9.1 Identification of National Institutions to Become Involved in the African Research Network for the Integration of Aquaculture and Irrigation - Phase1

9.2 Coordination with Existing African Networks

9.3 Future Actions to be Taken for the Establishment of the New Network

9.3.1 Official invitation

9.3.2 Preparation of a national review/synthesis

9.3.3 Seminar

9.4 Potential Research Subjects for the New Network

9.4.1 General research subjects

9.4.2 Undrainable fish farming structures

9.4.3 Ponds with a high to very high water exchange

9.4.4 Ponds in waterlogged areas

9.4.5 Ponds in terrain depressions or borrowing pits

9.4.6 Rice-cum-fish culture

9.4.7 Fish pen culture in irrigation canals

9.4.8 Fish cage culture in irrigation canals

9.4.9 Culture-based fishery in irrigation canals

9.4.10 Small reservoir fishery

LIST OF ACRONYMS

During the mission national institutions apt to become initially members of the new research network have been identified in each of the countries visited, except in Zimbabwe where a regional development programme (hopefully to be institutionalized within SADC in the medium term) has been proposed.

The recommended institutions are the following:

As mentioned earlier, some networks already exist or are being initiated in Africa, specialized in irrigation, regional development or fisheries.

The new research network for aquaculture integration into irrigation schemes should become closely associated with these networks and in particular with the:

• ARID (irrigation/drainage) network (Chapter 7, Section 7.1);
• FARMESA network (Chapter 6, Section 4.4);
• SADC/FANR network (Chapter 6, Section 4.5);
• ALCOM/SWB network (Chapter 6, Section 4.1);
• FAO aquatic farming systems information network to be soon initiated (Coche and Collins, 1997).

Future closer collaboration with these networks might be useful for the organization of seminars/workshops, for group training and for dissemination of information through existing channels such as newsletters and publications.

From discussions during the mission with people directly interested in participating in the new network, it appears that the following strategy could be adopted for the establishment of this network:

An official invitation should be addressed by FAO to the Director of the selected institutions to participate in the Seminar indicated below.

Author’s contracts should be issued (max. six weeks WAE within a period of three months) in 1998 for the preparation of national reviews/syntheses according to a standard framework by each of the institutions having expressed an interest to participate in the Seminar, with or without support from other institutions. Such synthesis should review/analyse/comment on past and present experiences and results with aquaculture, irrigation (research/development) and their integration, considering technological, sociological and economic aspects as well as existing constraints for research and development.

Seminar to be organized either in Ghana, Accra (FAO Regional Office) or in Zimbabwe (FAO Sub-regional Office and networking experience in ALCOM), with the objectives of:

• reviewing the development/research constraints existing in the participating countries in particular following the outline agreed for the national reviews, and on such basis:

• to discuss the future organization responsibilities and functioning of the new network, in particular from the point of view of using two languages, English and French;
• to agree on applied research priorities and a research programme for the new network to support the development of the integration of aquaculture and irrigation;
• to recommend how such research could be carried out in the field in each of the involved countries, with particular attention to the human and financial resources to be mobilized to this effect;
• to recommend how best close links could be established with other existing African networks of interest.

Participants in this seminar should include representatives from the countries involved, directly involved in research and/or development of irrigation, aquaculture and SWB fisheries. Representatives of other existing networks should also be invited to attend to share their past experiences with networking.

9.4.1 General research subjects

• sociology: evaluation of adoption constraints and potential benefits of integration;
• economics: evaluation of potential benefits of integration;
• availability of juvenile fish, either captured from the wild or locally produced (technologies for capture/production/transport; seasonality; economics);
• recycling of locally available wastes/by-products (technologies for composting/processing/ utilization as pond fertilizer or fish feed);
• control of fish thefts, especially in irrigated plots and ponds;
• protection against predation (birds, etc.);
• protection of fish farming structures against damages by livestock and soil erosion;
• participatory design of integrated system;
• appropriate extension methodology;
• appropriate pond management options, adapted to integrated fish farming and irrigation (greater water level fluctuations, fish reproduction, production level, inputs application, physico-chemical water quality, etc.);
• effects of fish farming on vectors of waterborne diseases (especially snails/schistosomiasis and mosquito larvae/malaria).

(Table below)

• fish harvesting techniques;
• water lifting devices for draining ponds;
• fish population dynamics.

(Table below)

• water physico-chemical characteristics;
• intensification of organic fertilization;
• fish feeds and feeding aspects;
• appropriate fish species, feeding on macrophytes, bottom fauna and/or detritus rather than plankton.

Drainage and water exchange characteristics of fish farming structures

Rem.: (·) possibility exists but should be avoided if possible;

use of pumping necessary.

9.4.4 Ponds in waterlogged areas

• water physico-chemical characteristics;
• seasonal water table fluctuations.

9.4.5 Ponds in terrain depressions or borrowing pits

• design of water control structures;
• design of pond;
• water physico-chemical characteristics.

9.4.6 Rice-cum-fish culture

• minimum water depth tolerated by farmed fish;
• biological control of weeds by farmed fish;
• potential of Azolla pinata (small floating fern) to control weeds, to fix atmospheric nitrogen in soil and to be used as fish food; effect on water dissolved oxygen content);
• technology for pesticide application to rice plants with limited effect on fish;
• effects of used pesticides on fish health and fish quality for human consumption;
• rice plot design for fish farming (trenches/sump);
• harvesting techniques;
• effects of fish farming on rice health and production, including Integrated Pest Management (IPM) aspects.

9.4.7 Fish pen culture in irrigation canals

• end-barriers design to guarantee minimum required flow at all times;
• construction materials for screens;
• legal implications (potential conflicts due to reduced water flow);
• social implications;
• fish harvesting technology;
• effect of fish pen on downstream water quality;
• effect of fish pen on hydraulic characteristics of canal (e.g., siltation and water discharge capacity);
• effect of fish pen on aquatic weeds.

Further discussion on this subject is included in Redding and Midlen, 1991.

9.4.8 Fish cage culture in irrigation canals

• design of floating fish cages;
• construction materials (rigid plastic or synthetic netting);
• legal implications (downstream water users);
• social implications;
• effect of fish cages on downstream water quality;
• effect of fish cages on hydraulic characteristics of canal (e.g., siltation and water discharge capacity).

Further discussion on this subject is included in Redding and Midlen, 1991

9.4.9 Culture-based fishery in irrigation canals

• harvesting techniques;
• fish population dynamics;
• fish migrations in irrigation canals;
• fishery enhancement techniques;
• supplementary feeding potential;
• controlled ranching with imprinted fish;
• legal implications (ownership of fish, etc.)
• effect on weeds.

Further discussion on this subject is included in Redding and Midlen, 1991

9.4.10 Small reservoir fishery

• methodology to estimate potential sustainable yield based on key indicators which are readily measurable (adapted ALCOM methodology);
• community-based management methods (adapted ALCOM guidelines);
• methods for fishery enhancement through introduction of new species, periodic stocking of existing species, fertilization and/or feeding;
• selective harvesting techniques;
• culture-based fish breeding structures and methods for SWB.