PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES AND LIVESTOCK
FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE

REPORT NO 2 FIVE YEAR MASTERPLAN PART 1: RESEARCH PLAN CONTENTS

MARCH 1986

FAO/UNDP TA-PROJECT BGD 83-010
IDA/WB AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH II PROJECT

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CONTENTS

CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
LIST OF ANNEXES
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
PREFACE
SUMMARY

1 MANDATE OF THE FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE

2 STATE OF FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE

2.1 The importance of fisheries
2.2 Fishery resources
2.3 Potentials and constraints for development
2.4 Institutional infrastructure

3 PROPOSED RESEARCH

3.1 Basic principles
3.2 Research projects
3.3 Contract research

4 INFRASTRUCTURE OF FRI

4.1 Facilities
4.2 Organization
4.3 Staffing
4.4 Funding
4.5 Technical assistance

5 OPERATION OF RESEARCH IN FRI

5.1 Starting of projects
5.2 Reporting
5.3 Evaluation and monitoring

6 TRAINING

6.1 Training of staff
6.2 Training by staff

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 - Fishery resources and production
2 - Priority rating of main production categories
3 - Research areas, projects, and priorities
4 - Staff provisions and requirements
5 - Level of positions in FRI
6 - Research programmes of FRI and their source of fund
7 - Technical assistance for FRI
8 - FRI Staff Training Programme
9 - Training by FRI staff

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 - Research matrix
2 - Proposed set-up for FRI
3 - Organogramme of FRI Headquarters
4 - Organogramme of FRI (present situation)
5 - Organogramme , incl. Technical Assistance

LIST OF ANNEXES

Annex A - Research programme for the FRI in 1986–87
B - Research Project Proforma
C - Generalized objectives of research programmes
D - Staffing of Headquarters FRI, Mymensingh
E - Staffing of Freshwater Research Station, Mymensingh
F - Staffing of Brackishwater Research Station, Khulna
G - Staffing of Marine Research Station, Cox's Bazar
H - Terms of Reference of UNDP/FAO specialists
I - Monthly Progress Report

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

PREFACE

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are providing technical assistance to the People's Republic of Bangladesh for the implementation of the International Development Agency (IDA-World Bank) financed Agricultural Research II Project. A part of this project is the formation of the Fisheries Research Institute (FRI). The UNDP/FAO technical assistance includes a group of consultants for detailed planning of FRI. A first mission (October-December 1984) analyzed the research infrastructure, identified preliminary research areas, and specified further technical assistance. The findings were recorded in Report No 1 (Revised version) of April 1985, which was integrally accepted by the Government of Bangladesh in August 1985.

The second mission was to start immediately after acceptance of Report No 1. That mission was planned to prepare a Fisheries Research Masterplan, and to start to implement that plan thereafter. Due to difficulties in recruitment of adequate specialists, the mission until presently consisted of the teamleader (Research Planning Adviser) only. Because of this slow start, the Masterplan could not be ready in time in a completed form; but since the National Agricultural Research Plan of Bangladesh is intended to be finalized before July 1986, it was decided to deliver the Fisheries Research Masterplan already partially. Emphasis in this Part 1 has been laid on those aspects that are to be included in the National Plan (research priorities), or that are needed to start up at least some actual scientific work at FRI (facilities, organization, training). Detailed research outlines and budgets (Part 2), as well as a Physical Action Plan (Part 3) will appear after employment of the other specialists foreseen.

SUMMARY

1. By Ordinance No XLV of 1984, entitled “The Fisheries Research Institute Ordinance, 1984”, the President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh created the Fisheries Research Institute on 11 July, 1984. (Chapter 1).

2. Analysis of the present fisheries situation revealed that main emphasis should be given to research in riverine fisheries (to maintain present production levels), brackishwater aquaculture, and fisheries in ponds and other freshwater bodies (Chapter 2).

3. Priority research projects have been identified and allocated to the research stations (Chapter 3); procedures for starting up research work have been developed (Chapter 5.1). Related projects are combined to research programmes, of which a limited number are taken up in each station. This will strongly improve motivation of researchers, as well as efficiency of guidance. Sources of project funding have been identified, including the Contract Research scheme of the Agricultural Research II Project (Chapter 4.4).

4. It is argumented that the original set-up of FRI (5 stations, HQ in Chandpur) hampers progress because of problems in management, research guidance, and in efficient use of available budgets. It is proposed to limit the number of stations to 3 (for freshwater, brackishwater and marine research) and to house the headquarters in one of them, preferably in Mymensingh (freshwater) (Chapter 4.1).

5. Organogrammes and staffing lists are presented; concentration of facilities makes the organization smaller and better, and FRI can function with less personnel than originally foreseen (Chapter 4.2/3).

6. Technical Assistance to FRI is available from different sources; for the various specialists responsabilities and their place in the organization have been specified (Chapter 4.5).

7. Proposals for regular monitoring of research projects have been worked out in detail (Chapter 5.2/3).

8. An elaborated Staff Training Programme is presented and suggestions are presented for the outflow of research results to the users (extension service, farmers, policy makers, industry, scientific community), (Chapter 6).