Annex 16
UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Project of the Government of Sri Lanka
Project Document

Title: Aquaculture Development and Training

Number: SRL/74/085/A/01/12

Duration: Three years

Primary function: Direct support (1–0)

Secondary function: Training

Sector: (Government class.)                                 (UNDP class. and code) 05 Agriculture

Sub-sector: (Government class.)                         (UNDP class. and code) 0530 Fisheries

Government Implementing Agency: Ministry of Fisheries, Sri Lanka

Executing Agency: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Estimated starting date: March 1981

Government inputs:                                (in kind).                                 (in cash)
                                (local currency)                        (local currency)

UNDP inputs:                                 (US dollars)

PART I LEGAL CONTEXT

This Project Document shall be the instrument referred to as such in Article 1, paragraph 2 of the Agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the United Nations Development Programme concerning assistance under the Special Fund Sector of the UNDP. The Project Document had been signed by all parties concerned by 8 April 1981.

PART II THE PROJECT

II.A Development objectives

To assist the Ministry of Fisheries to increase the production of fresh water fish to targets given in the Master Plan for Fisheries Development, by strengthening and expanding the Ministry's ongoing pilot programme of fish production in seasonal tanks.

To ensure cheap fresh and dried fish for the villagers in the dry and intermediate zones of Sri Lanka.

Through on-the-job training to build up a cadre of knowledgeable fish culturists experienced in the technology used to produce and distribute fingerlings for stocking in seasonal tanks (or other aquacultural grow out facilities).

To build up in village communities, an interest in and a capacity to rationally exploit the seasonal tanks as a fishery resource.

II.B Immediate objectives

To augment the fish seed production facilities at the Udawalawe Fish Breeding and Experimental Station for the purpose of providing the fish seed required for an expansion of the seasonal tanks aquaculture programme.

To establish a National Inland Fishery Research and Development Centre (at a site to be determined) at which Government staff and potential fish farmers will be trained in the technology of carp culture, and at which applied research will be done to develop the know-how required to demonstrate commercial polyculture (in tanks) and other integrated fresh water aquaculture technology.

To ensure the production of fingerlings for stocking of seasonal tanks according to development programmes for 1981, 1982 and 1983.

To train 15 aquaculturists in brood-stock maintenance, carp breeding, hatchery operations, fry rearing, fry distribution and fingerling production techniques.

To train 30 fishery inspectors in fish handling, transport of fry and fingerlings and in the management of seasonal tanks.

To train about 70 village level workers in the practice and theory of fishery management of seasonal tanks.

To introduce Indian carps (Catla catla and Labeo rohita) to complement existing species of carp, tilapia and milkfish so that an optimum exploitation can be obtained of fish food resources available in seasonal tanks.

II.C Special considerations

None.

II.D Background and justification

Fish provides about 60 percent of animal protein consumed in Sri Lanka. Availability of fish for 1978 has been estimated at about 11.5 kg per person and year (fresh weight equivalent). Fish captured in inland waters accounted for about 10 percent of this quantity, the remainder being fish of marine origin, almost all landed by Sri Lankan fishermen.

Recent surveys of fish stocks in the waters of the Sri Lankan continental shelf have concluded in an estimate that coastal marine fish should be able to yield a total of 250 000 t/year. The Government, by introducing more boats and gear, is preparing the marine fishermen to land 216 000 t a year by 1983. Thus, in a few years time the available marine fish stocks may be exploited at, or near, their biological maximum. There is a need to determine how Sri Lanka should maintain per capita supplies of fish in the latter part of this decade. Inland fisheries and aquaculture are possibilities.

A recent survey of aquaculture possibilities in Sri Lanka, carried out by the Aquaculture Development and Coordination Programme (FAO/UNDP) concluded that it is in the inland fisheries sector that aquaculture at present can be most effective in increasing fish production.

In Sri Lankan terminology the inland fisheries resources of the country are four. First, the large number of major and medium size, perennial impoundments, presently yielding over 15 000 t of fish a year. Second, the numerous seasonal village and minor irrigation tanks, which predominate in the dry belt districts. They extend over an estimated area of about 100 000 ha and are presently not utilized for fish production except in the pilot studies recently initiated by the Ministry of Fisheries. Third, the flood plain villus which yield a subsistance, seasonal fishery of indigenous species, and fourth, the extensive salt-water lagoons, brackish water, mudflats and estuaries which have yet to be harnessed for systematic production of shrimps and fishes.

The supply of fish from major tanks can be increased in several ways. Through producer subsidies the Government is encouraging the fishermen to increase their efforts. The resulting yields may be improved through the introduction of more boats and nets different from those now in use by fishermen. The Ministry of Fisheries is capable of handling this programme without outside help. However, it is difficult to forecast reasonably the possible increase in production from these reservoirs.

The seasonal village tanks for most of which the water supply is regulated for agricultural use, offer a dependable source for planned fish production. Further use of the village tanks for aquaculture, without interfering with agricultural needs, only adds to the welfare of the village community by making fresh fish available for their use.

By virtue of their seasonal nature and the catchment area being used for cattle grazing and the water itself for bathing and washing, most of the village tanks are considered quite fertile. When water accumulates a variety of fish food organisms develop in it. Because of their specific feeding habits, a single species of fish will not make full use of all the fish food resources in the typical pond. While commissioning these tanks for fish production, it is therefore very necessary to stock a selected number of fish species that have compatible feeding habits. Considering the seasonal nature of these water bodies and the need to get marketable size fish, the number of fingerlings introduced should also be somewhat limited.

In a successful pilot operation carried out by the Ministry of Fisheries in a 13-acre seasonal pond in Ratnapura district, 26 000 fingerlings comprising four different species of fish were stocked and 8 months after, when the pond started drying up, over 8 t of fish were harvested. The weight of individual fish ranged from 300 g to 1 000 g. The Ministry has plans to expand this programme to 20 tanks, extending over 200 ha of water area during 1980–81. The purpose is not only to further demonstrate the fish production potential of these tanks, but also to identify harvesting and marketing problems that might arise and need solutions.

Even though the data available are limited from the nature of the seasonal tank environment, one may safely assume depending on their nature, location and fertility, a production of 500 to 1 000 kg/ha/season without any inputs other than fingerlings. With additional inputs, such as fertilizers and feeds, the environment could be very much enriched and then, with heavier density of stocking of a polyculture combination of species, production could be stepped up to 2 000 kg/ha or more.

The seasonal tanks thus constitute a major resource for planned fish production. If even half the area of the estimated 100 000 ha of seasonal tanks is brought under the seasonal tanks fishery programme, the annual production at the modest estimate of 500 kg/ha would be of the order of 25 000 tons or more. The fish fingerlings requirements for such a programme would be about 125 million a year. Lack of trained manpower and fingerling production facilities are now restricting organization and execution of such a programme.

The Ministry of Fisheries has established 11 inland fish breeding stations, which are equipped largely for the production of tilapia and common carp seed. The present annual production of fish fingerlings by all these stations together is less than 3 million. The majority are tilapia fingerlings. The Government is aware that these stations even when improved and well staffed will not by themselves by sufficient to provide the quantity of fish spawn which will be required for the seasonal tanks programme by the middle of the 1980s.

Consequently, the Government is keen to establish a well planned fish breeding and seed production complex (to be known as The National Inland Fisheries Research and Development Centre) at a suitable site yet to be located. Pending this, it is proposed to assist the Ministry of Fisheries to launch the village seasonal tanks fishery programme from 1981. This will be done in two ways. First by providing essential facilities for controlled seed production of different species of carps at Udawalawe Fish Breeding and Experimental Station, and second, by training technical personnel. Subsequently, some of the trained staff will man the National Centre, which will take over the major role in production of the millions of fish fingerlings that would be required for the expanding programme.

The Project will thus provide the Government with trained manpower, fish fingerlings and the organization essential to achieve a rapid increase in production of quality fish from the seasonal village tanks in Sri Lanka.

II.E Outputs

The project will produce the following outputs:

Fish production: Project personnel will produce fingerlings at the stations directly linked to the project: Udawalawe, Inginiyagala and Polonnaruwa. By the beginning of November 1981, about 2.5 million fingerlings should be available for stocking. One year later, 5.0 million should have been produced and by November 1983, the amount should have increased to 7.5 million.

The majority of the spawn (fish of up to 7 mm in overall length) of Chinese and Indian carps will be produced at Udawalawe, from where some of it will be transported for grow out to fry (fish of 1.5 cm to 2.0 cm length) and fingerling size (7 to 10 cm) in other stations (Ginigathena, and later also Dambulla Oya). Most of the common carp fry will be produced at Inginiyagala; the tilapia and milkfish fingerlings at Polonnaruwa.

Through the stocking of these fingerlings in seasonal tanks supply of inland fish will improve when the fish, stocked in November 1981, is harvested, sometime in the second and third quarters of 1982, it should amount to about 500 t. Thus, by mid-1984 the production from stocking of seasonal tanks should have reached about 1 500 t. A total of 3 000 tons will have been produced by the end of the project period.

Trained manpower: The Project will produce trained personnel of several categories. Four senior aquaculturists (having a knowledge of mariculture, brackish water culture and inland fish culture) will be trained through scholarships at the ADCP lead centres and through on-the-job training at the Udawalawe stations. Fifteen aquaculturists will have been trained in all aspects of carp culture and management of the seasonal tanks programme. Thirty Fisheries Inspectors will have been trained as extension staff for the seasonal tanks programme, and some 70 villagers (prospective fish farmers) will have been instructed in how to manage a seasonal tank fishery programme.

National Inland Fishery Research and Development Centre: By the end of the project an Inland Fishery Research and Development Centre will have been established.

II.F Activities

The Ministry of Fisheries will acquire 18 ha of Government land adjacent to the Udawalawe (new) station. This land is presently under sugar-cane and is managed by the Sri Lanka Sugar Corporation. As and when the land has been obtained the Project will assist in providing the expertise to carry out site investigations and to prepare the design and construction drawings. The same services will be provided by the project for the National Inland Fishery Research and Development Centre.

A group of four Senior Aquaculturists will act as direct counterparts to the two specialists provided by UNDP/FAO. These four individuals will already have some familiarity with aquaculture and be technical men. One of them will be designated as Project Manager and will be in overall charge of the Udawalawe Station. All four will receive one year's training at an ADCP lead centre. As soon as the Project starts two will be sent abroad; when they return the other two will depart.

Three categories of individuals will be given training during the Project: those now referred to as “aquaculturists” in the terminology of the Ministry of Fisheries, Fishery Inspectors/Extension Officers and village level workers. The aquaculturists will undergo “on-the-job” training for periods of 1 year at a time, working - in groups of 5 - with the two experts and their two counterparts at the Udawalawe stations, and at other centres where Project activity is organized. Fishery Inspectors will stay for a six months period - including the breeding seasons for carps. Village level workers will come in groups of six, four groups receiving training during one year. Aquaculturists will be responsible for imparting this training.

Within three months of the Project start, investigations will begin aiming to locate the site for the National Inland Fishery Research and Development Centre. The site should be identified and agreed to by all concerned within the next six months. Before the site is finally selected, the following investigations should have been carried out:

• topographical survey of approximately 40 ha of land;
• soil survey;
• determination of the source of water for the station and seasonal variations in its flow;
• other tests as might be determined during site investigations.

The site should have the following characteristics:

• at least 30 ha of land with the possibility of constructing 20 ha (water area) of ponds;
• perennial water supply;
• soil conditions which permit constructions of ponds without lining;
• nearness to a major town.

Preferably the site should also:

• permit supplying ponds with water by gravity flow (not by pumping) and
• it should be located close to a major tank.

One thousand ha of seasonal tanks are to be stocked with 2.5 million fish fingerlings, comprising a seven species compatible combination of Chinese carps, Indian carps, common carps, tilapia and milkfish during October/November 1981. The quantity stocked will be increased to 5.0 million in 2 000 ha in 1982 and to 7.5 million in 3 000 ha in 1983. The carp fingerlings required for this programme are proposed to be produced and reared at Udawalawe fish breeding station. Tilapia fingerlings will be produced at the Polonnaruwa station. Milkfish fry will be transported from Mannar and reared at the above and other selected centres. Common carp will be produced mainly at the Inginiyagala station.

II.G INPUTS

1. National inputs

Assessment of counterpart staff

2. Govt. provided buildings and supplies and equipment

3. Description of UNDP Inputs

II.H Preparation of work plan

A detailed Work Plan for the implementation of the project will be prepared by the Senior Adviser in consultation with the Project Manager. This will be done at the start of the project and brought forward periodically. The agreed upon Work Plan will be attached to the Project Document as Annex 1 and will be considered part of the Document.

II.I Preparation of the framework for effective participation of national and international staff in the project

The activities necessary to produce the indicated outputs and achieve the project's immediate objective will be carried out jointly by the national and international staff assigned to it. The respective roles of the national and international staff will be determined by their leaders, by mutual discussion and agreement, at the beginning of the project, and set out in a framework and Effective Participation of National and International Staff in the Project. The framework, which will be attached to the Project Document as an Annex, will be reviewed from time to time. The respective roles of the national and international staff shall be in accordance with the established concept and specific purposes of technical cooperation.

II.G Development support communication

National staff will be responsible for identification and selection of those seasonal tanks which will be included in the programme of stocking. An essential aspect of the Government's present policy with regard to stocking of seasonal tanks is to make it a communal effort. Therefore, once a tank has been selected, the aquaculturist responsible for the area, together with a Fisheries Inspector or extension worker will organize one, or more, meetings with the villagers to inform them of the purpose and activities of the seasonal tanks fishery programme. The talks will be supported with distribution of information material and slide shows. The message to be delivered will focus on the activities and the inputs of the programme; on fish as food and the potential earnings which a rationally exploited tank might generate for the village community. The meetings will also be used to inform the villagers of the need to adhere to the instructions which Fishery Inspectors, and later the local villager to be trained at the project (as village level worker), will give.

II.K Institutional framework

The Ministry of Fisheries will be the Government's implementing agency. The Ministry, with headquarters in Colombo, is divided into 10 divisions and 2 Corporations; the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation and the Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation. The Ministry has the following divisions:

• Inland Fisheries Development Division
• Research Division
• Regulation and Extension Division
• Planning and Programming Division
• Development Division
• Administration and Finance Division
• Welfare Division
• Training Division
• Coast Conservation Division
• Institute of Fish Technology

The Inland Fisheries Development Division is in charge of aquaculture both in fresh and brackish water. In that capacity, it administers the 1 inland and 2 brackish water stations now in operation. The majority of the stations have severe problems due to lack of perennial water supply and/or unsuitable soils and consequent excessive loss of water from ponds. The Division's technical arm (the aquaculturists) in view of planned development programmes need more exposure to modern aquaculture technology.

The Udawalawe Fish Breeding and Experimental Station has been selected as the Project Headquarters for the following reasons:

• within a couple of months the buildings now available at the site can be arranged to house trainees, and project personnel and equipment, with only minor additional buildings required (a store and garage for two vehicles);

• it is the only station in Sri Lanka equipped for spawning of Chinese carps;

• the water supply is perennial and supplied through gravitation;

• the adjacent land (about 45 acres) can be acquired for expansion of ponds, the number and size of which are now too small to make Udawalawe a useful centre;

• through previous Chinese bilateral assistance the station has a relatively ample supply of basic material and equipment.

Thus the station provides a possibility to start providing the fingerlings - and trained personnel - required for a rapid beginning of the seasonal tanks programme.

During the first year of the project, the ponds available at Inginiyagala and Polonnaruwa will be used for growing some of the spawn and fry to fingerlings size. These centres will be directed in these activities from Udawalawe. This is made possible through an existing radio network.

The World Bank funded integrated rural development project in the Kurunegala district includes the rehabilitation of 500 village tanks. The NORAD funded integrated rural development programme for the Hambantota district includes the rehabilitation of 80 village tanks. The World Bank is getting ready to finance the rehabilitation of about 1 100 seasonal tanks, in nine dry belt districts during a 5-year period. The rehabilitation of tanks is usually justified in terms of the increased agricultural production that is expected as a result. The assistance includes not only provisions for repairs to structures but also, and equally important for the organization of concerned local authorities to achieve better water management.

The seasonal tanks fishery programmes will work very closely with the villagers whose tanks are being rehabilitated through the above mentioned projects. Such cooperation will assure that water will be prudently husbanded and probably also provide an opportune moment for the introduction of rules for fishing in the tanks.

II.L Prior obligations

First: The Fisheries Ministry should acquire from the Sri Lanka Sugar Corporation the 45 acres of sugarcane land contiguous to the station and located northwest and west of it.

Second: The Fisheries Ministry should provide prior to beginning of April 1981 two residences for the international project personnel. The standard of the quarters should not be inferior to that now identified as Grade V (about 140 m² gross living area) by the Ministry of Fisheries.

Third: The buildings at the Udawalawe station should be vacated and reconditioned, according to Figure 1 to this Project Document, before beginning of March 1981.

Fourth: The Government should identify the four counterpart staff (Senior Biologists) who will work with the international project staff, two of whom will be nominated to undergo training at the ADCP Lead Centres, starting April 1981.

The Project Document will be signed by the Resident Representative on behalf of UNDP and UNDP assistance to the Project will be provided, subject to UNDP receiving satisfaction that pre-requisites listed above have been fulfilled, or are likely to be fulfilled. When anticipated fulfilment of one or more pre-requisites fails to materialize, UNDP may, at its discretion, either suspend or terminate its assistance.

II.M Future UNDP assistance

Possibly Sri Lanka will require international expertise in the fields of polyculture and integrated freshwater aquaculture in order to initiate these activities at the National Inland Fishery Research and Development Centre during 1984.

II.N Provision for investment follow-up

At the end of this project, staff of the Ministry of Fisheries should be able to continue both fry production and the training activities. The Ministry should then be able to expand the seasonal tanks stocking and harvesting programme as it sees fit.

Funds will be needed to execute a seasonal tanks programme. The Government (which intends, at least initially, to give fingerlings away to village level organizations) must meet the costs of producing fingerlings in the Government-run fishery stations. The Village Councils (or other village level organizations) must make some minor investments in nets, fish screens, boxes. In due course Village Councils may want to purchase fertilizers, feeds, etc.

By mid-1982, the present project will provide essential data (and experience) concerning organization, credit needs and operation of carp hatcheries and grow out centres. Such data are essential for the preparation and appraisal of any project to be presented for external financing in support of a seasonal tanks programme.

The Asian Development Bank is now financing fisheries development in Sri Lanka and is understood to consider favourably loans for aquaculture.

PART III - SCHEDULES OF MONITORING, EVALUATION AND REPORTS

III.A Tripartite monitoring reviews: technical reviews

The project will be subject to periodic review in accordance with the policies and procedures established by UNDP for monitoring project and programme implementation.

III.B Evaluation

The project will be subject to evaluation, in accordance with the policies and procedures established for this purpose by UNDP. The organization, terms of reference and timing of the evaluation will be decided by consultation between the Government, UNDP and the Executing Agency concerned.

III.C Progress and technical reports

The following reports shall be prepared jointly by the Senior Advisor and his national counterpart with the assistance and support of the international and national project personnel, in the format proposed by the FAO/UNDP:

1. Quarterly report on progress of implementation of the project;

2. Consolidated annual report on progress of implementation of the project;

3. Draft final report on completion of the project.

III.D Budgets

Budget estimates - UNDP contribution
(in US$)

Project Budget covering Government counterpart contribution in cash

Figure 1 - Tentative arrangements of facilities for project implementation at Udawalawe