programmes.
2. First Provisional Governing Council Meeting
Assisted in the organization and conduct of the First Provisional Governing Council Meeting held in Surabaya, Indonesia in November 1986.
3. Meeting of Regional Lead Centre Directors
Assisted in the organization and implementation of the meeting of Regional Lead Centre Directors held in January 1987 in Bangkok.
4. Conference of Plenipotentiaries
Assisted in the organization and implementation of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries for the Establishment of an Inter-Governmental NACA held at the FAO Regional Office, Bangkok, on 5–8 January 1988.
5. Second Provisional Governing Council Meeting
Assisted in the organization of the Second Provisional Governing Council Meeting held on 12–15 January 1988, also in Bangkok.
6. ADCP Mission
Assisted the ADCP Mission in April 1988 for the review of the NACA senior aquaculturists programme being conducted at the RLCP.
6. Administration
Acted as Officer-in-Charge of the NACA Headquarters in the absence of the Coordinator. Also acted as Officer-in-Charge of the Regional Lead Centre in the Philippines, NACA Office, during March 1987 and May 1988.
7. Roster of Experts
Assisted in drawing up a roster of potential experts for various aquaculture/fisheries expertise to meet the requirements of various sectors and governments in the region.
8. Planning of In-Country Training Programmes for Extension Activities
While formulating the adaptive research in Mymensingh in 1987, in-country programmes on integrated fish farming and composite carp culture were planned; these were implemented finally in late 1987 and early 1988, respectively. Assisted in facilitating the assignment of experts from RLCC and RLCI to conduct the above mentioned training courses.
10. Assistance to CIFA
Participated in the meeting of collaborative arrangements between the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture and the Orissa University of Aquaculture and technology to establish a Centre of Advanced Studies in Inland Aquaculture at CIFA. Assisted in identifying the areas of fellowship, countries of training and also organizing the study tour and fellowship programmes.
11. PNAC
Held discussions with the project director of the Philippine National Aquaculture Centre and the Director of RLCP to help facilitate implementation of the PNAC activities.
12. Facilitated various support services for other UNDP/FAO projects, as follows:
For IND/85/059
Fellowships for two in aquaculture economics arranged and completed in May-June 1987 at RLCT.
Fellowships on Brackishwater Farm and Hatchery management for four arranged and completed in July-August 1987 at RLCP.
Fellowships for three on pond culture arranged and completed in October-November 1987.
Study tour for one month for one at RLCT in September-October 1987 arranged and completed.
For IND/85/020
Study tour for one arranged at RLCC, RLCP and RLCT; not availed of at this time.
Fellowship on integrated fish farming arranged for one person at RLCC.
Fellowship for one person on aquaculture economics arranged at RLCT; not availed of.
Fellowship for one on Macrobrachium farming arranged in Indonesia and Thailand; currently being implemented.
Fellowship on catfish culture for one arranged and completed in 1987 at RLCT.
For VIE/83/002
Study tour in Indonesia for five arranged and completed in September 1987.
Fellowship on shrimp hatchery in India for three arranged; currently being implemented.
Fellowship on shrimp culture for three arranged and completed in India (February-March 1987).
Fellowship (senior aquaculturists course) arranged for one in RLCP.
Secondment for one arranged in Jepara, Indonesia; currently being implemented.
Secondment on shrimp hatchery at Cochin, India arranged; presently being implemented (February 1988-January 1989).
For TCP/PHI/6651
Arranged study tour for two persons at RLCT (completed) and for two other persons at Ecuador (currently being implemented).
TOR NO. 4: UNDERTAKE OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES AS APPROPRIATE TO FULFILL PROJECT ACTIVITIES.
1. Participated in the mission to establish an Institute of Inland Fisheries in Burma, and prepared in cooperation with the Regional Aquaculture Officer a preliminary draft Project Document on the establishment of such an Institute. Because of my posting as Director of the Central Institute of Fisheries Education in Versova, Bombay, India, I will be unable to return to Burma for the second time to finalize the Project Document. This will be done by the Regional Aquaculture Officer.
2. Served as one-man mission that went to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for the establishment of an Institute on Aquaculture and prepared a Project Document on the establishment of such an Institute.
3. Attended, as representative of NACA, several workshops and meetings.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Training
Incidentally, I happened to be the resource person in the mission which went to review the training courses at RLCP and thus I had the opportunity to know the first hand reaction of some of the past trainees of the Senior Aquaculturists Course and the Integrated Fish Farming Course; of RLCP administration, senior officials and the University of the Philippines in the Visayas. It appears that the broad-based training programme of senior aquaculturists which is highly cost-effective has been very valuable for the region and it needs to be continued. This has also been my own impression which I gathered during my duty travels in many countries. The NACA mechanism has been very effective in organizing such trainings as envisaged in the original Project Document.
During my visits to different countries in the region, I also have come across the trainees who have been trained in different short-term training programmes. It is heartening to see their involvement in the technology transfer. Thus it is recommended that such training for technology transfer needs to be continued on the regional level.
NACA promotional role needs to be intensified in organising the in-country training programmes for the extension officials and for the farmers as has been done by NACA in Bangladesh.
2. Research
The secondment programme of junior scientists needs to be as far as possible made available to the national centre staff who could be able to go back to the centre and thus play a major role in the transfer of technology.
NACA lead centres are intensifying research for intensive production of prawn, shrimp, carp, catfish, tilapia, seabass, grouper and seaweed and mollusc farming. NACA efforts in promoting the transfer of technology of such farming system through its various programmes have already started paying dividends in the region. Thus the ongoing programmes of transfer of technology need to be continued.
While manpower development for the region through the regular and short-term training programmes are being continued to produce technical manpower to man the development projects and undertake transfer of technology properly, it is essential that the the existing technology should be upgraded through disciplinary and multidisciplinary research to support and elevate the existing technology to bring it more under human control. Much has already been discussed during the National Directors' Meeting and a five-year plan was discussed. However, focus needs to be given on feed development, health management research, soil and water management, and socio-economic aspects. It is essential that the well-established NACA linkage and mechanism be utilized to ensure the conduct of such research programme with uniform methodology. A preparatory short-term training course or workshop should precede the launching of the programme, as has already been done by NACA for socio-economics and fish disease research.
Nutritional Research
NACA may play a very crucial role in promoting regional research in the following fields.
1. Regional research on the nutritional value of natural feeds in nursery and grow-out systems of different commodities and their nutritional requirements, and the formulation of cost-effective supplementary feeds from locally available ingredients for different life history stages.
Though these investigations are site-specific in terms of commodity, resources, natural feed, ingredients particularly non-conventional feedstuff locally available for formulation of supplementary feed, yet the problem of researches in this field are common requiring similar approach and standard methods and nutritional assays.
2. Regional Research on Fish Health Management
Already, NACA has gone far ahead in organizing the regional research programme on the environment and ulcerative syndrome in fish. Further it is also organizing the Fish Disease Diagnostic Training Course. Thus, while it is essential to develop diagnostic procedures for diseases and health monitoring methods, preventions and immunoprophylaxis for control of diseases are needed to be investigated and incorporated into farming technology. Though most of the parameters may be site specific but the approach and methodology are the same. Study on regional basis would also offer the opportunity to gather an overall information and perspective of the health management problems and would produce valuable research results without much duplication of effort.
3. Controlled breeding and seed production
Considerable progress has been made in breeding technology of several cultured species. However, controlled reproduction of a number of commercially important species is not yet achieved, Percentage of success of induced breeding in carps and other fish remains highly variable. Failures are correlated, partly with the potency of the donor pituitary, unsuitable weather conditions or poor condition of the broodstock. Of these, condition of broodstock appears to be the key element of the success of induced breeding. Investigations are needed to know the hormonal level in the blood during prime condition and spawning, manipulation of factors for maturation, accelerating the sexual development to shorten the sexual cycle, increasing the number of eggs., etc. so as to have better control on the breeding of fish and also to increase the egg production potential. Knowledge of ecophysiological aspects of the breeding is essential so as to create most conducive condition for spawning. Similarly, packages of practices need to be upgraded to minimize the mortality rate of seed during nursery period. Regional approaches to tackle these problems would be highly realistic in view of the common problem and common commodity in many countries of the region.
4. Integrated fish-crop-livestock and sewage fed pond farming research
Studies undertaken in certain countries of the region have indicated that fish/crop/livestock farming has multiple advantages to the farmers in terms of maximum yield and diversified products from a minimum-sized area, efficient use of resources in terms of units of space and time, increase income spread throughout the year, better employment for the family and community and more self-sufficiency in the food supply. However, scentific research is required to know the production/integration efficiencies. Utilization of animal and plant wastes, their decomposition, pathogenic organisms in wastes and their transmission to fish and through fish to human beings, plant as well as animal waste treatment, release of nutrients, common diseases and method of treatments all need extensive and intensive research investigations to evolve suitable models for efficient integrated farming systems relevant to the region. These are well-understood objectives of RLCC and it is for the region to utilize properly the wealth of information already generated by NACA/RLCC.
Further, utilization of sewage for animal protein production through aquaculture has considerable relevance to this region. Already, thousands of hectares in certain countries of the region have sewage-fed fish farms. Package of practices needs to be upgraded by certain countries of the region for nursery, rearing and grow-out pond management for carp, prawn, and tilapia farming. However, while these need to be upgraded, it is essential that the existing technology should be known and adopted with proper modification in the region.
5. Marketing of aquaculture products
Advancement in culture technology without a potential market or without improvement in marketing infrastructure can glut the market and reduce market price and profitability of operation. Much attention has been focused on means of increasing production but marketing aspects have not been adequately researched. Research on marketing economics would facilitate the decision-making for individual farmers as well as policy makers at the national and regional levels.
6. Socio-economic studies of aquaculture development
An assessment of social net benefit through aquaculture is essential to show the multiple benefits derived through it as compared to other protein production systems. Thus, research on the socio-economics of aquaculture systems plays an important role in the development of aquaculture. It provides a basis, not only for the decision-making among farmers, but also for formulating aquaculture policies. Such studies are generally lacking in aquaculture; therefore, efficient management decisions cannot be properly made by farmers, commercial fish farmers and by development agencies.
7. Soil and water quality management
Freshwater ponds in the region are often rainfed undrainable, which limit their production at times considerably. Development of technically and erconomically feasible rehabilitation methods (drainage, silt removal, improved harvesting, minimizing water losses, etc.) would increase production without substantial new investments. Development of up-to-date designing and construction guidelines for new pond systems and their application would result in decreased construction costs, more efficient pond management and increased productivity. Use of unconventional energy resources for pumping and aeration would help adoption of more intensive farming methods in remote areas.
Brackishwater ponds are also very often traditional tidal-fed ponds with low productivity. In many cases they have been constructed on acid sulphate soils, which further limits their production. Development of reliable site selection criteria, designing and construction guidelines would facilitate construction of more efficient pond systems. Operation costs of pump-fed brackishwater pond systems could be considerably decreased by using the most efficient pumps with low head and high water volume, therefore comparative studies on the available pumps are also needed.
Cage, pen, and raceway culture is also expected to develop rapidly in the future; thus engineering aspects of site selection should be standardized. The use of locally available construction materials need further studies.
Hatchery development continues to be the most essential prerequisitye for aquaculture development in the region. There is a strong need to develop appropriate hatrchery designs for finfishes and shellfishes both for small scale and large scale operations. Water quality control should be given high priority in these designs.
Acknowledgments
Grateful acknowledgment is made to Mr. Chen Foo Yan whose able supervision was of considerable help to fulfill my terms of reference. I am indebted to Dr. N. Kojima for his support. I am also thankful to all the Lead Centre Directors and the Directors of the National Centres and concerned government agencies for their cooperation. I am grateful to all the staff at NACA Headquarters for their unstinting support. I express my gratitude to the Government of India for allowing me to avail of the opportunity to render my service for a couple of years to the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia under the TCDC concept.
