Table of Contents

1. Background

2. Activities Undertaken

2.1 Assessment of the current status of inland aquaculture.

2.2 Equipment and installation

2.3 Seed production programme for carps

2.4 Demonstration programme in rural ponds and tanks

2.5 On the job training for the local staff

2.6 Extension material

2.7 Overseas training

2.8 Short courses for professional staff and farmers

2.9 Planned Extension programme

3. Recommendations

3.1 Equipment

3.2 Overseas training

3.3 Extension programme

3.4 In-service training

3.5 Water supply to Uda Walawe/Dambulla Centres

3.6 Fish seed production programme

3.7 Low cost culture system

3.8 General conclusions and the timing of the next mission

The designation employed and the presentation of the material in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

The Food and Agriculture Organization is greatly indebted to the organizations and individuals who assisted in the implementation of the project by providing information, advice and facilities.

1. Background

Consequent to the government decision of 1989 to withdraw support for inland aquaculture development, the Inland Fisheries Division under the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development was closed and the services of about 500 well trained and experienced professional staff were terminated. The Fisheries stations were leased out to private operators except a part of the Uda Walawe Fish Breeding Centre which was transferred to the National Aquatic Resource Agency (NARA) to carry out its experiments. As a result the inland fish production declined sharply from 40,000 in 1989 to 12,000 in 1994, per kaput availability of fish dropped significantly, prices of fish increased and there was also an adverse effect on rural employment. The leased out stations were hardly used for fish seed or table fish production as stipulated. Only a small part of the farm facilities were used for ornamental fish breeding and rearing at these stations. Dambulla centre had almost been abandoned. The condition of Uda Walawe was relatively better as part of the centre was kept under NARA. The devastating consequences of the earlier decision has forced the new Government to reconsider and review the policy. There is growing realization that inland fisheries and aquaculture can play a role in the national economy, human nutrition and rural employment and hence the new policy is strongly oriented towards the development of inland fisheries and aquaculture. With the creation of a new Division "Aquaculture Development Division" (AQD) within the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development (MFARD), the government is taking new initiatives to revitalize the development process in this area. The Aquaculture Development Centres ( ADC ) at Uda Walawe and Dambulla have been brought back under the fold of the MFARD and steps are being taken to rehabilitate and restrengthen these centres to carry on their originally assigned functions of fish seed production, training and extension in inland aquaculture. A third centre located in Inginiyagala has also been taken over recently.

Shortage of trained manpower and the poor state of the recently taken over farms are currently the major constraints being faced by the AQD. This TCP is expected to restrengthen the institutional capacity of the newly created Division by assisting in the rehabilitation of the recently taken over two farms, providing on the job training to the appointed technical professionals and launching the seed production and extension programme. As per the provision made under the project the Consultant on Inland aquaculture is to complete his assignment through two split missions of about six weeks each. The first mission was undertaken during 16 September till 28 October 1997. The consultant was briefed by the Project Operations Officer Ms. Dora Blessich, RAPR in Bangkok. This report outlines the brief assessment of the ongoing inland aquaculture development programmes, activities undertaken during the mission and necessary recommendations for future course of action. TOR for the Consultant -Inland Aquaculture is appended (Annex VII).

2. Activities Undertaken

2.1 Assessment of the current status of inland aquaculture.

Revitalization of the aquaculture sub-sector through rehabilitation of the farms, making them fully operational and developing trained manpower resources are the areas which the Aquaculture Development Division (AQD) is currently concentrating upon. The major activities include renovation of farms, fish seed production at the three centres, encouraging individual farmers and community participation in fingerling production, stocking of reservoirs and other water bodies, providing extension services directly and also through supporting the NGOs actively involved in rural development through small scale aquaculture etc. All these activities are accommodated under the broader national objectives of increasing fish production for providing cheap source of animal protein for the people, income and employment generation for the rural poor and foreign exchange earning through export of fisheries products. In order to carry out these activities/ functions, the AQD has initiated its field operations mainly through its two Aquaculture Development Centres (ADCs), Uda Walawe and Dambulla. Inginiyagala is the third centre taken over by the AQD recently. These centres are assigned to carry out functions pertaining to fish breeding, seed rearing, stocking of reservoirs, farmers training and extension. It is expected that 12 Regional Aquaculture Extension Centres will also start operating soon after fielding of the newly recruited professional staff.

2.1.1 Inland aquaculture resources

There is enormous potential for the development of inland aquaculture in Sri Lanka. Vast spread of inland water bodies in the form of seasonal tanks, small ponds, estate tanks, irrigation canals, small reservoirs etc., are readily available for inland aquaculture. There are about 100,000 ha of seasonal village tanks and nearly 10,000 ha of tanks in the estate plantation sector which are highly suitable for fish culture. Most of such water bodies do not require any improvement for taking up fish culture. Besides, there are land and water areas available for developing aquaculture in cages, pens and ponds.

Out of the various resources available for aquaculture, seasonal tank deserves priority for immediate utilization. Seasonal tanks are concentrated largely in areas where people have preference for freshwater fish and the marine fishes are more expensive. Seasonal tanks are primarily used for irrigating paddy fields, watering cattle and also for domestic purposes. Fish culture is possible in such water bodies in its original form and hence hardly any cost and efforts are required for development. Cultural cost is also minimal and limited mainly to the cost of fingerlings and harvesting. Seasonal tanks are small to medium size seasonal water bodies, which hold water for 6 to 9 months of the year. These water bodies receive water mainly from the North-East monsoon. Water starts accumulating with the October rains and gradually the maximum level is reached around January - February. From February/March onwards the volume and depth of water tend to decrease depending upon factors like intermittent showers, evaporation and draw down for irrigating agricultural crops etc. Generally water is available for fish culture for six to nine months. The prevailing temperature range of about 28 to 32 degrees throughout the period of water availability is ideal for the growth of fish. During the dry season these water bodies dry up and assume the shape of shallow bowl shaped grass land and serve as community grazing ground for the cattle. The entire bottom is uniformly manured by voiding of a large number of grazing cattle population. In addition to this, nutrients are also added by washings from the catchement area thus making the system more fertile. A large number of such seasonal tanks are situated in dry and semi-dry zone of the country and always in close proximity to the villages. Due to development measures a large number of such tanks retain water for longer period and sometimes a part of it retains water throughout the year.

Due to the seasonal nature of these water bodies all the pre-stocking management measures get automatically accomplished which include steps like eradication of weed, eradication of predatory fish, disinfection of bottom by exposing to sunlight and initial manuring. As a result very little management effort and inputs are required for culturing fish in such seasonal water bodies.

It is estimated that there are 15,000 of seasonal village tanks located in the dry and, to a less extent the intermediate zones of the country. ADCP (FAO) Mission which carried out a survey of aquaculture possibilities in Sri Lanka in 1980, concluded that an annual production of 25,000 tones of fish could be harvested from seasonal tanks alone if the resource is properly managed. Culture trials conducted as per the recommendations of the FAO project TCP/SRL/8804 in 1979/80 resulted in fish yields ranging from 326 to 1960 kg/ha/season.

2.1.2 Manpower resources and training need

The newly created Aquaculture Development Division (AQD) is headed by a Director who in turn is assisted by one Deputy Director and an Assistant Director. The Assistant Director is also the National Project Director of the project "Aquaculture Development" (TCP/SRL/6712). Besides, a Senior Aquaculturist is also attached to support the Director. To promote the freshwater aquaculture development, the Division has taken back the leased out farms located at Uda Walawe, Dambulla and very recently the Inginiyagala. The Uda Walawe is the biggest centre and is headed by an Aquaculturist who has recently been promoted to the post of Deputy Director. The other two centres are headed by recently recruited Aquaculturists. It is expected that the total staff strength of the division will grow to 450. Out of the total, the professionals account for 15 Aquaculturists, 12 Aquaculture Extension officers, 8 Aquaculture Assistants and 6 Assistant Aquaculture Extension Officers have been appointed during September 19997. In addition to these newly recruited professionals there are 44 Fisheries Inspectors whose services were retained by the Ministry. They are, however, still under the administrative control of the respective District collectors but expected to be brought back under the Ministry. Once the aquaculture services are launched, Fisheries Inspectors will assume the function of the front line extension workers linked to the Aquaculture Extension Units. It is expected that 12 such units will be functional after fielding of Aquaculturists and the Aquaculture Extension Officers.

The services of the existing senior officers of the Division like Director, two Deputy Directors, one Assistant Director and the Senior Aquaculturist were retained by the Ministry and hence all of them had adequate exposure to the field and had several in-country and overseas training opportunities. On the other hand all other professional staff have joined only during September/October 1997. Except for the four Aquaculturists and a few Aquaculture Assistants who worked as trainees at the two farms, all others are fresh. They have hardly any previous experience or exposure to aquaculture and extension activities.

Induction training is desired for all categories of newly recruited professional staff. The induction course should ideally be a 12- month's course with variations allowed according to the need of different officers and at different levels of responsibility. Subsequently, there should also be provision for refresher training to boost up the level of, and to update information. Refresher training should be for a period of at least 2 to 3 weeks. Depending upon the special need and requirements, these professionals should be given special training for acquiring knowledge and skills in special areas of aquaculture activities as and when required. The length of these courses would vary depending upon the specific area and need of the training.

2.1.3 Fish Seed production facilities

Uda Walawe Station

Compared to other two farms the condition of Uda Walawe Aquaculture Development Centre is relatively much better. One of the reasons being the major part of the Centre was retained by NARA and only a section was leased out to the private sector. The section given to the private sector is still unusable.

The farm facilities of the Uda Walawe Centre are located at two stations, the old station and the new station and situated about one km apart. The new station is the main station and spread over an area of about 40 ha. About 50 ponds are in better condition but do require improvements. The 10 brood stock ponds of the front sector are in good condition. Besides these ponds there are 54 cement cisterns of 18 and 36 Sq. m. each which are used for rearing of spawn and breeding and hatching of common carp. The hatchery complex has six plastic hatching tanks connected to the adjoining overhead tank. Sector B of the new farm complex is still lying ignored and unutilized. About 40 well-laid ponds are lying unutilized because of poor maintenance by the earlier occupants. After thorough renovation ponds of this sector can be utilized for maintaining the brood stock and mass scale rearing of fish seed.

The farm is fed by water through gravity flow from the adjoining irrigation canal which drains water from the Uda Walawe reservoir. The canal is primarily meant for irrigating the agricultural crops especially the paddy and therefore availability of water in the canal is synchronized with the rice cultivation activities and not with the requirement of the aquaculture centre. The consultant found that there was no canal water supply to the farm during the course of his stay. Water supply was critically required during this period as this was the high time for broodstock management and breeding of certain species.

The centre has moderate laboratory facilities which include a kit for water analysis, microscopes, electrical centrifuge, mixer/grinder, electronic balance, glasswares, chemicals etc. However, the Division is expected to place orders for full range of glasswares and other lab equipments. The farm facilities include a mini truck, air compressor, water pump, hand trolley, nets of varying mesh, plastic pools, glass hatchery jars etc.

There are adequate training facilities at the centre for field officers and also for farmers. The training room is equipped with OHP, adequate number of furniture and a dormitory, which can accommodate 20 participants. The circuit bungalow can accommodate 3 instructors at a time.

The old farm is spread over an area of a little over 5 ha and has 17 ponds and 10 nursing tanks. Some of the ponds have been renovated recently but due to the seepage problem they are still lying unutilized

The centre is having three vehicles and one motor cycle which are used for transport of materials and also for the mobility of officers and staff.

About 40 field workers are employed by the centre for the general upkeep of the farm and day to day farming/breeding activities. The centre is headed by an Officer-in-charge who is a Deputy Director level officer. After the recruitment of the professional staff four Aquaculturists and Aquaculture Assistants have been posted at the centre.

The centre is maintaining a total of about 400 brood fish. Besides the Indian major carps there are considerable numbers of silver carp, big head and recently introduced grass carp from India. Big head stock is considerably old and not been able to breed since last seven to eight years. Silver carp brood is relatively younger. The centre has been able to breed and distribute the seed of Indian major carps, tilapia and common carp since last two years. The centre is engaged in the production and distribution of seed. The centre was able to breed the Indian Major carps, common carp, tilapia and the local Labeo sp. Usually spawn are reared upto fry stage and are distributed among the farmers free who in turn rear them upto fingerling stage. The fingerlings are bought back by the centre for its stocking programme in the reservoirs and seasonal tanks.

The centre has also started conducting training for the farmers. However, the method employed for training is the usual classroom type. The consultant was highly impressed by the management skill of the Officer-in-Charge. The functional part of the farm is well maintained and the manpower is efficiently utilized.

Dambulla Aquaculture Development Centre

The Centre is basically a fish seed production farm situated about 5 km. from Dambulla town and next to the reservoir. The centre is well connected to the road. This centre is supposed to cater the fish seed demand of the central and northern zones of the country which has the highest concentration of seasonal tanks. In the nearby Anuradhapura area alone there are over 2,000 of seasonal tanks of varying sizes.

The centre when taken back by the Government in September 1994 was almost in abandoned state. The functional farm facilities include five type A ponds (approximately 2000 sq.m.), five type B ponds (1500 sq.m.), and ten nursery ponds (about 400 sq.m. each). Besides, there are several cement cisterns which are used for rearing spawn till fry stage. Seed rearing are also conducted in plastic pools. Type A and B ponds are used for keeping the broodstock. However, the number of brood fish is limited. The brood stock includes species of Indian major carps like catla , rohu and mrigal ,Chinese carps - mainly common carp and few bighead carp and tilapia. The remaining five type A and type B ponds need thorough renovation before it is put to use for fish culture. A total of about 70 major carps brood fish are available at the centre.

All the farm ponds have the facility for filling and draining out water. Water from the adjoining reservoir is drawn directly through siphoning. It was reported that one third of water is exchanged every week in all the ponds. However, at the time of breeding demonstration, the consultant found that the DO of the incoming water was only 2.8 ppm which is not desired to feed the hatchery. Vigorous agitation and diverting the water to a cement cistern before its entry to the hatchery helped in raising the DO to over 5-ppm. The main reason for low DO level was mainly because the water was siphoned from the bottom of the reservoir. It is advised that modifications be made to fix the siphon mouth. only a few feet below the water surface and may be adjusted with the water level fluctuation.

As indicated by the Officer-in-Charge of the centre, the fish biomass density in the broodstock ponds was reasonably maintained between 1.5 to 2 tons/ha. Commercially available pelleted feed (price Rs. 47/kg) is broadcasted regularly @ 3-5% body weight in two daily installments in the broodfish ponds.

The old glass jar hatchery system is lying in abandoned state. However, these jars may be used for incubating the fertilized eggs after the water supply system is salvaged. There are two circular plastic hatchery jars kept in the open, which have been used during the last breeding season and also for the breeding demonstration for bighead carps.

The main breeding season being June and July and the secondary being October and November. During the last breeding season 4 sets each of catla, mrigal and common carp and 5 sets of rohu were bred and a total of 2.5 million of hatchlings were produced. Out of this 1.6 million were sent to Uda Walawe centre and the remaining 0.9 million were reared upto fry stage with the survival level of about 25%.

During the last spawning season the centre has used pituitary gland, HCG and ovaprim as inducing agents for the breeding of Indian major carp species. Except for common carp no other Chinese carps could be bred at the centre. Nursing of spawn to fry is done exclusively either in cement cistern or in the plastic pool. The prestocking preparation includes application of 2 kg cattle dung and 100g urea in 25 sq.m. cement cistern about 1 week prior to stocking. The stocking is done @ 25,000 spawn/tank of 25 sq.m. and feeding is done initially for one week with soybean milk @ 100 ml/tank two times a day. Powdered pellet feed is applied @ 50 g/day in two applications during the subsequent weeks. Hatchlings of Tilapia nilotica is collected once in every three days from the stock pond and reared upto fry stage in plastic pools. Fry to fingerling rearing is done in ponds of 20 m.x10 m. dimension. Preparatory steps include dewatering, drying, manuring with 20 kg cattle dung, 200 g. urea and 50g. TSP. Stocking is done after two weeks of manuring @ 75,000 nos./pond. Feeding is done @ 500g powdered pellet/day in two applications. Feed cost is nearly Rs. 47/kg. Usual survival rate is very low. Better survival rate (40%) is found usually with common carp.

The centre has limited training facility. However, short-term training for the farmers may be conducted easily. Presently there is no hostel facility for the trainees. The existing professional staff attached to the centre includes three recently appointed Aquaculturists, two Aquaculture Assistants and one Graduate trainee. Two of the aquaculturists were earlier working at the centre as Graduate trainee.

The centre has limited laboratory facilities which include kit for water analysis, microscopes, hand operated centrifuge, mixer/grinder, glassware's, chemicals etc. However, the Division is expected to place orders for a full range of glassware and other lab equipment. The farm facilities include a mini truck, air compressor, water pump, hand trolley, nets of varying mesh, plastic pools, glass hatchery jars etc.

The total area of the farm is about 25 ha. A portion of the centre is still under the occupation of the former lessee. The problem of poaching is one of several constraints faced by the centre. The centre deserves thorough renovation before it is put on large-scale operation. Manpower management also needs improvement.

Hingurskgoda is a nearby small town area where people have started pond culture for the rearing of fish seed. These ponds are relatively smaller, about 300 to 500 sq. meters and hence well suited for seed rearing. Anuradhapura and Polonnarua is well known for the highest concentration of seasonal tanks. It is estimated that about 2000 to 3000 seasonal tanks are available in the area.

2.1.4 Priority programmes for aquaculture development

With due consideration to the growing importance of aquaculture and its relevance to rural development, the MFARD/AQD have decided to bring substantive increase in fish seed production, the most critical input for inland aquaculture development. To achieve this goal, a comprehensive programme has been prepared for the rehabilitation of the existing centres, Uda Walawe, Dambulla and Inginyagala. Additional support is also being mobilized for gearing up breeding and mass scale fry production. It has been realized that the available government infrastructure facilities are highly inadequate to meet the demand which is expected to rise many fold with the extension inputs. A special seed production drive has been started in 1996 which intend to draw active participation of the local communities, cooperative societies, estate management and small scale fish seed rearers. etc. State seed centres maintain the broodstock, produce seed and rear the spawn upto fry stage which in turn are distributed among the individual farmers, cooperative societies and estate farms for rearing it upto 7 to 10 cm size fingerlings. The fish fry (two weeks old) are delivered free of charge to the farmers and the fingerlings raised in their ponds are purchased at the rate of Rs. 1/ each for major carps and 70 cents for tilapia. It is expected that the demand of fingerlings will grow to about 40 million within the next three years. The fingerlings thus procured through private sector are used for stocking programme of reservoirs, estate sector tanks and community water bodies. According to the government this strategy is expected to stimulate the demand for fingerlings. Efforts are also being made to initiate fish culture in seasonal tanks by organizing local farming communities into fisheries management groups. A major thrust has also been seen in popularizing ornamental fish rearing among the rural communities to tap the export market.

The technology of cage culture has been tried in the past and efforts are again under way to promote cage culture in reservoirs with tilapia as one of the candidate species. Though these are technically feasible options, the future does not look bright due to the prevailing cost of fish feed ingredients. The future of cage culture will largely depend on the market price of fish and the cost of feed used. On the other hand there is good possibility of cage culture of grass carp in running water and also in reservoirs. Agro-climatic condition favors the luxuriant growth of green vegetation which can be used as feed for grass carp.

A sizeable number of professional field posts have been created under the AQD to initiate and carry on the planned development programmes. However, there is a pressing need to train the existing and newly appointed professional staff in aspects of aquaculture technologies and know how for the transfer of these technologies to the widely scattered rural communities.

Extension activities

Since aquaculture is not a traditional activity in Sri Lanka, the need for an efficient extension services system is felt extremely essential. Present emphasis is mainly on training of farmers, but it is also expected that a suitable extension programme with appropriate strategy and approach will follow in near future. To support this drive, 12 Aquaculture Extension officers and 6 Assistant Aquaculture Extension Officers have been appointed and trained under the project through a short duration course on aquaculture extension. It is expected that 12 Regional Aquaculture Extension Centres will also start operating soon after fielding of the newly recruited professional staff. However, due to unexpected technical problems the posting is delayed.

Extension services are also delivered by a few NGOs like Small Fishers Federation of Sri Lanka, Canada Development Fund, Self Employment Information Centre, Agromart Foundation etc. These NGOs are active in the field of aquaculture and rural development. Small Fishers Federation of Sri Lanka is quite active in the field and established a good base in Bandagiri of Hembantota district. Fish seed production and fish culture in ponds and seasonal tanks are the major component of their rural development programme. In the near future they will start their own small hatchery to cater to the spawn requirement of the farmers. The AQD is also extending its support in this activity. During the course of the mission an on-site training was organized for the farmers in which 12 men and 9 women aquaculture farmers participated. Besides, their two extension workers were also trained through the aquaculture extension course conducted by the project for Aquaculture Assistants and Assistant aquaculture Extension Officers at Uda Walawe. Some of these NGOs are also providing short term credit to the farmers for pond construction and operational cost.

2.2 Equipment and installation

Prior to the arrival of the consultant a partial list of equipment was submitted to the FAO Rep. by the National Project Director. The listed equipment include farm machinery like two mini tractors, two grass cutters and computers. The farm equipment was procured while the remaining items were kept pending for the arrival of the consultant. The list of equipment submitted to the FAOR was examined by the consultant and a partial list was submitted with few modifications. The Consultant also visited the two centres, Uda Walawe and Dambulla and made an overall assessment of the available equipment for training, laboratory and farm. The consultant also scanned the list of equipment/ glassware/chemicals etc., to be procured through the government fund. Keeping in view of the available equipment and the equipment to be procured under the government own development programme, the list was again revised. The final list of equipment and chemicals as agreed upon by the NPD is provided under the report (Annex I).

A prototype of a low cost portable hatchery made out of fine meshed synthetic cloth which was taken by the consultant was field tested. Similar hatchery was also made using locally available materials and tested for its suitability. This type of low cost hatching jar stitched out of synthetic cloth may have wide applicability for the small scale farmers and hatchery operators in the coming years and will help in decentralization of seed production in Sri Lanka. A low cost fixed jar type hatchery system has also been planned in consultation with the Officer-in-Charge of the Uda Walawe Centre to be installed and operated during the course of the second mission.

2.3 Seed production programme for carps

The condition of broodstock of both the centres, Uda Walawe and Dambulla, was examined during the initial phase of the mission. At Dambulla only a limited number of brood fish was available. However, except for a few numbers of bighead (2-3 females and 5 -6 males) no other species showed any sign of maturity. The consultant was informed that the bighead stock are about 10 to 12 years old and did not breed within last 7 to 8 years. Indian major carps were relatively younger and were able to breed during last June/July which is considered to be the peak season for the maturity of Indian major carp species. In Uda Walawe centre, however, the condition was relatively more favorable. The centre was maintaining about 400 brood fish of both Indian and Chinese carps. None of the Indian major carp species exhibited any sign of gonadal maturity as the season was already over. These species are successfully spawned at the station since last two years. Among the Chinese species, however, few species of grass carp which was introduced only a year back from India showed relatively better condition. A few big head and silver carps brood were in good state of maturity. Eggs were examined microscopically to see the location of the nucleus. However, there was no water supply from the canal to flush the brood fish ponds and also to run the hatchery. Though the authority concerned promised to release the water by the end of September, it was finally released on 22 October in the afternoon and on the following day breeding was attempted. Two sets of grass carp, one set of big head and two sets of silver carps were selected for the breeding. The station so far used pituitary gland, HCG and lately ovaprim as inducing agent for breeding of the fish. LHRH-analogue together with domperidone was used as inducing agent except for one set of grass carp with ovaprim. All attempted sets successfully spawned except for one set of grass carp injected with ovaprim. The entire dose of ovaprim was injected once. The specimen showed sign of plugging. The milt yield was satisfactory and the sperm was demonstrated for its viability. Fertilization was also quite satisfactory but the embryo started dying after few hours of development. A few days before breeding was also demonstrated at Dambulla centre. Two sets of bighead were induced to breed using LHRH-a and dopamine. Both the sets spawned successfully but ended with similar result of the death of embryo after few hours of development. Late stage of maturity may be attributed as one of potential factor among several other causes for the death of the embryo after few hours of development. At Uda Walawe the hatching in bighead was between 20 and 30%.

Though the OIC of the Uda Walawe had also similar experience with ovaprim as inducing agent it is difficult to draw any conclusion by attempting only one set. LHRH Analogue with combination of domperidone, however, gave consistently 100% results in spawning of Chinese carps at both the centres. The OIC of Uda Walawe centre has also decided to use LHRH-A and domperidone as inducing agent and accordingly it has been included under the list of chemicals to be procured under the project (Annex II).

One of the important factors for the poor quality of brood stock is the unavailability of timely water supply to the brood fish ponds. In fact there was no water supply for nearly three months. The water was released only one day before the breeding programme. For proper development of the gonads it is highly desired that the ponds are flushed several times in succession. Since the water supply from canal was not resumed it was not possible to flush the ponds at all. Such problems may arise in the future also and hence an alternative arrangement may be made to ensure dependable source of water supply to the farm at least during the peak period of requirement. There is a possibility of drawing water from the adjoining perennial river by installation of a pump. Such an alternative arrangement may ensure year round availability of water for the hatchery and farm operations.

Incidental to practical class/field exercise certain amount of seed of common carp was also produced through hypophysation and stripping techniques and hatching them in the circular hatchery tank and the fabricated cloth hatching jar.

2.4 Demonstration programme in rural ponds and tanks

The two major areas identified for the demonstration of fish culture technologies are rearing of fish seed in rural undrainable ponds and culture of food fish in community seasonal tanks. The programme of fish seed production and stocking of selected reservoirs are already the part of the ongoing priority programme of the government. The two functional aquaculture centres, Uda Walawe and Dambulla need to play a most significant role. Apart from their major role of seed production, these centres can also play an important role in training and extension. Accordingly field based in-situ training with components of Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) was demonstrated at both the centres for the initiation of result demonstration of the technology of fingerling production in rural undrainable ponds under individual ownership and table size production of fish in seasonal tanks with active involvement of the local communities. The emphasis has been laid not merely on the demonstration of the technologies, but strongly on the demonstration of results. Techniques for the selection of farmers to act as Result Demonstration Farmer (RDF) or Result Demonstration Group (RDG) has also been demonstrated. Five ponds/individual farm families have been selected for fingerling rearing and one seasonal tank/fish farming group has been selected for result demonstration under each of the two centres. It has also been advised that after posting of the Aquaculturists/Aquaculture Extension Officers at the newly created aquaculture stations they will also take up a demonstration programme on fingerling production in five ponds and table fish production in at least one seasonal tank at their respective stations. Similar demonstrations have also been proposed in Bandagiriya area in close cooperation with the local NGO, Small Fishers Federation (SFF). The two extension workers of the NGO have also been trained under the project and an in-situ farmers' training was also conducted at the site to launch the programme. The nearby unit of the AQD located at Hambanthota will support the SFF by regular visits and in-situ training for the involved farmers at the site itself. The SFF will also keep close contact with Uda Walawe centre to get additional support in the form of seed material and technical backstopping. The in-charge of the Uda Walawe centre can play significant role in this programme and hence he should also be actively involved in the programme supervision. Similar exercise has also been conducted in the close vicinity of Dambulla centre for launching result demonstration programme on fingerling production in five individually owned ponds and table size production in Damana seasonal tank. During the course of the in-situ training, the local community of farmers showed keen interest in the programme. In close proximity of the Uda Walawe centre, farmers training were organized, few ponds selected, prepared and are kept ready for stocking. Stocking in the Tunkaman seasonal tank has also been planned. Prior to that a training programme was also organised for the community members. The Tunkaman seasonal tank was almost full to its brim but the group decided to postpone the stocking till December due to fear of spilling over during the heavy downpour. The NPD has advised all the established field stations to survey and select the ponds/seasonal tanks and the farmers/group for result demonstration programme and send the report to the NPD and also to the nearest Aquaculture Centre from where they are expected to get the seed and further technical support if needed. The programme will be closely supported/ monitored by the NPD and the linked centres. A reporting format has been developed which may be introduced to support the programme (Annex III).

The idea of encouraging participation of individual farm families, cooperative societies and estate management in production of fingerling is praiseworthy. However, it would be more appropriate and practical and cost effective if the seed material is distributed to the farmers in the form of spawn and not the fry. The existing three centres have limited area available for rearing of spawn to fry. The transport of fry is also more expensive and risky than transport of spawn. The desired number of spawn can also be taken by the interested farmers of their own and without taking help of the transport facilities from the centre. There are perfected technology available for one tire rearing of seed i.e.,. from spawn to fingerling in the same pond. Again emphasis should also be given on rearing of large size fingerling between 10 and 15 cm as most of these fingerlings are going to be stocked in large water bodies such as reservoirs and community tanks. In large water bodies the larger size stocking may ensure the possibility of better survival. In seasonal community ponds where water is available for limited period, stocking of advanced fingerling may ensure production of larger size fish.

2.5 On the job training for the local staff

During the course of the mission, the consultant spent most of his time at the Uda Walawe centre and few days at Dambulla centre (Annex IV). The professional staff of these two centres were closely associated with the activities undertaken by the consultant. The main emphasis of the job training was to make the staff understand the fundamentals of the pond ecosystem, management measures to be undertaken in the light of the prevailing ecological parameters, preparation of ponds for the rearing of spawn to fry and fry to fingerling and the advantages and impact of daily manuring and also manuring technique for the quick development of natural fish food organisms in nurseries. In view of their potential role in aquaculture extension, the professionals were also exposed to the techniques and strategies for aquaculture extension and use and application of training tools, treatments of message and conducting in-situ training for farmers including participatory resource appraisal techniques etc.

2.6 Extension material

Extension teaching tools and training materials like Video film, flannel board set, fish culture game cards, were demonstrated and used during the course of the training programme. Sets of coloured slides displaying various steps of breeding, seed rearing and culture technologies and extension teaching methods etc., have been made to be used by the project/AQD for training and extension activities. With the help of the Aquaculturist of the Uda Walawe centre a set of display materials to be used on flannel board has also been prepared and will be ready for multiplication after field testing during the course of the next mission.

In addition to the training tools, the following training manuals have been drafted. These manuals will be reviewed by the Director, AQD, Deputy Director AQD and the NPD, field tested during the course of the next mission and will be ready for multiplication by the Division.

1. Manual of Fish Seed Production - The manual is covering aspects of development and management of brood stock, selection of matured brood fish for spawning, spawning techniques and inducing agents, hatchery management, rearing of spawn to fry and fry to fingerling and also spawn to fingerling, transport of seed and brood fish, health care etc. This manual has been prepared for the professional staff of the AQD and NGOs.

2. Manual of Seed Rearing and Fish Culture in Seasonal Tanks - This manual is more of instructional nature with fewer text supported by a good number of illustrations. The manual will be translated in local language after field testing for large scale multiplication for its distribution among the farmers.

3. Manual of Aquaculture Extension . Aquaculture is not a traditional activity in Sri Lanka like other South Asian and South East Asian countries and hence it requires the services of an efficient aquaculture extension services system. This manual will serve as guidelines for the newly recruited professionals-Aquaculturists and Aquaculture Extension Officers in discharging their duties more efficiently and effectively. The final version will be ready after it is revised and field tested.

2.7 Overseas training

In line with the provisions made in the project document for three overseas training, appropriate institutions have been identified. Though it was difficult to put specific names of the candidates for the overseas training, certain criteria have been justified for the selection of right candidates. Details are furnished under recommendations section of this report.

2.8 Short courses for professional staff and farmers

Considering the emergency situation and nature of the assistance outlined in the project document, short term basic or foundation training was planned separately for broadly grouped two categories of professionals. The idea was to introduce the fundamentals of aquaculture, pond ecosystem and its management for rearing of fish seed and table fish, brood stock management, induced spawning using various inducing agents, hatchery management and large scale production of fish seed and fish seed transport. Since the inducted professionals are expected to initiate the extension programme in their respective area of posting, a basic idea about the objectives, scope, techniques and approaches of aquaculture extension were also included in the programme. Essential elements of manpower management such as team building, group interaction, leadership development etc., were also introduced through class room training and demonstration in the field.

Coincidentally the newly appointed professional staff Aquaculturists, Aquaculture Assistants, Aquaculture Extension officers and Assistant Aquaculture Extension Officers were fielded soon after the arrival of the consultant. These newly appointed professionals were fresh from academic institutions and as such they had hardly any prior experience and exposure to the field of aquaculture and aquaculture extension. Only few of them had exposure as they were serving at the two centres as graduate trainees for one to two years. The course outlines were prepared in consultation with the Director, AQD and the NPD separately for the two levels of newly recruited professionals with due considerations to their level of education and job requirements. The first short course was of six days duration and was conducted for Aquaculturists and Aquaculture Extension Officers. Though these two categories of professionals will have to play specific roles in the field, their educational background and basic functional requirements are the same. Similarly a separate training course was conducted for the Aquaculture Assistants and the Assistant Aquaculture Extension Officers having similar academic background and knowledge base. The details of the course outline and the programme is furnished under Annex V a and V b of the report.

There was a general agreement that the duration of the training was too short, especially when it was meant for freshly recruited professionals. A second similar follow-up course is planned during the next mission which will touch these aspects in greater detail and will address the field probles brought by them.

In addition to these two short courses for the professional staff, four on site training programmes were also conducted to demonstrate the training method and also train the farmers. A total of 57 farmers were trained in fish seed rearing and fish culture in seasonal tanks.

2.9 Planned Extension programme

In line with the national priority programme for the development of inland aquaculture and in consultation with the Director AQD and the NPD the following extension activities are to be initiated on trial basis. The progress will be reviewed during the second mission of the consultant to develop more appropriate course of aquaculture extension approaches and programme. The proposed programme involves both aspects of freshwater aquaculture, seed rearing and also the production of table size fish. Both these aspects deserve equal attention. Market for fish seed may be created if aquaculture becomes popular among the already available resources and in case aquaculture becomes popular there will be increasing demand for fish seed. Accordingly it is planned that instead of a stocking programme there will be a limited number of result demonstration programmes on seed rearing and culture of table fish in seasonal tanks. The existing three centres Uda Walawe, Dambulla and Inginiyagala the newly created four other field/extension centres Anuradhapura, Chillao (brackishwater) Hambanthota and Rambodegalla will take up result demonstration of seed rearing in five farmers ponds and one seasonal tank each. The Centre-in-charge of the centres and the newly created stations have also expressed their strong interest in this programme. The work plan of activities and the monitoring/reporting format for the plan is given under Annex III. of this report. Soon after selection of the water bodies and the farmers/ communities involved the report will be sent to the NPD with a copy to the Uda Walawe station. In turn the NPD will try to mobilize the required inputs especially the stocking materials and other facilities.

3. Recommendations

3.1 Equipment

The detailed list of equipment to be procured under the project is furnished under Annex I of the report. The list has been prepared with due consideration to the equipment already available in working condition at the two centres/farms, the equipment, chemicals and laboratory glassware being procured under the government programme and the requirements of the two centres to carry out their assigned responsibilities of seed production, training and extension activities. A separate list is provided for essentially required chemicals (Annex II).

The portable cloth hatchery jar was fabricated out of locally available materials and field tested. Such low cost hatchery jar may be introduced among the NGOs and private seed producers to promote decentralized seed production activities.

As discussed with the OIC - Uda Walawe, a low cost but fixed hatchery unit will be installed at Uda Walawe as a model unit during the next mission of the consultant.

3.2 Overseas training

The following three Institutions have been identified for overseas training. As outlined in the project document, two of these specialised institutions are located in India and one in Thailand. These three institutions are Regional/National Lead Centres under Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA). It is recommended that NACA may be approached to organize the overseas training at their lead centres.

Fish seed production (one trainee, India). 1 month.

Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (NACA Regional Lead Centre)

Bhubaneswar, India. The period between May and July will be appropriate for this training.

Fish Disease Diagnosis and Control (one trainee, Thailand). 1 month.

Aquatic Animal Health Research Institute (NACA Lead Centre for Fish Health), Bangkok, Thailand. The timing may be coincided with the breeding season of carps to get better idea about post spawning health care. Any time between March and June may be appropriate.

Inland Fisheries Management (one trainee, India). 1 month.

Central Inland Capture Fisheries Research Institute (NACA National Lead Centre), Barrackpore, India. The period between February and March will be appropriate for training.

The Coordinator, NACA may be approached at the following address :

Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA)

P.O. Box 1040, Kasetsart Post Office,

Bangkok 10903

Thailand

(Fax : 66-2-561 1727).

In view of strengthening all the three centres, one candidate each from the three centres may be selected for overseas training. It is recommended that the candidates for overseas training may be selected from the recently recruited aquaculturists. However, out of the 15 recently recruited aquaculturists, only four have experience and exposure to practical aspects of aquaculture as these incumbents have worked for two years as graduate trainees at the two centres, Uda Walawe and Dambulla. They have developed the capacity to digest higher level of specialized training. They also did fairly well in the post-training evaluation conducted by the consultant (Annex VI c).

3.3 Extension programme

It is recommended that aquaculture extension activities may be initiated with a strong component of result demonstration and on-site training for farmers and local communities. As initiated and agreed upon, each AQC - Uda Walawe, Dambulla and Ingniyagala and the four recently established extension units may organize the result demonstration of fish seed rearing in 5 (five) farmers ponds and culture of food fish in 1 (one) seasonal tanks. The details of the selected Result Demonstration Farmers (RDF) and their ponds for fish seed rearing demonstration, and the Result Demonstration Group and their seasonal tank for culture demonstration in seasonal tanks may be recorded by each participating centre. The programme may be closely monitored/supported from the HQs. By the NPD under the overall guidance of the Director, AQD. The enclosed extension reporting format (Annex III) may be introduced for collection of initial and periodical progress reporting.

The field units and the centres may be advised that the seasonal tanks selected for demonstration are stocked by December. Seed rearing activities may be initiated as early as possible. It is emphasized that the extension programme is focused on the demonstration of results and not only on stocking of seed. To ensure sustainability in the extension programme, the farmers may be motivated to bear at least a partial cost of fingerlings.

The field units may be advised to perform at least one home/site visit in a fortnight to assess the progress and problems and giving necessary advice for future course of action. As and when required on-site training, as demonstrated at Bandagiriya, may be organized. The Small Fishers Federation, the NGO working in the Bandagiriya area may be assisted and a joint AQD and SFD programme may be launched in that area. There is good scope of cooperation between NGOs and AQD in rural development through small scale and community based aquaculture programmes.

3.4 In-service training

The newly recruited professional staff (Aquaculturists, Aquaculture Extension Officers, Aquaculture assistants and Assistant aquaculture Extension Officers) under the Aquaculture Development Division are new from academic institutions. Aquaculture and aquaculture extension is a completely new field for these incumbents. On the other hand these professionals are posted in the field and made responsible for aquaculture development of the entire country. Under the circumstance the short term training extended by the project will be extremely useful and significantly support the on going aquaculture development initiatives. However, the duration was too short for these professionals. A second spell of training through similar short course is strongly recommended for these professional groups during the second mission of the consultant. By that time they will also gain experience and be better exposed to field conditions and multi-faceted problems and would also like to get solutions to the technical problems. Two week long courses need to be organized as second spell of training.

It is also pointed out that besides the above mentioned groups of fielded professionals there is another group of field professional , the Fisheries Inspectors. They are supposed to be the front line of extension workers working at grass root level. Unfortunately these 44 Fisheries Inspectors who are supposed to guide and support the fish farming community have never had any technical training. This would continue as a major weakness in the Division. It is strongly recommended that adequate provision be made under the project for providing in-service training to these front line professionals through week long short courses during the second mission of the consultant. Two courses need to be organized to accommodate all 44 candidates.

Consequent to the recommendations on in-service training activities, a total of three short courses (about one week each) and one workshop (two days) are to be organized during the course of the second mission of the Inland Aquaculture Consultant which would involve a total amount of US$ 6,500 as estimated in consultation with the NPD. Appropriate revision may be made to revise the budget so that savings from other lines, especially equipment may be mobilized for training.

3.5 Water supply to Uda Walawe/Dambulla Centres

One of the important factors responsible for the poor quality of brood stock is the unavailability of timely water supply to flush the brood fish ponds and also to run the hatchery during September/October months. This is a major constraint which does not allow the Uda Walawe centre to harness its full potential. There is a possibility of drawing water from the adjoining perennial Rakwana river. It is recommended that appropriate capacity of pumps may be installed for drawing water to the farm/hatchery during the closed period.

Appropriate modifications may be made in siphon structure so that the inlet is kept only a few feet below the water surface and may be adjusted with the water level fluctuations.

3.6 Fish seed production programme

To meet the estimated demand of 40 million fingerlings by the end of the ongoing plan period a total of 4,500 kg. of brood fish need to be maintained which would alone require about 2.5 ha of brood fish ponds and additional space for the rearing of spawn up to fry stage. To achieve this target the following steps are to be taken on top priority basis.

Building a broodstock bank of over 2000 brood fish

Renovation and repair of the unutilized sectors of the three centres

Shifting the function of spawn to fry rearing from the centres to the farmers. The technique of one step rearing may be promoted. This will reduce pressure on the existing centres which may concentrate more on breeding and production of spawn. The existing centres do not have enough space to rear 120 million of spawn to produce approximately 40 million fingerlings.

There is a tendency to rear spawn to fry in small cement cisterns. A major shift is required to use the ponds for mass scale rearing of seed.

The technique and impact of daily manuring of pond was demonstrated during the course of the training. This technique is also very effective in promoting quick growth of natural fish food organisms. The same technique may be promoted for seed rearing as well as for table fish production.

The hormones and chemicals used for induced breeding of fishes have also been evolving and changing with increasing amount of research interest in the field of fish breeding. Pituitary gland and HCG separately and in combination and ovaprim have been in use at these centres. The use of LHRH -a in combination with domperidone has been demonstrated with excellent results in spawning the species of Chinese carps attempted. LHRH-a which is available commercially in the name of Suprefact may be procured for the next breeding season. Domperidone is locally available in tablet form in the name of Dopamine. Suprefact has been listed under the recommended list of chemicals to be procured under the project.

A high incidence of argulus infection was found in brood fish ponds. Diptrex or malathion may be applied three times at weekly interval to control the infection. These steps need to taken much prior to breeding season.

3.7 Low cost culture system

In relation to the prevailing market price of fish, the cost of fish feed ingredients are quite expensive. On the other hand there is good cattle population in the rural area. Most of the farm families maintain at least few cows or buffaloes. Compared to feedbased aquaculture systems either in cages, pens or in ponds, there is good future for low cost manure based aquaculture. Extension services system may be oriented to focus its attention on the promotion of low cost aquaculture. There is good potential for the cultivation of grass carp which can be fed on terrestrial grasses growing naturally around the year.

3.8 General conclusions and the timing of the next mission

Though the inland aquaculture sub-sector is starting from trash, there is marked enthusiasm and genuine desire for development among the main actors of this sub-sectors, the farmers, the rural communities, NGOs, Government and the officers and workers of the newly created division. Shortage of trained manpower is considered to be the biggest constraint in achieving the planned development objectives. Except for the Director, Deputy and Assistant Directors and the OIC of Uda Walawe centre, all other professional staff have been fielded only recently. The TCP project assistance was very timely in orienting the new entrants and giving them at least workable knowledge to initiate the ground work. On the other hand it is also to realise that unlike any other similar but bulky organization, the Division is quite young with a complete new set of young professionals. They are full of energy and vigour and if properly guided and trained, a much faster development may be anticipated. The consultant was extended all possible assistance and cooperation by the Director, AQD, NPD, DD- Hqs, the OIC of Uda Walawe, field staff in discharging his assigned job. The FAO Representative and his programme officer were always keen to know the progress and extended necessary guidance and advice all through.

For the timing of the next mission, it is recommended that this be fielded coinciding with the breeding season of carps. June and July are the main breeding season for carps in Sri Lanka.

Annex I

List of equipment

Recommended list of equipments to be procured under the project - TCP/SRL/6712 (A)

Annex II

List of chemicals

A.R. grade

1. Concentrated Sulfuric acid - 2 litre

2. Concentrated hydrochloric acid - 2 litters

3. Potassium hydroxide - 500g - 4 packs

4. Sodium carbonate - 500g - 4 packs

5. Potassium iodide - 250 g - 5 packets

6. Sodium iodide - 250g - 4 packets

7. Manganous sulfate - 500 g - 5 packets

8. Sodium thiosulphate - 250 g - 4 packs

9. Potassium dichromate - 250 g - 4 packets

10 Starch powder - 250 g - 2 packs

11. Magnesium oxide - 100 g - 4 packs

12. Devarda's alloy - 100 g - 1 pack

13. Ammonium molybdate - 100 g - 4 packs

14. Stannous chloride - 100 g - 2 packs

15. Potassium permanganate - 500g - 10 packs

16. Ammonium oxalate - 100 g - 2 packs

17. Hydrogen peroxide ( 6% ) - 500ml - 4 packs

18. Silver nitrate - 100 g - 4 packs

19. Sodium hydroxide - 500 g - 4 packs

20. Barium sulfate - 250 g - 4 packs

21. Potassium dichromate - 500 g-4 packs

22. Ferrous sulfate - 500g - 5 packs

23. Diphenylamine indicator - 25 g - 2 packs

24. Phosphoric acid ( 85% ) - 500ml - 2 packs

25. Sodium thiosulphate - 500g - 4 packs

26. Salicylic acid - 100g - 4 packs

27 Copper sulfate - 500g - 10 packs

28. Potassium sulfate - 500g - 4 packs

29 Methyl red indicator - 10 g - 4 packs

30. Silica gel ( Commercial grade ) - 500g - 4 packs

18. Bleaching powder ( Commercial grade ) - 50 kg - 10 packs

19. Lime ( Commercial grade ) - 1000 kg.

20. Diptrex ( commercial grade ) - 50 kg.

Inducing agent

Suprefact ( LHRH analogue ) Hoechst Ger. - 15 packs with 2 vials in each

( Buserelin acetate ) Pack. Each vial containing 5.5 ml injectable solution.

Supplier:

Hoechst Marion Roussel (Thai Ltd)

193, 20th. Flr, Lek Rachada Bldg. Klong -Toey,

P.O. Box- 960

Pra-Ka-Nong Rd.

Bangkok-10110, Thailand

Tel: (66-2) 2640520

Fax:(66-2)2640492, 2640234

Ovaprim - 20 vials of 10 ml. each

Acetone dried pituitary gland - 5 g.

Annex III

FRESHWATER AQUACULTURE EXTENSION PROGRAMME

FAO Project TCP/SRL/6712 ( A )

PERIODICAL REPORTING FORMAT

Reports should be sent soon after the completion of the quarter to the National Project Director and Director, Aquaculture Development Division

1. Details of Result Demonstration/Result Demonstration Farmers

2. Reporting period

Place a tick mark ( - )in the appropriate box.

3. Training activities

3.1. Training for Result Demonstration Farmers ( RDFs)

Critical assessment of the training :

Place a tick mark(-) in the appropriate box.

Training was very useful &127; : useful &127; : not useful &127;.

Similar training are required in the future : Yes &127; , No &127;.

Subject matters for the future training (in case it is different, please mention) ............

Measures to be taken for making the training more effective:

i................................... ii................................... iii................................

3.2. Training for Fellow Farmers ( FFS )

4. Workshop/seminar involving:

Farmers &127; : Extensionists &127; : Others ( mention -..................) &127;

5. Demonstration activities

6. General observation about the performance of demonstration by farmers

7. Periodicity of home/pond/field visit by extensionists

Place a tick mark (- ) in the appropriate box .

Once in two months &127; ; once in a month &127; ; twice a month &127; ; only once in a quarter &127; ; irregular &127;

8. Periodicity of visit by the demonstration farmers to the extension centre/Demonstration Farms

Place a tick mark (- ) in the appropriate box .

Once in two months &127; ; once in a month &127; ; twice a month &127; ; only once in a quarter &127; ; irregular &127;

Additional information , if any .

Annex IV a

Itinerary and activities

(From 16 September to 7 October 1997)

Annex IV b

Itinerary and activities

(From 8 October to 27 October 1997)

Annex V a

Course outline

Aquaculture Development

FAO TCP Project : TCP/SRL/6712 ( A )

SHORT TERM IN-SERVICE TRAINING

IN

INLAND AQUACULTURE AND EXTENSION

(For Aquaculturists and Extension Officers^*)

Objectives

1. Bringing clarity to the understanding of the participants about the inland aquaculture ecosystems and its various functional aspects especially the operating food chains, nutrients dynamics, fertility and basis of fertilization.

2. Trainees exposed to the basic principles of aquaculture.

3. Trainees closely acquainted with the package of practices related to large scale fish seed production with aspects of induced breeding techniques, management of brood stock, hatchery management, rearing of spawn upto fry and fry to fingerling stages, transport of seed etc.

4. Clarity in their understanding about the aspects related to diseases and health management, nutrition and formulation of cost effective feeds using locally available feed ingredients etc.

5. Aquaculturists and Extensionists exposed to the package of practices of aquaculture technologies prevalent among the farmers and appropriate needed development in their practices.

6. Trainees introduced to the objectives, concept, scope and methods of aquaculture extension.

7. Trainees get familiar to various extension approaches and strategies for running extension programme in their area.

8. Trainees exposed to the existing programmes and policies of the government for the promotion of aquaculture development.

9. Overall improvement in their technical, extension and management skill and making them more confident and committed aquaculturists and aquaculture extensionists.

Participants

The newly appointed 15 Aquaculturists and 12 Extension Officers.

Venue for the technical/extension training

Uda Walawe Aquaculture Station.

Programme^**

29 September 1997

08.00 - 08.15 Opening Ceremony

08.15 - 08.45 Project objectives and course outline - D. Kumar

08.45 - 09.30 Pre-training evaluation

09.30 - 10.00 Tea break

10.00 - 12.00 Principles and practices of aquaculture - D. Kumar

12.00 - 13.30 Lunch break

13.30 - 15.00 Pond ecosystem and its management for aquaculture - D. Kumar.

(Prestocking management steps including dewatering, drying, liming, manuring etc., keeping ample scope to satisfy how, when, how much and when to apply the inputs).

15.00 - 15.30 Tea break

15.30 - 17.00 Management measures with considerations for safe transport of seed, characteristics of quality seed (exhibit), desired size and species of seed, stocking density, prophylactic treatment of seed, stocking procedure and handling care.- D. Kumar

30 September 1997

8.00 - 10.00 Post-stocking management steps: Manuring- organic and inorganic manures; dose , periodicity and method of application; Feeding -rate, periodicity and method of application - D. Kumar

10.00 - 10.30 Tea break

10.30 - 12.00 Site selection and development of aquaculture farms.-Mr.Pushpa Kumar

12.00 - 13.30 Lunch break

13.30 - 15.00 Fish health management and preventive, curative and control measures against common diseases. - Dr. Richard Arthur

15.00 - 15.30 Tea break

15.30 - 17.00 Exercise - Sampling of fish for health and growth check.

10 October 1997

08.00 - 9.00 Cage culture - present practices, constraints and desired improvement.- Dr. Jayanta Chandra Soma

09.00-10.00 Fish Nutrition - Dr. Jayanta Chandra Soma

10.00 - 10.30 Tea break

10.30- 12.00 Concept of Fish feed formulation and production. Dr. Thenne Koon

12.00 - 13.30 Lunch break

13.30 - 15.00 Fish Culture in Seasonal Tanks -- Dr. Thenne Koon

15.00 - 15.30 Tea break

15.30 - 18.00 Fish Seed Production - Broodstock management, selection of matured brood fish , induced breeding techniques . Lecture and field exercise - D. Kumar and Mr. R. M.B. Rajapakhshe

2 October 1997

08.00 - 10.30 Fish seed production - Rearing of fry and fingerings - Lecture and field exercise. D. Kumar and Mr. R. M. B. Rajapakhshe

10.15 - 10.30 Tea break

10.30 - 12.00 Integrated fish farming - Dr. Hettiarchichi

12.00 - 13.30 Lunch break

13.30 - 15.00 Concept, objective and scope of aquaculture extension, aquaculture extension services system in other countries of the region.- D. Kumar

15.00 - 15.30 Tea break

15.30 - 17.00 Extension teaching methods, extension communication, including traditional/folk methods - D. Kumar

3 October 1997

08.00- 12.00 Field exercise - Examination of broodfish for its status of maturity

D. Kumar and Mr. R. M. B. Rajapakhshe

12.00 - 13.30 Lunch

13.30 - 15.00 Extension teaching aids - D. Kumar

15.00 - 15.30 tea break

15.30 - 17.00 Exercise on fish breeding- D. Kumar and Mr. R. M. B. Rajapakhshe

4 October 1997

08.00 - 09.30 Field exercise - Collection of seed and preparation for hatching Mr. R. M. B. Rajapakhshe

09.30 - 10.00 Tea break

10.00 - 12.00 Briefing for conducting farmers training, Techniques for the selection of Demonstration Farmers. D. Kumar

12.00 - 13.30 Lunch break

13.30 - 17.00 Field exercise - Appropriate extension approach and developing leadership quality among the Result Demonstration Farmers, selection of Result Demonstration Farmers through demonstrating farmers' training -

D. Kumar , Mr. Pushpa Kumar and Mr. R. M. B. Rajapakhshe

17.00 - 18.00 Extension programme planning (briefing for assignment)

5 October 1997

08.00 - 09.30 Aquaculture programmes and policies of the Government -

Mr. A.M. Jayasekara

09.30 - 10.00 Tea break

10.00 - 12.00 Presentation of extension action plan by trainees and discussion

12.00 - 13.30 Lunch break

13.30 - 17.00 Field exercise - seed production - Mr. R. M. B. Rajapakhshe

6 October 1997

08.00 - 10.00 Group discussion on: Problems of farmers and possible solutions

10.00 - 10.30 Tea break

10.30 - 12.00 Open discussion

12.00 - 13.30 Lunch break

13.30 - !5.00 Post - training evaluation

15.00 - 15.30 Tea break

15.30 - 16.30 Concluding remarks and recommendations by the trainees and the Senior officers for the next course of training.

16.30 - 17.00 Closing ceremony

Annex V b

Course outline

Aquaculture Development

FAO TCP Project : TCP/SRL/6712 ( A )

SHORT TERM IN-SERVICE TRAINING

IN

INLAND AQUACULTURE AND EXTENSION

(For Aquaculture Assistants and Assistant Extension Officers^*)

Objectives

1. The inland aquaculture ecosystems and its various functional aspects especially the operating food chains, nutrients dynamics, fertility and basis of fertilization etc., introduced to the participants.

2. Trainees exposed to the fundamentals of aquaculture.

3. Trainees closely acquainted with the package of practices related to large scale fish seed production with aspects of induced breeding techniques, management of brood stock, hatchery management, rearing of spawn upto fry and fry to fingerling stages, transport of seed etc.

4. Participants exposed to common hazards encountered by aquaculture operations including diseases, mass fish kill etc., and practical measures to overcome such problems.

5. Aquaculturists and Extensionists exposed to the package of practices of aquaculture technologies prevalent among the farmers and needed improvement in their practices.

6. Trainees introduced to the objectives, concept, scope, approaches and methods of aquaculture extension.

7. Trainees exposed to the existing programmes and policies of the government for the promotion of aquaculture development.

8. Overall improvement in their technical, extension and management skill and making them more confident and committed aquaculturists and aquaculture extensionists.

Participants

The newly appointed 8 Aquaculture Assistants and 6 Assistant Extension Officers of the Ministry of Fisheries and 2 from NGO involved in aquaculture development.

Venue for the technical/extension training

Uda Walawe Aquaculture Development Centre.

Programme^**

10 October 1997 ( Friday )

08.00 - 08.15 Opening Ceremony

08.15 - 08.45 Project objectives and course outline - Mr. Pushpa Kumar

08.45 - 09.30 Pre-training evaluation

09.30 - 10.00 Tea break

10.00 - 12.00 Site selection for aquaculture production systems and construction of fish ponds - Mr. Pushpa Kumar

12.00 - 13.30 Lunch break

13.30 - 15.00 Inland aquaculture ecosystems and their utilization for fish culture; Pond ecosystem and its management for aquaculture - D. Kumar.

(Prestocking management steps including dewatering, drying, liming, manuring etc., keeping ample scope to satisfy how, when, how much and when to apply the inputs).

15.00 - 15.30 Tea break

15.30 - 17.00 Management measures with considerations to safe transport of seed, characteristics of quality seed (exhibit), desired size and species of seed, stocking density, prophylactic treatment of seed, stocking procedure and handling care.- D. Kumar

11 October 1997 ( Saturday )

8.00 - 10.00 Post-stocking management steps: Manuring- organic and inorganic manures; dose , periodicity and method of application; Feeding -rate, periodicity and method of application - D. Kumar

10.00 - 10.30 Tea break

10.30-12.00 Fish health management including common preventive, control and curative measures - D. Kumar

12.00 - 13.30 Lunch break

13.30 - 15.00 Field exercise - pond preparation

15.00 - 15.30 Tea break

15.30 - 18.00 Exercise - Sampling of fish for health and growth check.

12 October 1997 ( Sunday )

08.00 - 9.00 Cage culture - present practices, constraints and desired improvement.- Mr. R. M.B. Rajapakhshe

9.00 - 10.00 Fish Culture in Seasonal Tanks - D. Kumar

10.00 - 10.30 Tea break

10.30- 12.00 Fish Seed Production - Broodstock management, selection of matured brood fish, induced breeding techniques . Lecture and field exercise - D. Kumar, Mr. R. M.B. Rajapakhshe and Mr. Vidatha Dharmadas

12.00 - 13.30 Lunch break

13.30-18.00 Fish seed production - exercise

13 October 1997 ( Monday )

08.00 - 10.30 Fish seed production - Rearing of fry and fingerings - Lecture and field exercise. D. Kumar and Mr. R. M. B. Rajapakhshe

10.15 - 10.30 Tea break

10.30 - 12.00 Integrated fish farming -D. Kumar

12.00 - 13.30 Lunch break

13.30 - 15.00 Concept, objective and scope of aquaculture extension.- D. Kumar

15.00 - 15.30 Tea break

15.30 - 17.00 Extension teaching methods and teaching tools - D. Kumar

14 October 1997 ( Tuesday )

06.00- 12.00 Field exercise - Organizing in-situ training for farmers - NGO participation. D. Kumar, Mr. Pushpa Kumar and Mr. R. M. B. Rajapakhshe

12.00 - 13.00 Lunch in the field

13.00 - 15.00 Travelling back to Uda Walawe Aquaculture development Centre.

15.00 - 15.30 Tea break

15.30 - 16.30 Group discussion

16.30 - 17.00 Aquaculture programmes and policies of the Govt.- Mr. Pushpa Kumar

17.00 - 17.30 Post-training evaluation

17.30 - 18.00 Closing ceremony

Annex V c

IN-SITU TRAINING

ON

FAMILY SCALE AQUACULTURE

(Training programme for farmers)

Objectives

Farmers exposed to participatory exercise for rapid appraisal of their aquaculture resources, limitations and constraints.

Suggesting improvement/alternatives to their traditional culture practice.

Giving them a brief but clear idea about the basic principles of aquaculture and how it can complement to their existing farming systems.

Developing knowledge and skill of aquaculture among the participating farmers.

Developing managerial skill and leadership among the participants.

Encouraging their active involvement in the participatory and innovative aquaculture extension programme.

Participation

Farmers - both men and women selected from the project defined areas.

Venue

Farmer's pond/home with adequate shaded space

Duration

Half working day

Training design

Fully instructional with ample scope for " do it yourself " covering various farming steps of the technology package

Liberal use of training tools like flannelgraph/game card etc.

All fragments of the culture technology package be demonstrated and explained step by step

Two way communication with ample scope and encouragement for expression by the participating farmers

Training schedule

08.00 - 08.15 Opening - Introducing each other

08.50 - 09.30 Participatory aquaculture resource appraisal exercise

09.30 - 10.00 Enlisting issues and constraints related to aquaculture development and discuss finding solutions.

10.00 - 11.30 Introducing appropriate and improved aquaculture practices

Pre-stocking pond preparations:

- Dewatering and drying of pond .

- Repair of dikes and inlet structures if any.

- Liming - why, when, how much and how to apply ?

- Manuring - why, when, how much, which manure and how to apply? - Demonstration.

- Observation of pond water to see the availability of natural fish food organisms.

11.30 - 11.45 Tea break

11.45 - 12.15 Stocking management steps

- Method for safe transport of seed

- Characteristics of quality seed (exhibit)

- Desired size and species of fish for culture

- Stocking density

- Health check and prophylactic treatment of fish (demonstration).

- Stocking and handling care (demonstration).

12.15 - 12.45 Post - Stocking management steps

- Organic and inorganic fertilizers, dose and method of application.

- Locally available feed materials, processing and feeding schedule.

12.45 - 13.00 Fish culture game card play

13.00 - 13.15 Closing ceremony

Materials required:

Training tools : Flannel board set

Game card set

Video and TV

White board and white board markers of different colours

PAS

Materials for demonstration

Organic manure - 10 kg

Urea - 2 kg

TSP - 1 kg

Lime - 5 kg

Bleaching powder - 5 kg

Glass - 1

Magnifying lens - 1

Plankton net - 1

Bucket - 1

Mug - 1

In-situ farmers training conducted

1. Uda Walawe - 4 October 1997 - 15 Participants (Farmers)

2. Badagirya , Hambantota - 14 October 1997 - 22 including 9 women

3. Dambulla - 17 October 1997 - 12 community members

4. Tunkaman seasonal tank - 24 October 1997 - 10 community members

Annex VI a

Training Evaluation

Aquaculture Development

FAO TCP Project - TCP/SRL/6712 ( A )

Comprehensive Aquaculture Extension Training

for

Aquaculturists and Extension Officers

Pre- Training Assessment

Name : Designation :

Age : Qualification :

Length of experience (year/month) as aquaculture/aquaculture extension professional :

----------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Place tick mark ( - ) in the most appropriate box.

- Aquaculture is the culture of animals in the water

- Aquaculture is the culture of aquatic animals in the water

- Aquaculture is the cultivation of aquatic organisms in the water

- Aquaculture is the capture of aquatic animals from the aquatic ecosystems

2. Give the local as well as the scientific names of five cultivable Asiatic major carp species

i..................................................ii....................................................iii......................................................iv.........................................................v......................................................

3. Place T for true and F for false statements in the box - placed before each statement.

- Grass is the food of preference for grass carp during all stages of its life.

- Common carp is the least domesticated species among the cultivable Asiatic major carps.

- The stage of fish immediately after hatching is known as fry.

- Hypophysis is found closely attached to the liver.

- Pituitary gland is an exocrine gland.

4. Underline the appropriate word (s).

Rearing pond is always bigger/smaller than nursery pond and is used for rearing of spawn/fry upto fry/fingerling/table size stage

Prawns are cultured in freshwater/brackishwater ponds and generally require deep/shallow water depth.

Provision of adequate shade is desired/undesired over the pond as it decreases/increases the natural productivity of the ecosystem by reducing/increasing light fall.

Telia, Mahawalliya, Lula etc., are the desired/undesired local species for culture with carps while prawn is compatible/not compatible with carps.

Copepods and cladocerans population is desired/not desired in nursery ponds as these forms of phytoplankton/zooplankton are acceptable/not acceptable by the carp hatchlings.

Yolk sac is found in spawn/fry/fingerling stage of fish which helps in nutrition/ swimming and persists till adult/fry/fingerling/hatchling stage.

5. Place T for true and F for false statements in the box - placed before the statement.

-Rohu is a surface feeder

- Mrigal is a bottom feeder

- The part of head is relatively bigger in comparison to its body in Big head than Catla.

- Some of the aquatic weeds like water hyacinth, lotus , pistia etc., can be effectively controlled by introducing grass carp in the aquatic systems

- Environmental factors are important but pathogens are far more important in outbreak of fish diseases.

- Argulus is a fungal parasite and attack the internal organs of fish.

- Trichodina is a protozoan parasite which causes extensive damage to the brood fish.

- The main cause of turbidity in natural aquaculture resources systems are caused mainly by suspended clay particles.

- Potassium permanganate is an effective chemotherapeutic against argulus and ergasilus infections.

- Earthen ponds are less productive than cemented ponds.

6. Place tick mark ( - ) in the most appropriate box -.

i. For better productivity, the carp polyculture stock ponds should retain :

- 1 to 2 meters of water

- 2 to 3 meters of water

- 3 to 4 meters of water

- 4 to 5 meters of water

ii. Perennial water bodies retain water:

- At least 2 to 3 meters

- At least 3 to 4 years

- Round the year

iii. Seasonal water bodies are :

- Not suitable for aquaculture

- Suitable only for seed rearing

- Suitable for seed rearing and also for table size fish production

iv. Water pH of fish pond is found lowest during:

- Early morning hours

- Noon time

- Evening hours

- Mid night

v. Manuring is more efficient if it is applied :

- Daily

- Weekly

- Monthly

7. Fill in the blanks

Pond community includes fish, phytoplankton, zooplankton, ................ and .......................

Protein requirement of carps is .............. than catfishes

Macrobrachium is cultured in ......................... water.

Detritus are dead .................. matter.

Nitrogen and ................... are the two major inorganic nutrients for enhancing the natural food production in aquaculture systems.

8. Place T for true and F for false statements in the box - placed before the statement.

- In a well managed pond ecosystem, only the auto-trophic food chain operates.

- Sediment is the most potential site for efficient organic decomposition

- Tea seed cake is a potential manure for fish culture ponds in Sri Lanka

- Green manuring is the manuring of pond with green leaves/grasses.

- Supplementary feed are grown in the pond by application of manure.

9. Fill in the blanks with appropriate word from the given options.

The success of fish breeding programme largely depends upon the availability of ............................

(Matured broodstock/hatchery facility/source of flowing water/cool temperature)

Asiatic major carps usually get matured after ..................year with exception to common carp which starts breeding after ................. year.

(one/two/three/four : for common carp half/one/two/three)

Carps can be induced to breed by injecting pituitary extract collected from .............. donor species. (same species/any species)

Brood stock should be kept separately in broodstock ponds with total biomass not more than ............ton/ha. (1.0/1.5/2.0/2.5/3.0)

LH-RH is a .............. hormone and is used in combination with .................... for induced breeding of carps (natural/synthetic/ovaprim/dopamine).

10. Place tick mark ( - ) in the most appropriate box -.

i. The stocking density in nursery ponds should be kept at :

- 1 lakh - 5 lakh - 1 million - 5 million -10 million

ii. The stocking density in rearing pond should be followed at :

- 1 lakh - 2 lakh - 5 million - 1 million - 2 million - 5 million

iii. The early stages of major carps (spawn/fry) predominantly feed upon :

- Phytoplankton - Zooplankton - Soft grasses - Artificial food - Insects

iv. Diptrex is applied in the pond prior to stocking of :

- Spawn - Fry - Fingerling

v. Rearing of spawn upto fry stage takes about:

- Four months - Three months - Two weeks - Four weeks

11. Place T for true and F for false statements in the box - placed before the statement.

- The prime objective of aquaculture extension is to train the people in aquaculture techniques.

- Main target group of aquaculture extension are the commercial aquaculture farms who are actively involved in aquaculture production.

- The most efficient and effective way of communication is speech and discussion by using ear as the organ of perception.

- OHP needs absolute dark environment while slide projector can be operated in a semi-dark condition.

- Efficient training stimulates instant adoption of technologies by farmers.

- Using a range of audio visual aids create confusion among the viewers/ audience.

Annex VI b

Training Evaluation

Aquaculture Development

FAO TCP Project - TCP/SRL/6712 ( A )

Comprehensive Aquaculture Extension Training

for

Aquaculture Assistants and Assistant Extension Officers

Pre- Training Assessment

Name : Designation :

Age : Qualification :

Length of experience (year/month) as aquaculture/aquaculture extension professional :

----------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Place tick mark ( - ) in the most appropriate box -.

- Aquaculture is the culture of animals in water

- Aquaculture is the culture of aquatic animals in water

- Aquaculture is the cultivation of aquatic organisms in water

- Aquaculture is the capture of aquatic animals from the aquatic ecosystems

2. Give the local names of five cultivable Asiatic major carp species

i..................................................ii............................................iii.......................................

iv........................................................................v..............................................................

3. Place T for true and F for false statements in the box - placed before each statement.

- Grass carp eats only aquatic/terrestrial grasses during all stages of its life.

- Common carp is a Chinese carp while mirror carp is an Indian major carp.

- The stage of fish immediately after hatching is known as fry.

- Hypophysis is found closely attached to the liver.

- Except grass carp all other culturable major carp species naturally breed in pond.

- Eggs of silver carp are sticky.

4. Underline the appropriate word (s).

Rearing pond is always bigger/smaller than nursery pond.

Prawns are cultured in freshwater/brackishwater ponds.

Provision of adequate shade is desired/undesired over the pond.

Telia, Mahawalliya, Lula etc., are the desired/undesired local species for culture with carps.

Copepods and cladocerans are desired/not desired in nursery ponds.

Yolk sac is found in hatchling/spawn/fry/fingerling stage of fish.

5. Place T for true and F for false statements in the box - placed before the statement.

- Rohu is a surface feeder

- Mrigal is a bottom feeder

- Phytoplankton feeds upon zooplankton

- Some of the aquatic weeds like water hyacinth, lotus, pistia etc., can be effectively controlled by introducing grass carp in the aquatic systems

- Silver carp is predominantly a zooplankton feeder.

- Argulus is a an internal parasite as it attacks the internal organs of fish.

- Trichodina is a protozoan parasite which causes extensive damage to the brood fish.

- Bigger aquatic plants are desired in the pond for the production of oxygen.

- Potassium permanganate is an effective chemical agent for treating argulus infection.

- Earthen ponds are less productive than cemented ponds.

6. Place tick mark (-) in the most appropriate box -.

i. For better productivity, the carp polyculture stock ponds should retain :

- 1 to 1.5 meters of water

- 1.5 to 2.0 meters of water

- 3 to 4 meters of water

- 4 to 5 meters of water

ii. Perennial water bodies retain water:

- At least 2 to 3 meters

- At least 3 to 4 years

- Round the year

iii. Seasonal water bodies are :

- Not suitable for aquaculture

- Suitable only for seed rearing

- Suitable for seed rearing and also for table size fish production

iv. Water pH of fish pond is found lowest during:

- Early morning hours

- Noon time

- Evening hours

- Mid night

v. Manuring is more efficient if it is applied :

- Daily

- Weekly

- Monthly

7. Fill in the blanks

Macrobrachium is cultured in ......................... water.

Detritus are dead .................. matter.

Nitrogen and ................... are the two major inorganic nutrients for enhancing the plankton production in aquatic ecosystems.

8. Place T for true and F for false statements in the box - placed before the statement.

- In a well managed pond ecosystem, only the auto-trophic food chain operates.

- Sediment is the most potential site for efficient organic decomposition

- Tea seed cake is a potential manure for fish culture ponds in Sri Lanka

- Green manuring is the manuring of pond with green leaves/grasses.

- Supplementary feed are grown in the pond by application of manure.

9. Fill in the blanks with appropriate word from the given options.

The success of fish breeding programme largely depends upon the availability of ............................

(Matured broodstock/hatchery facility/source of flowing water/cool temperature)

Most of the Asiatic major carps usually get matured after ..................year(s).

(one/two/three/four)

Brood stock should be kept separately in broodstock ponds with total biomass not more than ............ton/ha. (1.0/1.5/2.0/2.5/3.0)

After fertilization most of the Asiatic major carps eggs hatch after .................hours.

(4-10, 10-14, 14-20, 20-25, 25-30)

Commonly used inducing agents for major carps breeding are introduced through ....................... (feed, intravenous injection, intraperitoneal injection/water)

Periphytons are .................................

(crustaceans, protozoans, algae, bryophytes, macrophytes)

10. Place tick mark (- ) in the most appropriate box -.

i. The stocking density in nursery ponds should be kept at :

- 1-5 lakh -6-10 lakh - 1-2 million - 5- 10 million - 1 billion

ii. The stocking density in rearing pond should be followed at :

- 1-5 lakh - 6-10 lakh - 5-10 million - 1 billion

iii. The early stages of major carps (spawn/fry) predominantly feed upon :

- Phytoplankton - Zooplankton - Soft grasses - Artificial food

- Insects

iv. Diptrex is applied in the pond prior to stocking of :

- Spawn - Fry - Fingerling

v. Rearing of spawn upto fry stage takes about:

- Four months - Three months - Two weeks - Four weeks

11. Place T for true and F for false statements in the box - placed before the statement.

- The prime objective of aquaculture extension is to train the people in aquaculture techniques.

- Main target group of aquaculture extension are the commercial aquaculture farms who are actively involved in aquaculture production.

- The most efficient and effective way of communication is speech and discussion by using ear as the organ of perception.

- OHP needs absolute dark environment while slide projector can be operated in a semi-dark condition.

- Efficient training stimulates instant adoption of technologies by farmers.

- Using a range of audio visual aids create confusion among the viewers/ audience.

12. Match the words taking from group A and B.

Group A Group B

Pituitary Natural fish food organism

Sticky eggs Endocrine gland

Plankton Common carp

Microbial decomposition Extension

Dissolved oxygen fry

Milt Hatchling

Yolk sac Table fish

Stock pond Male brood fish

Nursery pond Bacteria

Home visit Photosynthesis

Annex VI c

Training Report

Aquaculturists and Aquaculture Extension officers

Annex VI d

Training Report

Aquaculture Assistant (AA) and Assistant Aquaculture Extension officer (AAEO)

Annex VII

Terms of Reference

Under the overall responsibility of the Director of Field Operations Division (TCO) and the direct supervision of the Chief, Operations Group RAPR to whom the staff member will be directly responsible: and the technical guidance of the Regional aquaculture Officer, RAP, the Consultant will carry out two missions to the country for a total duration of three months. In close collaboration with the counterpart staff and the GIS/RS Consultant, in the first mission he/she will:

(1) assist in the installation of the equipment;

(2) initiate the seed production programme for carps;

(3) select ponds and tanks for stocking of seed produced to use them for the demonstration in the rural areas;

(4) provide training on the job for the government staff at the selected stations on broodstock management, seed production, nursery stages, and transportation of fish;

(5) prepare extension materials for broodstock management, seed production, nursery stages and transportation of fish;

(6) select trainees for training programme abroad;

(7) organize short course for government staff and farmers at the stations;

(8) liaise with the planning group for inclusions of concerns on inland aquaculture in their programme of work