5.1 Immediate objective - No. 1.
5.2 Immediate objective - No. 2.
The given terms of reference to the Aquaculturist - consultant show a major concern to the first two objectives of the project. Upon his arrival the Aquaculturist - consultant made a series of field trips to Muzaffarabad and Mirpur districts with the NPD to get acquainted with the local conditions as well as on going some fish culture activities in public as well as in private sectors. After studying the field status of warm water fish culture in AJK, the consultant has prepared and submitted his Inception Report on April 6, 1996. The consultant has also reviewed and updated the Work - Plan of the project activities in consultation with NPD and Project Coordinator. On completion of three months consultancy, the consultant has also submitted three monthly report covering a period of March - May, 1996. In above two reports, the consultant has made sincere effort to describe the local conditions as well as the progress made by the effort of the project. At the end of seven months consultancy, in a debriefing meeting of Technical Review Mission with FAO/UNDP at Islamabad on 26.09. 1996 two weeks service period of Aquaculturist was agreed to extend to supervise the layout made by assigned Engineer as per approved master plan of first Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre at Chikar to the above period on the request of the authority of GOAJK. On completion of seven and half months consultancy, this report has been prepared to sum up the status of the various activities of the project, its major constraints and recommendations.
Build up the institutional and technical capabilities of the Fisheries Department in AJK and Northern Areas to be able to produce fish seed of different species of cultivable warm water fishes (Chinese and Major Carps) within the project period.
Two government warm water Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centres established and fully operational.
5.1.1.1 Site Selection, Acquisition of Land and Design of Hatchery and Farm.
CHIKAR: From the beginning of Aquaculturist's service, he expressed the concern on the need of an Aquaculture Engineer for designing and estimating the two Fish Seed Production Centres in public sector, however, at that stage the service of Aquaculture Engineer could not be prevailed. So on the request of the consultant the Director General, Department of TWAF assigned the departmental Engineer to prepare contour map of the acquired land at Chikar, 42 Km. south- east of Muzaffarabad and also to design and estimate the cost of Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre. The assigned Engineer and his team surveyed the site during the last week of March, 1996 and latter in April and May too. The NPD and the consultant tried to activate the Engineer group rendering all the possible help and logistic support to complete the work, however, they failed to do the work and surrendered for their inability to prepare counter map and design of a fish farm in beginning of July, wasting of more than four months time.
With this disappointing result, the project management made a quick consultation with the authorities of country FAO/UNDP office and seeked permission to award this work to a qualified consulting Engineer at the earliest possible time. After a tiresome search, a qualified Architect Engineer having a private firm agreed to take up the work. On awarding the assignment, the Engineer worked in close consultation with NPD and Aquaculturist and completed the designing of Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre within the given time. The Engineer has presented two different designs as option of which the most functional and economical has been selected by the project management. A copy of design is enclosed with the report as Annex - I. As per the approved design, the detail estimation is being made by the Departmental Engineer to float the tender and to award the contract earliest possible time.
Besides this delay, a considerable progress has been achieved in developing Chinese type of fish hatchery under the existing Office building. The consultant has made available the design of Chinese type of fish egg incubation tank, spawning tank, cement tanks and over head water tank to make the former structures functional with the supply of water. The above said structures have been estimated, tendered and awarded the contract to a local contractor and work is in progress. To-date, the structures of four cement tanks, four incubation tanks and one spawning tank has been erected. Viewing the present progress, the consultant is in view that these structures may be completed by the month of October, if the work is not interrupted.
The acquired site at Chikar is connected with the pigmented road by means of a sloppy land. An approach road need to be constructed on this sloppy land which is sure to be costly due to heavy retaining wall. This heavy expenses can be curtailed provided privately owned a piece of land in between the road and the Centre is acquired. This piece of land is about 4 kanals and has a small house which can be easily used as Officer's quarter and the remaining land can be developed for Office/vehicle garage and staff quarter. A series of steps from the main road to the Centre's site is enough as approach way to the Centre. Therefore, it is suggested to acquire the above said land for the benefit of the Centre.
Within this consultancy period, the designing of Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre at Chikar was completed, while the time consuming estimation and administrative procedure to award the contract of construction remained to resolved and it is in process. Thus, the Consultant failed to supervise the construction work. Within the extended period of two weeks, the Consultant could supervise the layout of the Centre consisting of a reservoir, four brood fish ponds, seven nursing ponds and their water system. For day to day supervision of the construction, a Sub- Engineer's service need to be made available at the situ.
It need to be aimed to make Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre at Chikar functional by breeding the cultivable fish species in forthcoming breeding season. To attain the above target, the following follow - up activities need to be carried out strictly with definite time frame;
a) the intake water. Reservoir and four brood fish ponds with their inlets and outlets need to be completed by the end of December, 1996,b) the seven Nursery ponds need to be completed before the next breeding season i.e. by the middle of April, so that these ponds could be used in production of fries and fingerlings,
c) the proposed over head water tank, its connections to reservoir and hatchery structures need to be completed and tested by the end of February, 1997,
d) with the completion of brood fish ponds, grown - up parental stock of cultivable fish species need to be transported in adequate number (10 females: 20 males) within December 1996/January 1997. The Consultant has explored one private sector fish farm - Himalaya Fish Farm near Lahore (address of the Proprietor Mr. Sami Ullah Khan, 22 - Karim Block, Allama Iqbal Town, Lahore. Telephone: 5415222/544067) as a source. During the Consultant visit to the above said private fish (farm, the proprietor has generously accepted to provide grown up parental stock oft AJK on weight basis and
e) the proposed equipment's related with brood fish transportation and management, operating the hatchery and fingerlings transportation need to be procured in time, so that the hatchery is made fully operational.
The concerned authority has recently shown serious concern on the delay in establishing Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre at Chikar as a result one Assistant Director -Fisheries has been deputed at Chikar effective from 05. 09. 1996 to expedite and supervise the on going construction work at the Centre.
MIRPUR: The site for Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre was selected twice, however, it could not materialised due to the high cost of the land as Mirpur is a fast growing industrial town of AJK. Besides the project management, the Director General, Dept. of TWAF, national staff of Fishery Wing as well as the district authority - the Commissioner were found in great concern to acquire a suitable site for the Centre. This time it has been positively worked out. The valuation of identified land has been completed and notification of acquisition of land has been already issued to acquire the selected land. The Fishery Wing has already deposited a sum of Rs. 0. 980 million in Collector, Land Acquisition Office at Mirpur. Still certain administrative procedure is needed to be completed, however, now one can be assured to get a land for the establishment of Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre.
This delay of land acquisition has scheduled back all most all activities of the project at Mirpur. Therefore, in future, to avoid such back locking of the project activities the Consultant strongly suggests the Department of TWAF to depute one Assistant Director - Fisheries with immediate effective at Mirpur. The deputation of responsible Officer will not facilitate the smooth implementation of the project activities in public sector only but it will help in promoting aquaculture in private sector at Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber districts also. Later on, with the start of the construction work at the Centre of Mirpur, the assigned Assistant Director - Fisheries is made responsible in establishing and managing Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre.
5.1.1.2 Supervise construction of Hatchery and Fish Ponds.
The construction of two Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centres at Chikar and Mirpur has been seriously delayed by various reasons as mentioned in 5.1.1.1 for which the Consultant could not do much as they were beyond his field, however, he has expressed his serious concern to the concerned authorities not to give any chance for further delay as well as the faulty construction which may seriously effect the Centre's operation. Therefore, the Consultant strongly recommend to recruit and depute a Sub-Engineer at situ under Fisheries programme. On completion of the Centre's construction work, the recruited Engineer's service can be made available as technical assistance to the private sector farmers who wish to establish fish pond/ponds to adopt fish culture. During the construction of the Centre, the newly recruited Sub- Engineer may fail to supervise the field work due to lack of field experience. Therefore, to avoid the mistake or faulty construction, the Consultant further feels the need of the service of a qualified and experienced Engineer to carry over all supervision of the Centre's construction. Therefore, the Consultant strongly suggest to get involved the same Engineer who made good effort in designing the Centre for the field supervision.
5.1.1.3 Upon the Completion of construction phase initiate breeding, nursing and rearing of carp fish
In public sector, the Consultant has found only three small ponds as Nursing Unit at Panjgran, 25 km., north - east of Muzaffarabad to work with warm water fish culture. These ponds were found under utilised as they were stocked with limited number of fingerlings of Common Carp and Grass Carp. The Grass Carp fingerlings were found infected with external parasite - Larnea. Besides the Nursery Unit at Panjgran, neither any other facility nor any brood fish of any fish species were found to carry out the breeding of the fish to achieve the objective of the project.
Breeding of Chinese Carp: Under the above limitation in public sector, it was not at all possible to meet the objective of the project, however, during the field trip with NPD, the Consultant observed a limited facility at one of the private sector farmer's Fish Farm, having a over head water tank, a circular tank and few brood fish of Grass Carp out of the Chinese Carps, where a meagre possibility of breeding of Grass Carp was observed. After discussing this matter with NPD and the concerned farmer, the Consultant decided to breed the Grass Carp at the appropriate time as a training to the Fishery staff as well as the farmers who were eager to participate. In the beginning it was difficult to fixed the date of this training on the breeding of Chinese Carp as there was no information available on the exact period of Grass Carp breeding because so far no such breeding was carried out in AJK.
Later on, after collecting some information on Chinese Carp's breeding in adjacent areas of Punjab Province, it was decided to carry out induced breeding of Grass Carp in mid - May.
With this decision, the preparation of breeding was started from project side as well as from the farmer's side. A metallic portable incubation tank was also prepared under the Consultant supervision and thus a training programme on breeding of Grass Carp was carried out from 14.05.1996 to 24.05.1996. In the training programme, three Fishery staff (one Assistant Director fisheries, one Fisheries Development Officer who was supported by the Project presently withdrawn and one- Assistant Warden) and two farmers with their two farm workers participated actively. Being the working place open and common to all, having minimum facility and also because of not having oriented helping hand, the Consultant had to face several difficulties, however, succeeded to demonstrate the spawning, incubation, hatching process and also nursing of the fries. During the induced breeding of Grass Carp, it was interesting to note that some of the used female fish showed symptoms of egg re-absorption indicating slightly late in breeding. Thus, this experimental training did not only oriented the staff and private sector farmers in induced breeding of the Chinese Carp but it also helped in establishing the breeding period of Chinese Carp in AJK. With this experience, now the Consultant is able to suggest to carry out breeding of Chinese Carp with the beginning of May. To identify the exact period of induced breeding of Chinese Carp in AJK conditions, further observation need to be made in successive years to come.
Nursing of Chinese Carp: The hatched fries of Grass Carp were maintained in incubation tank for four days. With the absorption of yolk sac, the fry were feed with a mixture of egg in hot water. While preparing induced breeding, an earthen pond was dried and prepared for nursing purpose. With the success of breeding the prepared nursing pond was fertilised and filled with water and left for few days to let grow natural food of fries. With the growth of phytoplankton in the pond water, the fries maintained in incubation tank were transferred in nursery pond. In the earthen nursery pond also, the mixture of egg in hot water were feed to the fries four times a day and its application is gradually decreased and ultimately it was stopped, when the fries were seen taking natural food of the pond themselves. Thus, the Fishery staff as well as private sector farmers were oriented in the field on nursing of Grass Carp fries. To make the Fishery staff well oriented in this field more such practical training need to be carried out in successive years.
The personnel of Fisheries Wing trained theoretically and practically in induced breeding techniques of Carps and nursing and rearing of hatchlings and fries.
5.1.2.1 Prepare training materials on Warm Water Fish Culture
One booklet - A Question on Fish Farming? has been published as a general training material. More three topics; a) General Idea on Fish Culture, b) How to construct a Fish Pond? And c) Problems of Fish Culture - including fish diseases are in press for publication. The first two booklets were written by the local staff in consultation with the Consultant while the latter two were written by the Consultant and has been translated in simple local language by the active participation of NPD of the project. The first published booklet has been enclosed with the report as Annex - II and the rest of the booklets will be send as it comes out from the press.
Realising the initial stage of development in Warm Water Fish Culture in AJK, the Consultant has felt the necessity of a training manual in the form of Hand Book on Fish Culture to orient the grass root level fishery staff. The booklet consists of nine chapters as follows;
1. General Introduction of Fish.
2. Introduction of Fish Culture.
3. What Fish to Culture?
4. Cultivable Fish Species.
5. What is a Fish Pond?
6. How to Construct a Fish Pond?
7. Pond Fish Culture.
8. Record Keeping and
9. Problems of Fish Culture.
A draft copy of Hand Book on Fish Culture in English version is attached with this report as Annex - III. This English version booklet is being translated into local language - Urdu by NPD of the project and it is aimed to publish in local language in the form of training manual. At this stage the Consultant wish to suggest that the translated version of training manual should be reproduced as photocopy and it need to be circulated to the field staff for feed back. On receiving feed back from field staff the manual should be updated and improved with locally experienced fact and figures, then only it should be published in the form of training manual by the end of the project period.
5.1.2.2 Organise workshops and practical training for the above mentioned personnel on regular basis in AJK and during one month mission in Northern Areas.
Due to very limited number of staff (one- Deputy Director - Fisheries/NPD, one - Assistant Director - Fisheries and one- Assistant Wardens as medium level technicians with low academic qualification) and very limited facility and infrastructures, it was not possible to organise any workshop. Moreover, with the above mentioned staff the Consultant was very much associated throughout his work.
In consultation with NPD and Co-ordinator of the project the Consultant prepared the detail Work - Plan of the project, in which the month July was fixed for the visit to the Northern Areas as per his term of reference, however, due to lack of communication and co-ordination, the trip could not be materialised. At the end, the visit to Northern Areas has to be postponed to next visit of the Consultant.
5.1.2.3 On the job training of Fisheries personnel theoretically and practically on (a - k) different field of Fish Culture.
On general aspects of warm water fish culture a theoretical orientation programme was carried out in Fisheries Office with 10 Fisheries personnel (one - Assistant Director - Fisheries working on Trout Hatchery, 2 Assistant Warden, 4 Supervisors and 3 Watchers working within Muzaffarabad districts) for three days (31.03.1996 - 02.04.1996). In this orientation programme different activities of fish culture were discussed and the details of preparation of a fish pond, stocking, fertilisation and feeding etc. were discussed. As per feed back obtained to the Consultant that the orientation course has helped the staff to carry out the right information to the farmers. Moreover, this orientation course gave an opportunity to the Consultant to assess the level of the staff in the field offish culture. This assessment has helped the Consultant very much in developing the training course as well as manual.
Besides the orientation programme, the fishery personnel also participated in three days training course at Mirpur and Muzaffarabad too. The number of fishery staff were 9 as shown in Annex -IV. The fishery staff were also oriented by the Consultant during his field trips on the encountered problems at situ. This way the fishery staff were demonstrated practically different aspects of fish culture and fish health too. In field trips, the Consultant was able to demonstrate two cases of external parasites (Larnea and Argulus) and one case of dropsy too.
But such theoretical and practical job training to the fishery personnel limited to only few staff as the Fishery Wing presently has very limited number of staff working in warm water fish culture. The institution is expecting new recruitment of Officer and medium level technicians, which could not materialised during this period because of administrative reasons. Thus, under the limited conditions (limited facility and infrastructure, limited number of staff etc.) the Consultant could provide theoretical and practical on job training in i) induced breeding technique of Chinese Carp, ii) Nursing of hatchlings, iii) Fingerling packing and transportation and distribution and iv) poly- culture of Carps to a limited number of fisheries personnel only. No doubt, involvement of more fisheries personnel in years to come would prove more beneficial in promoting warm water fish culture in AJK.
5.2.1 Output 2.1
5.2.2 Output 2.2
5.2.3 Output 2.3
5.2.4 Output 2.4
Disseminate the technical know- how of warm water fish culture, poly culture, integrated fish culture as well as fish seed production to farmers in the project areas.
The fisheries extension units, group promoters and extension staff of other programme components capable of disseminating the technical know how of warm water fisheries to the farmers in their respective districts.
5.2.1.1 Develop training programme for Fisheries Extension staff and Group Promoters.
In consultation with NPD and Project Co-ordinator, the Consultant has developed a comprehensive Training Programme on Warm Water Fish Culture for the year 1996 which included Fishery staff, as well as Extension staff and Group Promoters of on - going projects/programmes of AJK as per project document. The developed training programme aimed to train 8 Fishery staff, 6 Extension staff of Neelum and Jhelum Valley Community Development Project (NJVCDP), 10 Extension staff of Suketar Watershed Management Project (SWMP) and 4 Extension staff of Bhimber Upland Development Project (BUDP). The developed tentative schedule of training on Warm Water Fish Culture in AJK for 1996 as shown in Annex - V was send to all projects/programmes involved for their remarks and suggestions. But not a single remark or suggestion was received back from any comer even after a month of circulation. Therefore, Assistant Director - Fisheries assigned as Course Co-ordinator and the Consultant tried to established contact with different project and programmes and found mixed reactions. Some of the project/programme came forward and extended co-operation in conducting training while other expressed as an intervention in their management. After discussion the team succeeded to convince the project management and then after received good co-operation for the implementation of the activities. Such problem or misunderstanding between the two management could have been avoided easily by improved communication and coordination at management level.
With all these difficulties, the Fishery team (Assistant Director - Fisheries, Fisheries Development Officer, and the Consultant) assigned for Fishery Training Programme succeeded in conducting six out of seven proposed training, while one training programme for the Extension staff or Group Promoters under SWMP scheduled on 11 - 13 June, 1996 was postponed on the request of the above said project's management and the new date of training is still awaited. Under the proposed training programme, the team succeeded to train in total 36 staff of different project/programme of which 15 were from Fishery, 7 Extension staff from NRMP of which five trainee were female, 2 Extension staff from NRSP of which one trainee was female, 4 Extension staff from Animal Husbandry, 2 Extension staff of Agriculture field. 2 Extension staff of NJVCDP, and 4 Social Foresters from Social Forestry
5.2.1.2. Produce simple extension materials (in local languages) which can be handed out by the extension workers to farmers.
Two folders a) Fish Culture in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, b) Food Production through Fish Farming, one poster - Cultivable Fishes of AJK and one sticker - Fish for Your Better Health has been published as shown in Annex - VI (a), (b), (c) and (d), and these published papers are being distributed. In consultation with the Consultant, some papers in the form of pamphlet a) Introduction of Cultivable Fish Species, b) Different Practices of Fish Culture and c) Pond Fish Culture have been prepared in simple local language by the national staff Assistant Director - Fisheries and they are in process to send to press for publication.
One demonstration fish pond to demonstrate the economic viability of warm water Fish Culture practices established in each district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
5.2.2.1 One interested and competent farmer is selected from each district of AJK to establish demonstration fish pond at his own cost.
The professional involved under the project have agreed to select a private sector pond as a demonstration pond on the basis of its production. The production criteria has been developed to produce a minimum of 150 -200 Kg. offish/kanal (about 3-4, 000 Kg./ha.) to qualify and enroll his pond as a demonstration pond. On meeting the above mentioned criteria only, the farmer is recognised as a progressive farmer and his fish pond is registered as a demonstration pond. On the recognition, the project install a sign board on pond site and the authority of GOAJK has agreed to make a provision of cash award to such farmer in near future. So far, one competent farmer, professionally a school teacher at Mandal, Pattika, Muzaffarabad district has succeeded to meet the requirement and his pond has been recognised as demonstration pond. The fish pond is of one kanal (20 kanals = 1 Ha.) and is situated beside his own house. So far, the farmer has sold 167 Kg. offish and still he is having about 60 Kg. offish to be sold. As per the farmer's statement on his expenditure and income has been illustrated and summarised in Annex - VII. At the same time the farmer has integrated with vegetable. The farmer is also raising second group of fish fingerlings. During the farmers training programme, the fish pond was visited by other farmers too. Such recognition of a farmer on the basis of fish production has shown a healthy competition amongst the farmers and presently some of the farmers are working hard to meet the requirements. In other districts, the farmer number is presently in very limited, while in Mirpur, the farmers have yet not harvested their pond and these fish ponds are under observations.
5.2.2.2 Provide continuous technical advise in the construction phase of the fish ponds.
During this period of the year not much ponds are being constructed as the summer was too hot and the summer period is not considered as construction season, however, 4 farmers at Mirpur and 2 farmers at Muzaffarabad were rendered technical advise in improving their fish pond.
5.2.2.3 Provide the first set of different Species of fish seed at a token price to the farmers.
A list of private sector farmers of different districts of AJK, the area of the ponds and the number of fingerlings distributed to them since the implementation of the project has been shown in Annex VIII. In absence of own hatchery, the Fishery Wing has failed to entertain all the farmers specially the far distant farmers like Mirpur in distribution of fingerlings of cultivable fish. The farmers of Mirpur district are procuring the fingerlings of cultivable fish on their own initiation either through the private dealers or directly from the adjacent hatcheries of Punjab Province. In this endeavour, some of the farmer have expressed their bitter experiences not only on the price and number of fingerlings but also on genuine cultivable fish species. The Consultant fully endorses the latter point of the farmers as he has observed Oreochronus mossambica at least in two farmers pond during the field trips. To over come these difficulties of the private sector farmers also, the establishment of Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre at Mirpur need to be expedited with utmost high priority.
5.2.2.4 Technical Supervision including the job training is carried out regularly by the project personnel every 15 days.
During this period of consultancy, the Consultant has made more than 40 visits to the different farmers of Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot and Mirpur districts and similar number of visit has been carried out in addition by the national staff also. During the Consultant's visit, attempt were made to identify the problem of the farmers and its remedy for farmers benefits while in other hand the accompanying staff were explained the cause of the problem their further orientation.
The Consultant has developed a follow - up programme with a forth nightly visit of the national extension staff to each fish pond, to check the growth of the stocked fish. For the above purpose a Growth Check - up Card has been developed and it is awaited to enforce the activity with the new recruitment and/or posting of the Fishery Extension staff in the field.
5.2.2.5 Farmers trained to keep the record on use of feed, fertiliser and water temperature.
During the training programme, the farmers were briefed on the importance of technical data and records and they were suggested to maintain the record of water temperature, used feed and fertiliser too. Some of the farmers have now realised the fact and attempts are being made to maintain the record, however, there is some practical difficulty with those farmers who are operating their fish culture activity through a labourer, who can neither read or write.
5.2.2.6 The water quality of each and every demonstration pond is analysed by the fisheries extension staff every month and its record is maintained regularly.
The water quality of the demonstration pond is checked during the visit of the Fishery staff.
5.2.2.7 Feasibility studies for the establishment of warm water fish ponds are prepared by the project personnel.
So far in AJK, the credit scheme in the field of fish culture does not exist as it is a new field. Even Agriculture Development Bank (ADB/P) has no investment programme in establishing a fish farm however, because of the project's persuasion the ADB/P management has agreed to look into the production programme in the field of fish culture. Further the project is also making effort to negotiate with Co-operative Bank for the credit scheme. So far not a single request for credit has been applied for.
On the basis of local conditions, a potentiality of a typical fish pond has been worked out by the Consultant as shown in Annex - IX. With the gain of local experience the developed format need to be further improved.
At least five farmers each from four districts of AJK (Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Kotli and Poonch) and 50 farmers of Mirpur district adopted warm water fish culture on economically viable scale.
5.2.3.1 A visit programme of interested male and female farmers of each district to the demonstration pond is carried out in a month to encourage farmers to take up the activity in a business scale.
At the end of each training programme (Mirpur, Rawalakot and Muzaffarabad) a field visit of the participants was organised to one of the farmer's farm or demonstration pond where the farmers have discussed the subject matter and have also exchanged their views among themselves. It is interesting to note that after such field visit at least two farmers have changed their old approach to new and have started to spend some time in and around their own fish pond.
5.2.3.2 Farmers (male and female) are encouraged and assisted by the extension staff and group promoters to get loan from the local bank for the construction of fish ponds
This activity has been discussed in 5.2.2.7. Further more, this activity will be carried out once the loan scheme is opened by ADB/P and Co-operative Bank.
5.2.3.3 In Mirpur district the survey of mini -dams/ponds constructed under Suketar Watershed Management Project is carried out and possibilities will be assessed how these mini-dams/ponds can be stocked with fish.
5.2.3.4 According to the water area of mini-dams/ponds fingerlings of different species of Carps are stocked in at least 40 % of the mini-dams/ ponds.
Under the project - SWMP, 63 mini dams/ponds of varying sizes has been constructed with the main purpose of water conservation. Out of the 63 mini dams/ponds, 27 water bodies show good potential for fish culture and 17 of these water bodies have been stocked with cultivable fish species. This summer the project persuaded to restock these water bodies with new fingerlings but the management of SWMP did not responded positively for the same. Therefore, the fingerlings has not been procured to these water bodies this year.
Out of these water bodies, fish has been harvested from only one while others have not as it is difficult to harvest by net as they have uneven bottom surface and full of rocks and tree trunks.
5.2.3.5 Farmers training on Warm Water Fish Culture is conducted in each district of AJK twice a year. If necessary specific training courses for female farmers will be conducted.
To bring awareness amongst the people on May 6, 1996, Farmer's Day was celebrated for one day at Mirpur. There was a very good response from the farmers as well as UN DP and GOAJK authorities. The ceremony was attended by over 150 fish farmers and potential farmers. The Farmer's Day was followed by Farmer's Training on General Fish Culture at Mirpur. The training programme was participated by 12 farmers having own fish pond or ponds. Besides this training, more two training were conducted for the farmers at Rawalakot and Muzaffarabad in which 7 and 6 farmers participated respectively. All the trainee farmers of Muzaffarabad has one or two fish pond or ponds while in case of trainee of Rawalakot, only one farmer has a fish pond of 4 kanals and the other farmers were potential farmers who want to start fish culture. The details of farmers training has been shown in Annex - IV.
At least two farmers trained in breeding of Common Carp as well as nursing and rearing of hatchlings of Chinese Carps.
5.2.4.1 Selection and training of some progressive farmers in breeding of Common Carp and nursing of hatchlings of Chinese and Indian Major Carps as well as transportation of fingerlings.
The absence of physical facilities and brood fish in public sector, it was not possible to breed the fish in public sector. Moreover, the period of consultant's assignment was late to demonstrate the segregation of male and female of Common Carp as the time was approaching to breeding season on the time of his arrival. During field trip, the consultant observed wild breeding of Common Carp in one of the farmers ponds. The biggest size of Common Carp used for breeding was found 0.5 Kg. while the others were smaller than half a kilogram. On enquiry, the Consultant was surprised to know that the breeding of Common Carp is always done in mass and no controlled breeding is carried out. After knowing this, the Consultant was not surprised to see deteriorated strain of Common Carp having very poor growth. Even about 100 gram body weight fish oozing out the eggs or milt. Therefore, the Consultant felt the need of systematic information on Common Carp breeding and has prepared a short technical paper to orient and guide the technical staff as well as the progressive farmers who take interest on breeding of Common Carp. The paper is attached as Annex - X.
Besides the Common Carp, the breeding of Chinese Carp was approaching, therefore, on observing even a limited facility and brood fish of Grass Carp with one of the private sector farmer at Mirpur, the Consultant proposed on conducting training in Induced Breeding of Grass Carp - Chinese Carp at farmers field. The farmer was generous to the proposed training and also agreed to participate and thus it was decided to breed the Chinese Carp. Three progressive farmers of Mirpur were invited, out of which two farmers and three Fishery staff participated. The details has been already discussed under 5.1.1.3. Both the farmers and their helper were found curious to know the details of breeding however, it was not possible because of their no science background, however, practical aspects were explained. The training was conducted for 11 days.
The Consultant further oriented the progressive farmers on the breeding of Indian Major Carps and assured them to come back in case the need arises. The farmers followed the procedures and got success in breeding the Indian Major Carps - Rohu, Mori and Thaila too. They claim to produce 1.4 millions of fingerlings but considering their limited number of ponds and water area, the Consultant has full doubt on the said number, but no doubt in having few hundred thousands of fingerlings of Grass carp, Rohu, Mori and Thaila. This result has shown a break through impact of training on Induced Breeding within the shortest time.
5.2.4.2 Train some of the progressive farmers only in nursing and rearing of hatchlings and fingerlings and in transportation fingerlings.
With the success of the Grass Carp breeding, the two farmers were also oriented in nursing of hatchlings in the egg incubator itself as well as the preparation of the nursery pond and to nurse the fries in the nursery pond also. Both the farmers have carried out the above work with their two helpers. This practical training has resulted not only fingerlings of Grass Carp but also of Indian Major Carps too.
