The Department of Livestock and Fisheries is an outgrowth of a recent reorganization which aimed to put more emphasis on fisheries and aquaculture. Fisheries is now on an equal footing with livestock and animal health at the divisional level, rather than being under the livestock and small animal division, as was formerly the case.
The new division was recently reorganized into 5 units:
Aquaculture and Wetlands Management
Reservoir management
Aquatic Resource and Identification
Processing and Control
National Fisheries Institute
Aquaculture extension and fisheries enhancement of wetlands is the responsibility of the Aquaculture and Wetlands Management Unit. Fisheries enhancement of wetlands can include the establishment of culture based fisheries or the introduction of cage or pen culture. However, aquaculture in wetlands must be done in a non-destructive manner. The Dept. of Forestry actually has the responsibility for resource management in wetlands, but their's is primarily a conservation mission for the preservation of habitat and endangered species. According to decree PM/85 issued in 1993, responsibility for aquatic resource management falls to the fisheries division. However, this has not yet been fully assumed, particularly in the case of wetlands. This unit also undertakes adaptive research in aquaculture. By this is meant trials to test and adapt new aquaculture technologies or species to Lao conditions before they are demonstrated or disseminated.
A key strategy for extension is the formation of target farmers who are to serve as "change agent' for the introduction of new and improved technology. The success of the FAO/UNDP fish culture extension project attests its effectiveness.
The Reservoir Management Unit deals not only with the management of reservoir fisheries, but also with the establishment of culture-based fisheries in hydropower and irrigation reservoirs. Presumably they would have a role to play in the development of cage culture in reservoirs.
Aquatic Resource Research and Identification deals with identification of fish stocks and their biological and ecological parameters.
The Processing and Control Unit was recently formed and is defining its mission. There has been very little work in the country with postharvest technology, but the unit is anticipating a project ssisted by FAO's Technical Coopertion Programme which will deal with some aspects of postharvest handling and processing.
The National Fisheries Institute is being established with the construction of a building. It will be developed with the collaboration of the Mekong River Commission. Substations will be established at the provincial level at existing provincial fish farms.
The provincial livestock and fisheries offices operate provincial fish farms, and conduct extension activities through the veterinary, livestock and fishery units. Their activities are funded by the Department of Livestock and Fisheries.
The successful implementation of national fisheries policies and projects rests with the provincial livestock and fisheries offices and their divisional counterparts. Their effectiveness is severely constrained by limited staff and budgets.
Livestock and fisheries extension services are combined so that staff must divide their time between the two sectors. With present staffing levels it is impossible to adequately cover the demand for technical support from fish farmers. The provincial office normally has only one or two extension officers. The target farmer/model farmer strategy has been extremely effective in spreading composite fish culture, but the target farmers have to be regularly monitored to ensure that culture protocols are properly implemented. Very limited national budget allocations for fisheries extension work do not allow for the necessary coverage.
Staff development needs include technical training in aquaculture and extension methodology. There are no fisheries managers or socio-economists at the provincial level.
The sustainability of fisheries is closely tied to watershed management. Forestry practices have a decisive impact on fish stocks through their effects on runoff and siltation. Sustainability requires that forestry policy and program have inputs from the fisheries division.
A mechanism exists for fisheries inputs into project design. The minister of agriculture may organize an integrated study team with representatives from forestry, irrigation and fisheries. After completing a study of a proposed project, the team submits the results to the technical board under the Ministry which then considers its results in the course of project approval.
Regular monthly meetings of department heads also provide an opportunity for policy coordination.
The capture fisheries face a serious threat in the face of hydropower development. In response, the government requires that hydropower companies manage the aquatic resources in their reservoirs. This include fry production for stocking and resource management.
A management committee is formed consisting of local authorities and representatives of villages around the reservoir. The committee is charged with arriving at a consensus as to the management measures to be taken. Upon reaching agreement, a ministerial decree is issued to implement the management regulations. The fisheries department role will be to train the staff of the hydropower company.
The first trial of this process underway in the Nam Ngum reservoir. There have been some difficulties in developing the consensus, but there is optimism that disagreements can be worked out.
In its monthly report to the Director General of Livestock and Fisheries, the Fisheries Division may identify potential projects or suggest preparation of a “project identification note” or PIN. Provincial level officers may also forward PIN's to the division in their monthly report. On this basis the DG will instruct the fisheries division to prepare a PIN. The PIN is sent to the DG for comments and revisions and after approval, it is sent to the Minister of Agriculture. If approved, it is forwarded to the Committee for Investment and Cooperation, which may approach donors for funding.
The Fisheries Division may contact donors directly with a PIN. Project proposals are normally prepared by external missions, for example from FAO. Although 2 staff have been trained by UNDP in project proposal preparation, the division does not often prepare them.
Prior to 1994, commercial banks were the only source of credit for fish farmers. Since then the Agriculture Promotion Bank, APB, has been founded to answer the needs of small scale farmers for financing. The bank offers loans for pond construction and working capital. Loans can be made to individuals or to farmers' groups. In the latter instance, financing is limited to working capital. The APB has branches in every province and hopes to establish district offices, as well.
Very few loans have been made for fish culture, although there is demand in some of the provinces included in LAO/89/003. Many farmers are not aware that credit is available for fish culture from the APB. A few farmers who have sought loans found the application procedure too complicated. In most provinces, provincial branches do not have the authority to approve loans. The branch must submit applications to the main branch in Vientiane for approval.
Provincial loan officers were given a brief familiarization with aquaculture when the bank was founded. They may also consult with extension staff in the provincial livestock and fisheries office. Project proposals for individual loans have to be approved by fisheries extension officers. Site visits are part of the approval process, both by bank and extension staff.
Extension staff in the provincial fisheries offices are not well versed with the APB's programs and application procedures. Many farmers are semi or illiterate and need considerable help in preparing applications. They also require assistance from the provincial livestock and fisheries offices to follow up on their applications.
The APB has not played a significant role yet in the expansion of fish culture, but will have to become more active if fish culture is to reach low income farmers.
