Aquaculture contributes significantly to the rural economy of most of the Asian and other developing countries by providing part- and full-time occupation to the farmers, fishermen and landless agricultural labourers. India, and other developing countries of the South Asian region are endowed with ample water resources in the shape of freshwater ponds and tanks for fish culture, but these are not under effective and optimum utilization in spite of highly developed available technologies. Research results have shown excellent production potential as well as economic viability of such technologies, but until these technologies are successfully transferred to the beneficiaries, the desired objective cannot be achieved. Like agriculture, aquaculture is also an agroclimatic-based technology which, when developed in one agroclimatic region, may need modifications and refinement for adoption to another region. Agriculture extension thus involves not only the extension of aquaculture technology, but also certain levels of adoptive research in a particular field environment before it is launched for large-scale extension. It is a two-way education process in which both scientists and farmers contribute, receive and interact with the involvement of extension workers as a link between the two and a catalyst as well (model). In other words, it is a non-formal adult education programme for educating and training the rural mass to acquire suitable fish farming skills and capabilities with a view to boosting fish production efficiency and the socio-economic condition.
Aquaculture extension is basically an educational process by means of which scientific and technological knowledge of aquaculture is carried to the farmers to upgrade their existing operation and farm management skills. The philosophy behind this process is to change the altitude, enhance the skill and knowledge of the fish farmers to upgrade their aquaculture practice. It also aims at binging maximum possible unutilized and under-utilized water areas under modern fish culture operation so as to raise the standard of living of the fish farmers through improving productivity and profitability. Apart from achieving its own target its overall objective is also to signifiantly contribute towards rural development by improving rural economy, creating additional gainful employment opportunities, fighting malnutrition and preventing rural exodus.
Any aquaculture extension programme is designed based upon broad national consideration to achieve national goals and targets viz-a-viz local considerations to achieve short-term objectives such as application of composite fish culture in undrainable ponds to improve the aquaculture production level. A local aquaculture extension programme is relatively more definite in terms of scope and target. Like any other aquaculture extension programme, there should be three sequential steps for the dissemination of fish culture technology in undrainable ponds. They are as follows:
Programme planning
Programme implementation
Programme evaluation
While planning the dissemination of fish culture technology one should always bear in mind that the programme should be a self-regenerating production endeavour and once it is stimulated should continue on its own with a changed attitude and active participation of the recipient. This involves situation-specific strategies. The main components of programme planning are pre-adoption survey of the area, situation analysis, setting programme goals and finally designing strategies in a sequential manner.
Village Survey
Fish culture is basically a rural farming system and hence village survey is the most common method for identification of the difficulties faced by the farmers and to find out the scope and suitability of a specific technology needing to be transferred (Radheysham and Kumar, 1982). The main objective is to get an overall picture of the village and the villagers, their attitude, values, together with their socio-economic conditions and also to locate and assess the available freshwater resources. It also helps to identify the local institutions, village leaders, progressive farmers, school teachers, village level workers in order to design the most feasible extension strategy and also to establish a permanent rapport to strengthen the extension services. At micro level it provides information about the socio-economic conditions of individual fish farmers, the pattern of fish farming, and the technological gap.
The village selected for the survey should be such that it may represent the locality. Regular contact with important and progressive farmers of the village should be maintained. They should be informed about the objectives of the survey proposed to be undertaken. Interviews with these persons will provide an overall picture of available natural and human resources and possible areas for development. Finally detailed relevant information may be collected from individual pond owners/fish farmers and fishermen through personal interviews/questionnaires.
Resource Inventory
Availability of water resources
Various types of water resources are available for fish culture but usually all of them are not fully utilized. Large, medium and smaller types of water bodies are generally available in villages which may be suitable for fish culture. Many small water bodies are found fully shaded by large marginal trees and thereby lying unproductive. Some unconventional types of water areas with potentiality for intensive aquaculture are also available. Canal/road and village side small and large ditches, pits emerging due to construction of mud houses etc., are some of the unnoticed and untrapped potential aquaculture resources suitable for seed production and short-term fish rearing (kumar, mohanly and bhanot). Low-lying and swampy areas which are formed naturally due to human activities are also potential sites for undrainable ponds for fish culture.
Availability of human resources
It is a well-known fact that the majority of the people in developing countries live in villages and most of the rural population depend upon agriculture, aquaculture, livestock farming and other allied activities for their livelihood. Human resources are the vital inputs in rural aquaculture development. Rural areas have vast potential of unutilized or underutilized human resources for both men and women, which can be effectively utilized in operating aquaculture (Kumar et al., 1988).
Identification of possible constraints
A village survey also offers an excellent opportunity to identify various constraints in the background of which an appropriate strategy can be suitably designed.
Financial
Farmers usually do not have surplus funds big enough to be diverted towards reclamation and renovation of existing watersheds as well as construction of new ponds. Initial expenditure for fish culture over fish toxicant, fish seed and supplementary feed is itself a considerably big amount to be exclusively borne by farmers themselves without any credit support. As such, possible sources for mobilizing credit facilities may be identified.
Improper water area distribution pattern
Like land distribution pattern, major water areas are usually found in the possession of medium and big farmers who bother least about fish culture and concentrate themselves mostly on agriculture, while small and marginal farmers have minimum water holdings at their disposal with adequate manpower potential to be utilized. In some areas most of the water bodies are vested to village institutions, local administrative bodies, etc.
Lack of technical knowhow
Several seasonal and perennial ponds without any proper embankments are found lying fallow in a derelict condition due to ignorance and lack of technical knowhow. In some cases farmers fail to follow-up the prescribed package of practices strictly and land themselves in a state of financial turmoil and lose confidence in the viability of newly developed fish farming technologies.
Lack of stocking materials and other material inputs
Fish farmers usually face the biggest problem of unavailability of quality fish seed for stocking their pond. Paucity of quality fish seed in the locality force the farmers to stock their ponds without any consideration to proper stocking size, density, species, ratio, etc. At times, they procure riverine fish seed which is usually mixed with the seeds of predatory and weed fishes. Other material such as fish toxicants are usually localised in its availability. All such problems are also vital for deciding area specific extension strategies.
Marketing problem
It is a general practice that the fish is sold to middlemen at the pond site who invariably pay lower prices. Due to the perishable nature of the commodity and fear of exploitation by the fish wholesellers, farmers prefer to sell the crop at their pond/farm sites even at relatively lower rates. Information related to marketing practices will add to the scope of the extension programme so that farmers may be educated in marketing management to avoid such exploitation.
Lack of transport and efficient communication system
In remote villages of India and many developing countries where fish culture technology needs to be extended, proper transport and communication facilities are lacking.
Social and administrative problems
Ponds remaining unutilized and lying in derelict conditions are common sights in rural areas in spite of a certain level of fish culture know how available with the farmers. In most cases such conditions exist due to family rivalry and non-cooperation among the members of the owners especially when the water areas are under multi-ownership. Poaching and deliberate poisoning of the ponds to destroy the crop are also serious social problems. In some areas fish culture is supposed to be of a low-caste profession, thus many efficient upper-caste prople remain reluctant to come forward for this venture. Local administration such as Panchayats and Block Level Development Departments are also not always suitable geared enough to ensure rural aquaculture development.
Setting programme goals and planning
In the light of resource inventory and possible limitations suitable target groups may be identified, programme goals may be set up and accordingly suitable extension strategy may be planned. Without such an early insight and planning, the programme may not have firm and realistic footing. Although the fish farmers are the usual target of any fish culture extension programme, all the fish farmers may not be suitable to be involved for immediate participation. Target groups may be selected on a number of criteria including farming practice, production level, income, education, cultural background, nature, reputation in the society, initiative, liable to change their attitude, etc. Selection of suitable communication channels is also very important. Data collected during the pre-adoption survey provide the necessary information for such selection. After these selections, programme goals may be set up. Goals indicate the direction towards which the programme is oriented. It also provides reference level for evaluating the programme achievements (NACA lecture series No. 3). Examples of goals in such extension programme may be on the following lines:
improving the socio-economic uplift of fish farmers and raising the standard of living;
bringing 100% of the available undrainable ponds for composite fish culture.
“Plan the work and work the plan” is an appropriate term for any extension programme. Once the plan is laid, all possible efforts should be diverted to ensure that responsibilities are carried out, schedules are followed arid activities accomplished as per the plan (Kumar, Mohanty and Muduli) . Although the strategies and planning of the aquaculture extension programme are situation specific, some general steps may be cited as follows;
Through heavy flow of information using mass media, publications, individual and mass contacts, etc., awareness and interest should be created among fish farmers.
One or two demonstration centres may be set up and the technology of composite fish culture and seed production in undrainable ponds may be demonstrated to maximum possible farmers to let them realize the case of operation, production potential and profitability.
A set of suitable farmers should be selected initially and be motivated and guided enough so that they strictly follow the different package of practices as per the schedule.
Proper steps may also be taken to make available the critical material inputs at the pond/farm sites and if the programme permits, subsidy should be given as a token of initial attraction.
If the availability of quality fish seed is found to be a limiting factor, fish seed may be distributed free of cost or at concessional rate to the farmers at the initial stage. Proper attention may also be paid for extending fish breeding and seed rearing programmes.
Facilities for proper monitoring of water quality and fish health may be extended through the participation of nearby laboratories.
Periodical netting for growth check/health inspection should be strictly followed and supervised.
Self-explanatory/pictorial instruction booklets dealing with basic steps of composite fish culture, control breeding of common carp, techniques of pituitary gland collection, induced breeding of major carps, hatchery operation for carps, nursery and rearing pond managements, techniques of fish seed transport, etc., may be prepared, explained and distributed among farmers.
Ad hoc training courses should be organized at the demonstration sites on different aspects of fish culture and fish seed production for participating and other interested farmers. Exhibition programme/Fish Farmer's Day should be organized time to time at different places in which live specimens of all the six carp species, other culturable air-breathing fishes, harmful predatory species, weeds, fish feeds, fish toxicants, etc., should be shown and the objective and goal of the programme may be exhibited through models, charts, posters, etc. Sufficient time should also be provided to discuss the farmer's problems under field conditions. Proper advice can be rendered immediately and/or the problems should be forwarded to research institutions.
Daily talks on radio/tv may be organized to describe and discuss the technologies being extended.
At times a team of a few farmers may be selected on the basis of their leadership quality and performance, and sent to visit important aquaculture centres, farms, research institutions, etc.
Individual contacts through home visits is a very effective extension method. The extension worker must be very clear in this objective during the visit and must do sufficient preparation with regard to subject matter information he is going to deliver to the fish farmer and family members.
Evening is the most suitable time for organizing an assembly of farmers. Necessary details about practices to be followed the next day may be explained to them during such assemblies. Teaching aids may be used to make the communication effective.
Programme evaluation is the process to determine the extent of success of the executed extension programme in the light of present objectives. It is an important management function in order to ensure effective implementation of the programme. It also helps in the identification of the deficiencies and weakness of the programme so that proper corrective measures may be taken to make it more useful in its future course. Programme evaluation can be conducted once a year or at a specific period of the programme and finally at the concluding phase of the programme. The process of evaluation also depends upon the nature of the programme. A short term and less extensive localized extension programme may be evaluated by the extension workers themselves through the analysis of progress reports, field records, questionnaires, etc. However, broad-based and elaborate extension programmes can be evaluated by specialists in association with the extension workers to determine the effectiveness and impact of the extension programme.
It is convenient to fractionate the whole programme into smaller components for effective and easy evaluation. Fractionation may be done as follows:
Resources (financial, personnel an material) made available.
Objective of the programme in clear terms.
Phases of the programme (evaluation should also be done phase-wise).
Data collection from records and tabulation.
Selection of ways, means and methods for the collection of data/information from participating, non-participating fish farmers, village youths, prominent persons of the locality, etc.
Sample selection
Collection of data/information from target and non-target groups
Tabulation of data
Data analysis and interpretation of results
To measure the degree of success, certain values have to be associated with the information. Increased fish production level, profit through increased fish yields, knowledge of modern management techniques, fish breeding, fish seed rearing, increased number of ponds/water areas in the area, etc. are some of such measurable values for programme evaluation.
Extension services can be made most effective by making the people understand, accept and adopt the new technology, as it is very much clear from statistical data that people remember 10% of what they hear, 40–50% of what they see and hear and 90% of what they see, hear and do.
Maximum potential for development of undrainable pond fish culture lies in developing countries where the prevailing literacy level is lowest.
The personality profile of extension workers is of prime importance for the extension of any rural-based aquaculture technology. He must mould himself enough so that he may become technical by profession, social by temperament and preserve human values and missionary zeal of serving the rural poor. He should be simple, easily approachable and adaptable enough so that he can live among fish farmers. At the same time he must not have any inferiority complex while meeting with specialists and higher bureaucrats.
The target groups of aquaculture extension programmes are usually socio-economically backward rural masses having a low level of literacy and technical knowhow, and are reluctant to bring about quick changes in their attitude.
Many extension departments and voluntary organizations are also of the opinion that the gains of socio-economic and technological development progrmames do net reach the rural poor and that the roots of this failure lies in the lack of organization of the poor themselves. Field workers experience very often instances of diversion of financial grants meant for production programmes for the small and marginal farmers into consumption subsidies. Similarly, there are numerous instances where free educational facilities are granted for children of rural poor, but they hardly avail the opportunity as they are treated as helping hands for supplementing family income. Most of the resources allocated for various welfare activities of the rural poor, however, are diverted into activities totally unrelated to mass welfare. The fact is that the poor are not only poor but are disorganized and hence they have very little influence in the process of decision-making and implementation of the programme. Under such conditions the concept of community fish farming may also be considered as an effective and ideal method for organizing at least a section of the rural poor/fish farmers/fishermen in cooperative and productive communication (Tripathy,et al., 1982).
Support services and credit facilities are the two important factors which play major roles in the aquaculture development programme. Lack of appropriate support services and proper credit facilities are the major drawbacks.
Effective institutional support to provide the necessary technical services needed by the extension programme, such as site selection, pond designing, fish health check, pond environment monitoring, etc., are vital for programme implementation.
