FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT IN AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR
The Government of Azad and Jammu and Kashmir (GOAJK) assisted by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), is engaged in an institute building and community development project- Fisheries Development in Azad Jammu and Kashmir - PAK/94/005. The main aim of the Project is to make the public sector institution capable to promote aquaculture practices by transferring the aquaculture knowledge in potential rural areas of AJK. Towards this end two demonstration scale of warm water Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centres for local production of fish seed will be established. The project will also render technical support to the private sector to promote simple warm water fish culture techniques on available land and water.
As part of the project operations, FAO assigned the reporting officer as Aquaculturist - Consultant with the same terms of reference as given in first term of seven and half months in last year, 1996.
The Aquaculturist will be responsible for;
1. Implementation of project activities in partnership with the National Project Director (NPD).
2 Design and Implementation of the training programme for staff extension workers and farmers including production of training manuals and information materials.
3. Establishment of hatcheries and demonstration farms of the project.
4. Preparation of technical reports and feasibility studies for the demonstration farms.
5. Establishment of contacts with the private sector and supervision of the establishment of private fish farm and
6. Assess the possibilities to introduce warm water fisheries in Northern Areas and advice on the improvement of existing cold water fisheries production.
As per agreed document, the project has been originally planned for 30 man/months in which the service of an Aquaculturist was visualised for 13 m/m split into three missions (4 months, 6 months and 3 months) but during the implementation of the first mission the consultancy period was revised for two missions (7 months and 6 months). In 1996, the consultant was originally fielded for a first mission of seven months, later extended by half month. In 1997, as second and final mission, the consultant was called for three and half months at very short notice. The consultant reach Islamabad, Pakistan on 29. 05.1997.
Thus the present report covers the second and final mission period of 29. 05. 97 -15. 09 97. The report consists of two Parts. The first part deals with the activities carried out under Fisheries Development in Azad Jammu and Kashmir while the second part covers the experiences gained in the field of Fisheries during the visit of Northern Areas of Pakistan.
The project - Fisheries Development in Azad Jammu and Kashmir was originally planned for 30 months duration starting from 1 Sept., 1994 however, it became effective since July, 1995 only. In support of GOAJK plan, FAO is executing the on-going project with UNDP financial support of US$ 308,840.
The development objective is to increase the income of small farmers in AJK by a sustainable increase in production of fish. Attainment of this objective will contribute to the national effort to increase the productivity of small farmers and provide employment and higher incomes to the rural population.
The project also aims at preliminary studies in physical and chemical qualities of water of Rivers - Neelum and Jhelum, the studies on local cold water fishes, their breeding behaviour, natural breeding grounds and artificial propagation of local species. (However, in view of manpower shortage in the institute the third objective was suspended during the project period.)
The project immediate objectives are:
1. Built up the institutional and technical capabilities of the Fisheries Department in AJK and Northern Areas to be able to produce fish seeds of different species of cultivable warm water fishes (Chinese, Indian and Common Carps ) within the project period.
2. Disseminate the technical know - how of warm water fish culture, polyculture integrated fish culture as well as fish seed production to farmers in the project areas.
3. Build up technical capabilities of fisheries personnel to investigate the water qualities of Neelum and Jhelum rivers physically and chemically, to protect the breeding grounds of economically important local fish species and to develop the artificial propagation method of these fishes.
At the end of the first consultancy period in 1996, the consultant had submitted a technical report along with developed extension papers, curriculum prepared for training and a training manual - Hand Book of Fish Culture. The technical report also recommended 12 points for consideration for the effective work and proper use of available resources. The present visit of the consultant was the second and final for a period of three and half months after a lapse of complete eight months.
On arrival in Pakistan (29. 05. 97), a brief meeting was organised on 30. 05. 97 at UNDP with the Assistant Resident Representative- Program (ARR -P), Director General, Department of Tourism, Wildlife, Archaeology and Fisheries (TWAF), Deputy Director - Fisheries (DD -F)/National Project Director (NPD) of GOAJK and the candidate of Aquaculturist- National Consultant. The meeting reviewed the progress made in the previous eight months as follows:
a) On the basis of previous recommendations and future program, preparation of Project Core - 1 has been initiated by awarding a contract to a local Consultancy Firm. The final version of PC - 1 has been recently submitted to the Government for its final approval.
b) Hatchery and Fingerling transportation equipment have been procured through local purchase.
c) Awarded contracts of construction works of Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre, Chikar to six Contractors,
d) Expedited the administrative procedure of land acquisition at Mirpur, however, the land is still to be taken under Departmental custody and
e) Distributed about 8,000 fingerlings of Chinese Carps - Grass and Silver Carps to eight private sector fish farmers of Muzaffarabad, besides these, the other activities remained stagnant.
The terms of reference of the Aquaculturist - Consultant emphasized the first two objectives of the project. The following detailed activities were agreed to in consultation with national authorities and NPD to be undertaken during this mission :
2.1. Assist in acquisition of land to establish Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre at Mirpur,
2.2. Assist the Aquaculture Engineer in designing Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre at Mirpur,
2.3. Layout the ponds as per the design for their construction at Chikar,
2.4. Assist NPD in supervising the construction works of hatchery and fish ponds at Chikar,
2.5. Assist in procuring Chinese Carps fingerlings and rear them in nursing/rearing ponds of Panjgran,
2.6. Assist in procuring Common Carps fingerlings of improved strain,
2.7. Render technical assistance to Northern Areas,
2.8. Assist private sector fish farmers in carrying induced breeding of Indian Major Carps at Mirpur and orient Fisheries staff,
2.9. Assist in conducting training program to the extension staff and Group promoters of various on-going program e.g.; Neelum and Jhelum Community Development Project (NJVCDP), Suketar Watershed Management Project (SWMP), Bhimber Upland Development Project (BUDP), Northern Resource Management Project (NRMP), and National Rural Support Program (NRSP),
2.10. Render Technical Assistance to the private sector farmers and
2.11. Carry out in job training to the Fisheries and Extension staff with field visits to private farmers and Orient them to maintain the developed Growth Check- up Card.
Out of the above listed activities, the first eight activities support the first immediate objective and the remaining ones support the second immediate objective.
In the last eight months period, the process of acquisition has progressed to a certain extent, however, the land acquisition process is yet not completed. Upon arrival, the consultant made two visits with the Assistant Director- Fisheries to the local administrative authority. During his second visit, the consultant was given full assurance from the District Authority with a deadline period of mid - July, `97 for the Departmental occupancy. The process was expedited and recently the Revenue Office of Mirpur district informed the Fishery Wing about the decision made by the office on compensation rate. A notice has been notified to the land owner to take compensation of land. Thus, it appears that the land acquisition process has approached its final stage.
But considering the field situation, the consultant is not optimistic to get the land for the project's use before the paddy harvesting season as most of the owners have already planted the paddy. Thus, the delay in land acquisition has not only affected surveying and designing of a Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre at the highest potential district of Mirpur but it has completely delayed all the activities which were scheduled. A provision for the services of an Aquaculture Engineer needs to be carried over in the follow-up project, if the land acquisition process is not completed by the end of the current project phase.
It was projected to complete the land acquisition process by July 1997 and to field the Aquaculture Engineer - international consultant in the month of August so that he could share the experiences with this Aquaculturist Consultant in designing and estimation of Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre. The government requested his fielding in August. But considering the current status, the Aquaculturist - Consultant is not convinced of the immediate need for fielding of the Aquaculture Engineer : the process of land acquisition is still not yet completed; the field has paddy crop. Therefore, fielding of the Aquaculture Engineer should be rescheduled to the month after the paddy harvest by end October.
The proposed site of Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre is an area of about 1.3 hectare (24 kanals) at the altitude of 1,500 meter (4,500 feet) above the sea level. A perennial - Chikar stream which is water source of the Centre encircles the site from east, west and south. It is quite cold during the winter with mild snow fall, while it is warm in summer. Considering the local conditions, the aim is to culture Common Carp and Chinese Carps - Grass Carp, Silver Carp and Big head Carp since the culture of indigenous major carps show blink chances in the northern districts. In fact the test carried out in the last year showed mass mortality of fingerlings in the district of Muzaffarabad. However their survival rate requires further testing through when stocking with bigger sized fingerlings and culture in deeper pond.
The Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre at Chikar has been designed with one reservoir, four medium sized earthen ponds, four small sized earthen ponds and a stone walled small pond. Each pond has been designed with independent water inlet and outlet. Besides the earthen ponds, provision of a small sized fish hatchery with a spawning tank, four small sized incubation tanks and four cement cistern, a laboratory and an office room has been made in the existing building. The hatchery is also equipped with good sized over head water tank for continuous supply of water in the hatchery.
The contract for construction works Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre and Gabon wall for its protection was awarded to six contractors. Out of the six, two contractors were responsible to construct ponds. The working order was given to them on 03. 06. 97. After the preparatory works, both the contractors were called at site and the layout of the pond was prepared on June 12, `97. With the layout of the ponds and overhead water tank, the contractors initiated their construction work. Similarly, the contractor responsible for the construction of the hatchery, laboratory and office and Gabon walls also started works.
The whole construction works for the proposed Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre was estimated to Rs. 1.432 millions (earthen fish ponds - Rs. 262,000, earthen fish ponds - Rs. 212,700, water supply and drain channel - Rs. 276,000, fish hatchery - Rs. 354,000, overhead water tank - Rs. 173,000 and Gabon walls with dry stone - Rs. 152,000). The estimates and tendering were completed during the first term of the consultant's assignment. During this mission it was anticipated to see completed Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre. Later it was learnt that the Department had changes of authority and with the change of administrative authority, the process of award was cancelled to be processed a new, which caused enormous delay in constructing the Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre. The Project Management also did not intervene.
After losing eight to nine months, recently only a worth of Rs. 1.432 million construction works have been awarded to six contractors. The working order were issued to contractors in between June 2, to June 23, `97., and the assigned contractors started their respective works from the second week of June.
i) Gabon walls.
Along the Chikar stream, the water source of the centre, a good provision was made to erect Gabon wall with dry stone to protect the Centre from its flood or flush of water. Under the project personnel supervision, the contractor took a good start in constructing the Gabon wall and completed the work within a month. More such protection walls are required as the stream encircles the site from three sides; east, west and south. Moreover, there are a few points which are very prone to landslide, therefore, a new estimate for these additional works has been made by the deployed Sub-Engineer and is under the consideration of the local authority.
ii) Earthen Ponds
Two contracts have been awarded to build earthen ponds : one to construct a reservoir and four medium sized ponds; the other to construct four small ponds and a stone walled pond. At its initial stage, both the contractors had hired a tractor with a blade and made good progress. They were able to give pond shape within three weeks time under the supervision of project personnel, including the assigned assistant engineer. With the end of the fiscal year, the contractors are behind their bills of payment and very little efforts are being made to give the final shape to the ponds.
iii) Construction of Hatchery facility, Laboratory and Office
The contractor responsible for hatchery facilities, laboratory, and office room was slower since the very start. The consultant is hopeful to see the work completed within 1997.
Out of the developed facilities of the hatchery, the incubation tanks have been designed 30 cm. smaller in their diameter than the design provided by the assigned departmental assistant engineer before the consultant's arrival. The incubation tanks can be operated, however due to its internal minor open space, it would be difficult to clean or maintain. The other construction appears good; however, the hatchery floor with water drainage and finishing work of the laboratory and office room needs to be completed.
iv) Construction of Overhead Water Tank.
The contractor responsible for the construction of the overhead water tank has initiated his work late; however, all the pillars have been erected and has reached to overhead tank. In its construction precautions are undertaken for quality work. The progress is slow.
v) Construction of Water Supply Canal, Inlets and Outlets of Fish Ponds
The contractor responsible for above work received the working order on 23.06.97; however, he is unable to start his work as the two contractors responsible for earthen ponds have not completed their respective ponds. The contractor has already collected construction materials for his work.
With an aim to have quality construction by regular supervision and to facilitate the contractors' works, the services of a national sub-Engineer have been deployed for a period of three months at the construction site. Besides, the NPD and the consultant did a routine supervision visit two times a week. Any encountered problem related to construction is discussed and resolved by NPD at the site. With the break out of the monsoon, the work has been slow down. It is hoped to complete the construction works by the end of the year.
Upon arrival of the consultant contacts were made with different public and private fish hatcheries and ultimately the small sized fingerlings (2.5 - 4 cm.) of Chinese Carps (Silver Carp - 10,000 and Grass Carp - 5,000) were procured from Rawal Fish Hatchery, Islamabad. The fingerlings were transported through the land route on July 9, 1997. During and after the transportation, a considerable mortality (Silver Carp - 1,800 and Grass Carp - 250) occurred. Still Bighead Carp fingerling are to be procured because of lack of sufficient production.
During the last mission in 1996, the consultant could demonstrate induced breeding of Chinese and Major Carps as well as nursing of their hatchlings into fries, but was unable to demonstrate rearing of small sized fingerlings due to their late procurement and time constraints. This year with the procurement of small sized fingerlings, two demonstrations were made:
a) small fingerlings to advance sized fingerlings and
b) advanced sized fingerlings to table-size fish in three ponds at Panjgran.
a) Two ponds (No. 1 & 3) were prepared with 1.25 m depth of water. Each pond was fertilised with 50 kg. of chicken litters as initial dose and the available small sized fingerlings were stocked at the rate of 125,000/ha. The local staff attending the pond were told to maintain the colour of the pond water at deep green colour. At the interval of 10 - 12 days, 25 kg. of chicken litter were used as fertiliser. After a month of stocking, growth check of the stocked fingerlings were carried out. At its initial stage, the small sized fingerlings showed net gain of 1 - 1.5 gram/fish/day. At later stage, with the growth of grass carp fingerlings, adequate quantity of grass were also fed daily to Grass Carp in addition to regular fertilisation in the pond; the fingerlings showed better growth with a net gain of 2 - 2.5 gram/fish/day. Thus, the possibility of rearing fingerlings to advanced fingerlings was demonstrated to the staff.
b) With the successful demonstration of rearing fingerlings into advanced fingerlings, a third pond at Panjgran was drained and prepared for growing advanced fingerlings into table-size fish.
A pond of 240 m2 was drained, dried and refilled with fresh water and fertilised with 50 kg. of chicken litters as initial dose. After the five days of preparation 40 Grass Carps will average body weight of 250 gr. and 73 Silver Carps will average body weight of 40 gr. were stocked. The pond water was fertilised with 50 kg. of chicken litters at the intervals of 10 -12 days and adequate quantity of grass collected from Pattika was fed daily to the Grass Carps. With all these efforts, the local staff tried to maintain the colour of the pond water deep green. After few days of culture a fine pellet of faecal material was seen floating in pond water. This condition was maintained for 24 days. For the sake of demonstration to the local staff a growth check was tested on 25th day of culture. A random sample of stocked fish were collected from the pond for the growth test. The sampled Grass Carps had attained an average weight of 433 grams and showed a net gain of 7.6 gr./fish/day while the Silver Carps had attained an average weight 146 grams and showed a net gain of 4.4 gr./fish/day.
As the longer winter in the northern districts of AJK, the growing days are less compared to the warmer southern district, the farmer has to grow for longer periods of 18 to 24 months to produce table-size fish if he has to start culture with small sized fingerlings. Such longer period culture is not cost effective and affects its economical viability. Therefore, the consultant is of the opinion that the public sector must raise and procure advanced fingerlings to be distributed to the farmers, so that table-size fish can be attained in one growing season i.e. within six months (mid March - mid September) consisting of 185 growing days.
The above distinctly demonstrates the potential to:
i) launch fish culture practice integrated with animal husbandry, vegetable farming and grass cultivation with low cost production of fish in northern districts of AJK having similar climatic conditions as Muzaffarabad with a maximum growing period of about six months (middle of March to middle of September) with 185 growing days.
ii) produce one kilogram or above of table-size fish within a single growing period and stocking bigger sized fingerlings and through improved management.
iii) produce advanced size fingerlings of Chinese Carps for higher economic benefit under improved management. The stocking of advance fingerlings has double benefits i) mortality of the fingerlings drastically decreases and ii) have higher growth. Therefore, the farmers specially of northern districts of AJK should be oriented towards this practice of culture, so that they can produce fish more efficiently.
Generally, the locally available strain of Common Carp has been observed small in size and weight. The fish become sexually mature also at small size and they do easily breed in ponds. Thus, the fish disturbs the proper stocking of a fish pond. Because of this, the fish is not preferred also in AJK. The consultant has observed even 7.5 - 10 cm. sized fish full of eggs. They have been also found not contributing substantially to fish production.
During the last mission the consultant proposed to import an improved or upgraded variety of Common Carp but after facing several difficulties for importation the idea was dropped. Therefore, information on its availability within the country was collected from different sources : a fish farmer at Karachi had recently imported Nieces variety of Common Carp from a neighbouring country on a personal basis and they were found in good condition. The consultant contacted the farmer in Karachi; on request, he agreed to provide 200 fingerlings as well as a few grown up fish. After reaching home, the consultant informed the Project Management to fix the date of delivery with the farmer and pick up the consignment during the winter months so that there is less chance of mortality during the transportation.
Upon arrival this year in Pakistan, it was learnt that the transportation of Common Carp fingerling could not be organised. Therefore, this year also, the consultant tried to establish contact with the farmer but failed to get positive response. Alternate sources of Common Carps were explored and ultimately, the authority of Department of Fisheries under Water and Power Authorities (WAPDA) (who had received a consignment of Common Carps from Nepal when the present consultant was then working for the His Majesty's Government of Nepal), generously agreed to provide few grown-up fish from Haripur Pocket of Tarbella Reservoir. A trip was organised to Tarbella Reservoir with the officiating Fisheries Authority of WAPDA and, observing good stock of Common Carp, 14 pieces of fish with an average weight of 0.5 kg. were selected and transported to Panjgran through land route. On completion of the brood fish pond at Chikar, the bigger sized fish is to be selected and transported to Chikar. They need to be cultured and maintain in good condition, so that they can be used as brood fish in the forthcoming breeding season.
The experiences gained in Northern Areas is detailed separately in Part - II of the present report.
During the last mission, the consultant successfully conducted a training program on induced breeding of Chinese Carps and Major Carps with three Fishery Staff and two progressive farmers. Out of the two private sector farmers, one has abandoned his fish culture activity and has moved out of fishery; the second farmer has been very much encouraged with last year output and has made his own new establishment with 8 small earthen ponds and two incubation tanks with a small over head water tank. The earthen ponds were constructed for holding the parental stock of cultivable fish and nursing of fries. The ponds are yet not completed, but they are operational. The farmer showed the parental stock of Grass Carp, Silver Carp, Rohu, Mori and Thaila. The consultant was delighted to observe the farmer's own initiative in developing the facilities. Unfortunately, the farmer has no own dependable water source besides the nearby river and irregular irrigation canal.
This year at his own initiative the farmer succeeded in breeding Grass Carp but was reluctant to breed Silver Carp due to lack of confidence. During the field visit, the consultant helped the farmer in examining his parental stock, especially Silver Carp. The Silver Carps were small in size, but it was possible to select two females and three males. The farmer made his own attempt to breed the fish and could breed on female. The eggs were incubated in a newly constructed incubation tank and hatched with difficulty due to low water temperature of the river. However, the trial was successful and the fries are being nursed in a small pond.
In the middle of July, the farmer also succeeded in breeding Rohu, but could not save the hatchlings because of low temperature and silted water of the river after rain. The farmer has realised the importance of clear and stable water temperature for hatchery use but expressed his inability to invest further on rented land. He is looking for a suitable land to procure and develop his own establishment.
Despite difficulties the farmer is determined to breed Mori and Thaila in August (after this month the consultant has no communication). To encourage such determined farmer, the consultant made a request to the Project Co-ordinator, during his field visit to Mirpur to support the farmer with two vials of Ovaprim (worth about Rs. 3000 cost.) as an award to continue fish breeding. The project Aquaculturist National Consultant will procure and provide them to the farmer at appropriate time.
Upon the arrival of the consultant, the NPD made a request to the authorities of various on-going projects to support the training program as the project aimed to train the Extension staff and Group Promoters of all projects, but from no corner positive response was received. However, the consultant as well as the Fishery staff had very good interaction on fishery activity with the In-charge, Field Unit Panjgran of NJVCDP. Similar interaction meeting was organised with three staff including Field Supervisor, Women in Development (WID) of NRMP.
The staff of WID, NRMP, were trained last year. Since then they are in close touch with NPD as well as the Fishery staff and seek technical support from the Project. One of the potential farmers of Komikot constructed two small fish ponds with the support of the Project. Both fish ponds have been stocked with small sized fingerlings of Grass Carp and Silver Carp in the middle of May. The farmer had no training; however, he followed the guidance WID staff as well as Fishery staff. As a follow up program, the growth check-up conducted in the middle of August showed average weight of 518 gram of Grass Carp while the Silver Carp ranged to only 150 grams. After observing the pond as well as the fish conditions, the farmer as well as WID staff have been explained about the shortcomings as well as the means and ways to overcome them for better result. This type of field training has been found more effective in case of farmers as well as extension staff and it needs to continue in future too.
This year, more than 30 field visits were organised with national staff to supervise farmers, covering most of the farmers of Muzaffarabad and Mirpur districts. Similar visits were carried out by the national staff too. During such visits attempts were made to observe the fish ponds and fish condition and identify the farmers' problems. At each site, the shortcomings of the farmer were discussed and suggestions made to improve their management. Some of the farmers who have picked up the given tips have considerably improved their production of fish.
A fish farmer, a school teacher of Pattika, Muzaffarabad district, has a small fish pond of 0.5 ha. (1 kanal) besides his house. He has succeeded to pick-up most of the given tips of fish culture and obtained a good production of fish. He has adopted Grass Carp as major fish and attained a production of 275 kg. of fish within a period of 18 months earning Rs. 18,000. Besides, a considerable quantity of produced fish has also been made available for family consumption. However, he urgently needs to improve the conditions of his ponds dikes as well as the depth of the pond for better result.
A similar success story can be cited about a farmer from the Mirpur district. A large area of the farmer's land turned to wetland/wasteland due to the seepage of Upper Jhelum Canal and he was unable to cultivate any crop on the land due to massive growth of weeds. He converted his land into four fish ponds with a water surface of 1.6 ha. (32 kanal) out of 2.4 ha. (48 kanal). 11,000 fingerlings were stocked in four fish ponds with Grass Carp as a major fish. Grass Carp were fed daily with good quantity of grass. The fish ponds were fertilised with organic as well as inorganic fertiliser. On the fifteenth month, the fish were harvested and sold. A total quantity of 7,000 kgs of fish were harvested and earned Rs. 350,000. During the fish culture period the farmer family alone consumed 600 kgs. of fish, 300 kgs. of fish were distributed amongst friends and neighbours, and 80 kgs. of fish were provided to the attending staff of Fish Farm.
The farmer reported having had a net profit of Rs. 150,000 from the operation. With this result, the farmer has been encouraged has turn his more marginal land into fish ponds to use for aquaculture. The farmer has expanded his activity to 9 ponds covering a water body of 3.5 ha. (70 kanals).This year he has stocked 26,000 fingerlings (Common Carp - 2,000, Grass Carp - 6,000, Silver Carp - 6,000, Rohu - 6,000, Mori - 6,000, and a few Thaila) and aims to produce fish valued not less than Rs. 500,000.
This case is a good evidence to support the consultant's observation made the year before on the high potential of fish culture/aquaculture in large areas of land which turned to wetland/wasteland on the both sides of UJC due to seepage of water. They are out of cultivation, which is merely waste of valued resource - the land. Therefore, the GOAJK should develop a firm policy on their productive use by means of fish culture/aquaculture. The consultant has no doubt that, if a favourable policy is developed for the productive use of such wetland/wasteland with fish culture/aquaculture and sound technical support service is available, the warm water fish culture/aquaculture is sure to take off in Mirpur district on a commercial scale or as a private sector industry. Such policy will not only increase the fish production to supplement animal protein to an ever increasing population but it would also provide enormous job opportunities to the mass of the people of Mirpur and adjacent areas.
Many more good examples of fish culture/aquaculture are expected by next harvest period within the Project area.
The institutional framework of the Fishery Wing under the Department of TWAF has not changed at all since last year. Due to lack of the staff, the consultant had to take a very limited number of medium level technicians (two in Muzaffarabad and one at Mirpur) working in warm water fish culture to field trips for their orientation and on-the-job training. During field trips, the consultant tried to explain to them encountered problems in situ. This way they were demonstrated practically many of the different aspects of fish culture, fish health and production. They were also oriented with demonstration on rearing of fingerlings into advanced size fingerlings, raising of advanced fingerlings to table-size fish and also in conducting Growth Check-up and maintaining of records.
Besides the above activities, a study tour programme for two high officials of AJK (Director General, Department of TWAF and Deputy Director - Fisheries/NPD) was organised to China and Bangladesh for a period of two weeks. The study tour commenced on August 9, 1997 and ended on August 24, 1997.
A fellowship in fish culture was also awarded to the Assistant Director - Fisheries for a period of 4 months in Hungary.
In AJK fish culture/aquaculture is new and is at the initial stage of development, and the major constraints are of a basic nature;
The institution - Fishery Wing under the Department of TWAF is made responsible to implement the following activities:
a) promote fish culture/aquaculture in the private sector through developing technology suited to local conditions and disseminating the developed technology,
b) render technical assistance to private sector and also monitor the activity through an established Extension Unit,
c) operate at least two public sector warm water Fish Seed production and Distribution Centres for fish seed production and distribution to private sector fish farmers,
d) operate three public sector cold water Trout Hatcheries for seed production of Trout to promote sport fishery.
To cater all these responsibility the institution has only one Deputy Director and two Assistant Director with unskilled medium level technicians and other office staff. The institution is very small in size as well as very weak with untrained staff to cater the given responsibility. During last year's mission this was pointed out as one of the major constraints recommendation made to upgrade and strengthen this structure. Since last year no change has been made.
The Fishery Wing consists of one Deputy Director and two Assistant Directors at officer level. Since last year, there is no changes in the strength of manpower neither at officer level nor at level of medium technicians. Moreover, the existing manpower are raw and seriously lack technical know-how as most of them have received neither any formal nor informal training in the field of fish culture or fishery management. So far, most of the fishery activities are being carried out by untrained, semi-skilled or unskilled staff resulting in less output than the potential the subsector offers. Except for the Deputy Director - Fisheries no other staff has received opportunity of training. Recently the Assistant Director - Fisheries has been awarded a four months training course in Hungary under this project as a first case. Only a few staff have some limited exposure towards technical works which they gained by working with former Expatriates/Consultants/United Nations Volunteer. Thus, to carry out the given responsibility, the institution seriously lacks the manpower not only in quantity but also in quality.
Even after a lapse of 16 months the acquisition of the proposed land to establish a second Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre at Mirpur could not be completed. Due to delay in land acquisition, all project activities have been blocked due to inability to produce pure fish seed and support the private sector farmers. The delay of such administrative procedure seriously affected the time bounded development project, which was not able to prove the aquaculture potential.
After a lapse of eight months even the status of administrative decision to award the contracts for the construction of the Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre at Chikar was found stand still. Later, it was learnt that the change of administrative authority in the Department was the main cause. Untimely decision made at the end of fiscal year and beginning of monsoon season has greatly affected the completion of construction work. As a result the first Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre could not be completed and was not functional during the on-going project period.
In AJK, natural water resources were considered as main source of fish and fish culture was not known. Traditionally, fish culture did not exist in this area, therefore people are either not aware or have no idea or no knowledge on the activity. Very recently only, the potential of warm water fish culture has been realised and efforts are being made to introduce the activity at grass root level with the on-going project. As it is not a traditional activity, the people have been found to be very hesitant to take up the activity.
Under the Project, the public sector aims to establish two Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centres at Chikar in the north and a second one in the southern district of Mirpur. So far none of the Centres has been established while on the contrary the private sector farmers interested in fish culture have increased enormously in the last two years. Due to acute shortage of fish seed, the farmers are facing great difficulties in procuring and transporting the fingerlings to their pond site.
In AJK, the cold water fishery in the form of sport fishery was initiated long back, but due to various reasons no serious efforts were made to upgrade the activity. The importance of warm water fish culture has been realised very recently and very little work has been done in this field. The existing infrastructures/facilities and the human resources do not show any evidence of sound investment made in this field. Warm water fish culture calls for high investment, if some solid impact is to be made.
AJK is rich in water resources as well as in fish fauna. The water resources range from cold water in the northern region to warm water in the southern region. The available fish fauna also show a wide diversity range from cold water to warm water Carps. Climatically AJK has a wide range of variance. The northern districts are very cold for 5/6 months (October - March) during winter but in summer the same place atmospheric temperature ranged to 40 - 42 o C while in southern districts the climate remains warm and hot at least for 9 - 10 months in a year. The warm/hot climatic condition of northern as well as southern districts offers good scope to develop and establish commercial fish culture/aquaculture with wide varieties of Carps.
The delay and untimely decision made to award the contract of construction of Fish Seed production and Distribution Centre at Chikar and the delay in acquisition of the proposed land at Mirpur were serious drawbacks.
In AJK, Fish culture is not considered as a traditional activity; however, some of the private sector farmers in the southern district has adopted this activity influenced by the example of the neighbour province of Pakistan. Very recently only, the potentiality of warm water has been realised and the aim is to introduce/promote the activity through the on-going project.
To start with the activity in a complex place like AJK, having diversified geography and very variable climatic conditions, initially seven species of fish were selected having doubt on the survival of warm water indigenous fish in the northern districts of AJK due to the cold temperature. The test confirmed the doubt about survival of indigenous fish, however, there is still scope to test their survival rate if stocked with bigger sized fingerlings and when cultured in deeper ponds.
Four fish species - Common Carp, Grass Carp, Silver Carp and Bighead Carp have been recommended for culture in the northern districts while all the seven Carps mentioned earlier are recommended for the southern districts. The reduction of fish variety with a limited growing period of six months (mid March - mid September i.e.: 185 growing days) is sure to affect the economics of fish culture, which needs close monitoring.
Presently, there are 16 operational private fish farms in the northern district, mostly at Muzaffarabad district, and 30 fish farms (excluding the farms established under the Suketar Project) in the southern districts of Mirpur. To support the fish farmers, the project has established a system to render technical assistance to the operational farmers by testing the water quality and fish health as well as assist new farmers in surveying the site and supervising construction works.
This year, with the approach of the growing season i.e. mid March, the Chinese Carp fingerlings were distributed to the private sector farmers of Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot for stocking in their ponds. The farmers of Mirpur have managed to obtain the required fingerlings from the adjacent or nearby fish hatcheries and have stocked their ponds. The farmers have been advised to feed the grass to Grass Carp and to manure the pond regularly.
The demonstration of rearing fingerlings to advanced size fingerlings and advanced fingerlings to table-size fish have shown very encouraging results. This has demonstrated the possibility to raise advanced fingerlings (40 - 100 grams) with the net gain of 1 -2 grams/fish/day. Similarly, the demonstration of raising advanced fingerling to table-size fish has shown a net gain of over 7 grams/fish/day in case of Grass Carp and 4 grams/fish/day in case of Silver Carp. This supports the recommendation to produce a table-size fish (700 gr. - 1 kg) within the limited growing period of 185 days in the northern districts of AJK. Some farmers were able to improve their culture management practices with good results of fish production. Such good results need to be multiplied among a larger number of farmers.
In support of production program, the project has recently developed and launched a follow-up program with Growth Check -up Card.
This follow-up program asks the Fishery or Extension staff to visit farmers at their pond sites at least once a month to check the pond, its water quality and examine the stocked fish health and growth. This system collects the information, facts and figures of farmers' pond and stocked fish while the concerned farmer gets further orientation in fish culture by seeing his own pond and fish conditions.
Due to the farmers' hard work, even within this short time span, some examples of success are seen within the project area. A fish farmer at Pattika, Muzaffarabad district, has produced 275 kgs. of fish and earned Rs. 18,000 from a small fish pond of 0.5 ha.(1 kanal) within a period of 16 months. Similar example has been established by another farmer from Mirpur district who has constructed four fish ponds on his marginal land covering 1.6 ha. (32 kanal) produced 7,000 kgs. of fish and earned Rs. 350,000 within a period of 14 months. More such success stories are anticipated within this year. The economics of such cases need to be studied and analysed critically so that the shortcomings of the activity can be diagnosed in time and resolved for increased production.
On the basis of present observations, the following recommendations are made for the sustainable development of warm water fish culture/aquaculture in AJK to increase fish production and supplement animal protein to the ever increasing population and also increase the income of people through diversified job opportunities.
The Fishery Wing under the Department of TWAF is the institution responsible to develop the fishery activities as well as to conserve the fish fauna. But the institution is very small, weak and fragile to take up the given responsibility. In view of long term fisheries/aquaculture development and its production program, the present institution needs to be upgraded and strengthened. For effective implementation of the activities and it should be strengthened not only at state level but also at the district and village level to develop technology suited to local conditions.
The PC - 1 of the institution has been recently prepared and updated on the basis of previous recommendations and has been submitted to GOAJK for final approval. The consultant strongly recommends this be endorsed and enforced.
The present manpower in the Fishery Wing is very meagre and inadequate. For the smooth implementation of the activities and effective production, the institution needs to be functional and effective at least in following fields:
a) in operating two Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centres with adequate fish seed production and distribution,
b) in launching a sound and sustainable production program in the private sector,
c) in rendering technical assistance to the ever growing new farmers as well as to those farmers undertaking fish culture and
d) in monitoring the production program. The strengthening of manpower becomes essential not only at state level but also at district and village level. Any gap will seriously affect the production system and impact. Therefore, the manpower need to be increased and strengthened adequately - in quantity and quality to sustain the production program
The existing manpower in the Fishery Wing is not only limited in number but they are not adequately oriented and trained in fish culture and fishery management. They lack technical know-how and so far, no good opportunities of higher studies or training were available to them. Except for the Assistant Director, no other staff has received any formal or informal training inside or outside the country in the field of fish culture or fishery management. The only training was through the course conducted last year under the project.
With the development of the infrastructures and facilities (two Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centres), a series of training courses related to various aspects of fish culture need to be conducted for the existing staff to make them able to understand and run the activities. In the long term, further measures need to be undertaken to provide the opportunity of training/seminars/workshops at the Officers' level, medium level technicians and in-service training to the field workers.
The establishment of the Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre at Chikar was the first effort to develop infrastructure and facilities to initiate fish culture activities in northern districts of AJK. The administrative procedure to award the contract has delayed construction. The construction of outdoor facilities during the monsoon period (July and August) did not advance much. Therefore, with the end of the monsoon, measures should be taken to facilitate the construction work and complete the Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre at the earliest so that the facilities can be used. The Centre should be operational from the forthcoming breeding season. In absence of an operational Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre there is acute shortage of fish seed, which causes the private sector farmers enormous difficulties. Under such circumstances it is recommended to encourage farmers to establish private fish hatcheries for the production of fish seed. In future, such private ventures would be supplementary to the public sector.
The process of land acquisition turned out to be a very lengthy and complicated process. Despite efforts during 16 months the land could not be acquired. This has not only delayed designing and establishing the Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre at Mirpur, but it has also negatively affected the other activities which were based on the Centre. As a result, the project could not demonstrate the possible impact of fish culture.
It is recommended to closely follow-up on the land acquisition and expedite the process and fielding of the Aquaculture Engineer within the on-going project or ensure provision for his services under the follow-up programme.
The northern districts of AJK have severe cold during three months of October - March for 6 months and hot climatic conditions during the other 6 months commencing from April - September; the southern districts are instead warm and hot throughout the year. Previously no experience was made on the effect of the two extreme climatic conditions of northern areas on the fish species selected for fish culture. Tests were made in last year by stocking with all possibly available fish species: Major Carp - Rohu, Mori and Thaila, Chinese Carp - Grass Carp Silver Carp and Bighead Carp and Common Carp in both the northern and colder region and the southern and warmer one. The indigenous fish available in the southern and warmer region (Rohu, Mori and Thaila) did not survive in the northern and colder region showing a direct effect of climate regime on fish species. Therefore, it is recommended to select Common Carp and Chinese Carps - Grass Carp, Silver Carp and Bighead Carp as most suited to the northern and colder region while the other cultivable fish species - Rohu Mori, Thaila, Grass Carp, Silver Carp Bighead Carp Common Carp as fish species apt for southern and warmer climatic conditions. It is also recommended to explore the possibility of major Carps culture in northern districts with bigger sized stocking and in deeper ponds.
This point addresses the high potential of fish culture/aquaculture in the lands which have been turned marginal land due to seepage of the UJC. The consultant's last mission report highlighted this potential and recommended to develop a firm policy to exploit the wetland/waste land.
In the southern district of Mirpur a huge area of land - private as well as public owned along the UJC, is wasted due to seepage from UJC. These wetlands are out of cultivation as they are either water logged/swampy or are highly infested with aquatic weeds. Evidence on the productive use of such marginal land by means of fish culture/aquaculture has been already established in Mirpur with the technical support of the project. The farmer who developed his marginal land into ponds for fish culture produced 7,000 kg. of fish in 14 months period, worth Rs. 350,000. With this evidence, the GOAJK should seriously assess and make an attempt to utilise the private or public owned area to its best and start aquaculture practice on such lands for fish production and also provide job opportunities to the mass.
For the productive use of marginal land, the consultant strongly recommends to develop a long-term policy on leasing of such unproductive land under Governmental control with defined terms and conditions for a definite period to the interested private sector parties for the promotion of fish culture/aquaculture. With technical support service to the private sector, warm water fish culture/aquaculture could be promoted at commercial scale.
In AJK, fish culture is not considered as a traditional activity and it is very new to the people. However, a number of people in the northern as well as in southern districts have undertaken the activity, but they seriously lack technical know-how. To make the farmer more aware in this field as well as to orient them with continued contacts and discussions, a follow-up activity with Growth Check-up Card has been developed under the Project. The activity has been tested in the field with the support of the local staff. The results have been observed very encouraging. Therefore, it is recommended to enforce the developed follow-up activity with Growth Check-up Card at least on monthly basis.
The Northern Areas (NA) comprise the administrative districts of Gilgit, Gizer Diamer, Skardu and Ganche with an area of 65,661 square kilometres. The region is considered as a meeting point of three mountain ranges - the Himalayas, Hindukush and Karakorum, the densest concentration of mountainous peaks in the world. Most of the area's altitude ranges higher than 2500 m. - 4,500 m. above sea level. In the Areas, there are the fast flowing, turbulent and erosive rivers and streams from a number of valleys with productive alluvial soil. The area has climax climatic conditions ranging from severe cold in winter to warm temperate and quite hot (even 46 �C) during summer months (April - August) depending on altitude and topography.
The total population of the region ranges to maximum one million, out of which about 90 percent make their living from subsistence farming based on arable and fodder crops, horticulture and livestock. The agriculture productivity is severely strained by ecological and farming system limits. The income from agriculture is insufficient to sustain most families at even subsistence level and has to be supported by off-farm income, mainly labouring down country in the winter months. The average literacy rate in the region is estimated to be under 15 percent and considerably less for women.
These very substantial constraints are aggravated by the overriding issues of population pressure on land use, ecological unbalance and habitat instability. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop value added agricultural production in the form of cash crop or alternative sources of production and employment, which are not in themselves environmentally questionable. Considerable progress has been made in some areas by Agha Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP)in promoting integrated land use together with other rural based activities. In this endeavour, the integration of fisheries sub-sector needs to be explored as this sub-sector can support the rural economy with increased income derived from increased fish production from water bodies. The protein rich fish is considered as valuable food and is acceptable to all sectors of the population.
In view of its abundant natural water resources, the region has extensive potential for the development of inland fisheries and aquaculture . The River Indus, after passing through the Kharmong valley, is joined by four major tributaries - the Shyoke, Shigar, Gilgit and Astore; a further 121 significant streams drain into these rivers. The total length of the rivers and streams has been estimated to be about 2,100 km. The region has also many natural lakes at the top of each valley many of which are presently inaccessible. However, 33 natural lakes with a surface area of 570 ha. are considered as having potential for increased fish production. Besides, there is one man-made reservoir, Sadpara, with a water body of 48 ha. for the development of fisheries and aquaculture.
Out of the natural water resources, about 40 percent are snow and spring water fed and remain silt free whereas the rest of the water resources are glacier fed and become heavily silt-laden during the summer months of May to September . The clear waters are ideal for developing cold water fishery with the establishment of propagation facilities i.e. hatchery for indigenous and exotic trout to produce fingerlings for stocking as well as to establish commercial production units along the potential water bodies. The glacier fed rivers which turn muddy during summer, get clear water during winter, the season which coincides with the breeding of cold water fish. Therefore, the water bodies also need judicious exploitation of local/exotic fish.
To-date, no detailed study has been carried out on the fish fauna of these natural waters. However, three different fish species of "Snow Trout" group are considered dominant in fish catch besides the exotic Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) which was introduced in natural waters long back during 1906. The demand for fish appears to be high and it commands a reasonably high price in market.
Thus, the major portion of the Northern Areas, with its continuous flow of clear and cold waters has a very high potential for the development of cold water sport as well as commercial fishery. Similarly, the region also shows good potentiality in developing warm water fish culture in stagnant water because of higher atmospheric temperature in the summer months from April to August.
The Department of Fisheries (DOF) is the over all responsible institution for the development of Fisheries in Northern Areas. It is headed by the Deputy Director - Fisheries within the administrative control of the Director of Agriculture. The Deputy Director - Fisheries is supported by two Assistant Directors - Fisheries. The first Assistant Director - Fisheries is stationed at Gilgit and looks after Gilgit, Diamer and Ghizer districts, while the second Assistant Director - Fisheries stationed at Skardu takes the responsibility of Skardu and Ghanche district of Balistan. So far, the institution has not succeeded in expanding its structure to district level nor in establishing an extension unit for the implementation and expansion of the activities. The existing departmental capability is extremely limited in operating and managing trout hatcheries efficiently and in carrying studies to scientifically assess the natural stock of streams.
Besides the three Officer level staff (one Deputy Director and two Assistant Directors), the department has a total strength of 106, of which only a few stand for technical work while the major number of staff are meant for supervision, law enforcement and office establishment. The number and efficiency of the existing staff appear to be inadequate and, as a result, the operation of the existing hatcheries is under utilised. Some of the staff do not have an academic background in science nor are trained in the field of fish culture or fishery management. Moreover, the staff is immobile and confined to district headquarters. The extension service does not exist in the region to disseminate the technology in the private sector.
3.3.1. Trout Culture
Northern Areas has not received any external assistance in the sub-sector of Fisheries/Aquaculture except a small component under Cold Water Fisheries Development in AJK (PAK/88/048). However, the DOF of the Provincial Government, under the auspices of the Government of Pakistan (GOP), has established seven small Trout Hatcheries throughout the region with a production capacity of 1.7 million fingerlings per annum. Besides, an Experimental Trout Farm is also under operation . The introduction of trout in particular is important in establishing sports fishery which is an important component of tourism. The established Trout Hatcheries aimed to breed the Brown Trout to produce adequate number of fingerlings for the stocking in the rivers and streams. After long efforts, the Brown Trout has established in clear streams of the region and is found in natural waters. Recently, a selected strain of Kamloop trout of Rainbow Trout is also being multiplied. They are stocked in some streams and lake of the region. Observation has shown poor growth compared to the Brown Trout. The existing trout hatcheries are in a poor state of repair and are producing only a fraction of their potentiality. The total output of juvenile trout of NA is far below its requirement for stocking natural waters; and further, the production targets are set arbitrarily rather than based upon scientific ground. The visited hatchery and its brood fish conditions showed poor state of management due to shortage of financial support. So far, the activity has not succeeded in proving its economical viability and not a single private sector is involved in cold water fishery in the region.
3.3.2. Warm Water Fish Culture
After the successful culture of Carps in a pond within the Agriculture Farm at Chilas, the DOF has recently realised about the potentiality of warm water fish culture in the region and has initiated to establish a Carp Breeding Centre with two small ponds and a bigger sized pond (0.1 ha.) at Chilas. In two smaller ponds few Common Carps (Cyprinus carpio) were stocked two years age. Not much attention was given in manuring and feeding the fish. However, last summer natural breeding took place and a few thousand Common Carp fingerlings were obtained. Last summer, two staff from Kaulat Trout Hatchery and two staff from Trout Farm at Chilas were trained in induced breeding of Carps for a period of two weeks at the Training and Research Centre, Manawan, near Lahore, under the Directorate of Fisheries, Punjab Province. On return, a consignment of Grass Carp and Silver Carp were brought and were raised in a trout pond with running water at Chilas. On arrival of the consultant, the staff complained for poor growth of Chinese Carps.
After observing the facilities, and having discussions with the attending staff, the basic needs of the different Carps were described. It was suggested to stock Grass Carp and Silver Carp along with Common Carp in stagnant water. The need was further emphasised to manure the fish pond on regular basis and monitor the growth of the stocked fish.
The existing physical facility of the Carp Breeding Centre at Chilas is very limited and is not sufficient to breed even Common Carp alone. Therefore, measures need to be taken to adequately expand the facilities to raise and breed not only Common Carp but also three species of Chinese Carps - Grass Carp, Silver Carp and Bighead Carp if Warm Water Fish Culture activity is to be promoted. Besides, the staff need to be trained and oriented to carry out warm water fish culture. A few private sector's ponds and a fish pond within the Agriculture Farm are in existence, which is a good sign. However, these fish ponds need to be developed into demonstration ponds to prove the economic viability in the area. With the successful demonstration of fish culture , no doubt, more private sector would be attracted to take up the activity.
In Northern Areas, the fish production is based mostly on capture fishery and recently sports fishery.
3.4.1. Capture Fishery
The capture fishery is based more at artisanal level of exploitation than any structured commercial activity. The fisheries resources of the region are being managed and conserved through the enforcement of the Northern Areas Fisheries Act, 1975 and Rules there under. Under the act, licences - commercial, subsistence capture and sports fishing - are given at nominal cost to interested people. About 2,000 fishing licences of various types are issued annually. In the region, artisanal capture fishery produces about 60 m tons of fish annually, mostly the `Snow Trout' and are consumed at home or casually sold in the market. The DOF is also maintaining sale of about one metric ton of local fish annually to public. The above production data is far below the market demand. With the increasing domestic and foreign tourism, and hotels and restaurants in the region, the demand of fish is enormously increasing.
3.4.2. Sports Fishery
Licences are sold for Trout sports fishery to local as well as foreign anglers. Increasingly exposed to the modern world through improved communications and contacts with domestic and foreign tourism, recently the sport fishery is becoming popular amongst people. The long introduced Brown Trout is being used; however, the production of Brown Trout is low and is consumed at home.
3.4.3. Culture Fishery
Very recently only, warm water fish culture with carps has been adopted in the region. Besides the public sector, two units (one at Chilas and second one at Gilgit), a few ponds have been developed by the private sector at `kitchen level'. However, the production is too low and is consumed by grower's family. The public sector's initiative in establishing Warm Water Fish Culture Unit at Gilgit needs to demonstrate its economic viability to attract potential communities and private sector farmers.
The Northern Areas require additional supplies of food of which fish is a very valuable component. Moreover, in the region , there is an urgent need of alternate economic activities for which fisheries and aquaculture can be an useful option.
The available water resources of the Northern areas show a great opportunity for the development of both commercial exploitation of cold and warm water fish culture as well as trout sport fishery to increase supplementary income of the local people. But no significant achievement has been achieved in production of stocked fish or farmed marketable sized fish in the target areas due to lack of strong institution, adequate manpower, technical know- how in fisheries management ( cold and warm water fish culture), commercial trout culture, as well as lack of capital. There is no easily obtainable solution to a problem of this magnitude. To solve the problem there is an urgent need of internal as well as external resources support for the development of fisheries in the region.
Considering the complex constraints, it is suggested to proceed with a phased approach so that the achievements can be gradually bridge up with the potentiality of the Areas. Therefore, it is recommended to start the following activities to develop the base:
i. Select maximum of four (out of Seven) existing Trout Hatcheries for upgrading their physical facilities to produce at least 1.0 - 1.5 million fingerlings per annum.
ii. Equip the four Trout Hatcheries with water analysis kits and other essential equipment.
iii. Maintain good stock and good sized parental stock of fish for higher fecundity.
iv. Increase the production of trout fingerlings for proper stocking.
v. Identify and assess the natural water bodies for stocking with healthy fingerlings.
vi. Periodically check the growth and health of stocked fingerlings
vii. Train the staff in effective and efficient operation of Trout hatchery and also in assessing natural water bodies.
i. Develop a low cost facility to test the culture practice.
ii. Develop and standardise the commercial Trout (Brown and Rainbow Trout) culture practice for marketable sized production.
iii. Formulate and produce an efficient and low cost fish feed with locally available ingredients to increase fish production.
iv. Train manpower in culture practice, fish feed production and fish diseases to improve the overall management of commercial production.
v. Demonstrate the economic viability of commercial culture practice of Trout to attract the potential community as well as private entrepreneurs. This activity should be designed and implemented in collaboration and co-operation with AKRSP.
i. Establish an appropriate sized Carp Farm (not less than 3 - 4 ha.) in the form of Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre with breeding facilities of Chinese Carps.
ii. Develop and standardise the culture practice for marketable sized fish production
iii. Carry out breeding of Common Carp and Chinese Carps and produce adequate number of fingerlings.
iv. In collaboration and co-operation with AKRSP, design and develop at least four demonstration units (one at Chilas, two at Gilgit and one at Hunza) and demonstrate the economic viability of culture at community or village level.
v. Distribute the produced fingerlings of Carps to interested community or individual farmers for fish culture.
vi. Train manpower in warm water fish culture practice as well as induced breeding of Chinese Carps.
vii. Develop and execute follow - up programmes to monitor as well as to render technical assistance to the communities or private sector farmers.
i. Establish demonstration ponds at strategically important and viable points so that the developed culture practice can be demonstrated to groups of people.
ii. Establish an extension unit based on community/village - to disseminate the developed culture practice and to carry out follow-up program.
iii. Train fishery extension staff in various aspects of extension.
iv. Develop extension leaflets, pamphlets and booklets to guide the community's members/individual farmers.
v. Develop audio/video materials to promote the activity.
vi. Train members of viable communities and private sector farmers and make them capable to operate culture practice.
To develop sport fishery Brown Trout was introduced long back during 1906 in the waters of Northern Areas, and a formal institution in the form of Department of Fisheries was established in 1970 to cater and promote the fishery activities. Within the last two and half decade period, efforts were made to establish and operate 7 Trout Hatcheries of various sizes and one Carp Breeding Centre. Due to lack of resources, including oriented manpower, none of the hatcheries could adequately produce as per its potentiality. The produced Brown Trout, an exotic carnivorous fish, was stocked in free waters without assessing or knowing the water bodies. The fish has established in most of the stocked waters and has shown evidence of natural recruitment. To reinforce the stock of free waters, additional stocking has also been undertaken according to availability of fingerlings. Even then the achievement made in this field is far low compared to the time span, pain taken and investment made. General assessment of the programme shows the following major constraints:
NA is endowed with natural water resources and different climate, exhibiting the possibility of cold to warm water fisheries and sports apt to commercial fisheries development. Due to lack of a long term strategies and of a perspective plan for inland fisheries development, the sub-sector has failed to get priority and is placed at the bottom of the development plan despite the presence of suitable resources and viable natural conditions.
The established Department of Fisheries is more than two and half decade old, but the institution is still small and very fragile with a very limited number of technical hands. Due to lack of professionals, very little technical work has been carried out and not based on scientific basis. Thus the institution is not able to justify its expansion and strengthening.
The present Department of Fisheries consists of one Deputy Director and two Assistant Directors at officer level having different academic background; some are medium level technicians while higher number are involved in supervisory, law enforcement and office. Most of the staff are neither oriented for technical work nor have received formal or informal training in any field of fishery management. Most of the activities (e.g. operation of trout hatchery as well as restocking of natural waters) are carried out by the existing untrained staff. Thus the institution seriously lacks the technical manpower in quantity as well as in quality to be able to obtain a better output.
In NA, the cold water fishery in the form of sports has been carried out at small scale since long time, but no serious efforts were made despite the enormous production potential. Besides the cold water fishery, the importance of warm water fish culture has been realised very recently only and very little work has been done in this field. The existing facilities and infrastructures and the quantity as well as the quality of human resources do not show any evidence of having good investment in this field. Therefore, this potential field calls for higher investment if any tangible impact is to be attained.
In NA, the scope of private sector involvement in sports fishery, commercial trout culture and warm water fish culture with Carps, is evident. But the care taker institution has neither demonstrated the application in the field nor there is the existence of extension unit to support and render the technical assistance to the community or individual farmers. Under the given conditions no single community or individual farmer has received technical or financial support to undertake the activity.
Long back the cold water fishery in the form of sports fishery was initiated in NA with the introduction of Brown Trout. Earlier than two and half decade, a formal institution was established to cater the activities of cold water fishery. But due to various limitations within the Department, no substantial achievement could be made mainly because of lack of technical know-how in cold water fisheries management, commercial trout culture and lack of capital. Very recently, the importance of warm water fish culture with various Carps has been realised and initial measures have been undertaken at minimum level. The established care taker institution is still small and fragile with very limited number of untrained technical hands.
In due course of time, seven Trout Hatcheries and one Carp Breeding Centre have been established with very limited infrastructure and equipment. The above facts are evidence of the low priority assigned to the fisheries development in the Northern Area's Development Plan, despite the presence of suitable resources and viable natural conditions for higher production.
There is no easy solution to a problem of the magnitude of the Areas. But, if natural water resources are to be tapped for increased fish production and thus alleviating poverty with increased employment opportunities to the fishermen, the fish farmers and their families and the local people, the given priority to Fisheries Development needs to be uplifted and further investments need to be made.
The Development Programme needs to be systematically design phase-wise, suited to local conditions and the existing institution's capability. Thus the project should aim on one hand to establish a sound and capable institution to cater the anticipated activities, while on other hand it should disseminate the technology amongst the potential communities or individual farmers through a functional and effective extension system to increase fish production for which external assistance is urgently warranted. In case of delay, the sector has to face an increasingly difficult future as the foreseen costs continue to escalate, resources diminish and the extraordinary dynamic environment may face complete degradation.
On the basis of the present study and observations made in the field by the consultant, the following recommendations are made for the promotion of sustainable cold/warm water fish culture and sports fishery in the respective potential areas of NA.
For the maximum exploitation of water resources, efforts need to be made in developing long term strategies and consequently a perspective plan for inland fisheries development. The possible needs, the type and scale of production and different study programmes for the promotion of open water fisheries need to be identified. The institutional framework, human resources, physical facilities including the equipment to make the hatchery more functional, production programme and finally investment requirements need to be detailed. Such exercise should also look into the necessary component of training - in the country or overseas to orient the manpower.
The present fishery institution is considered a department (Department of Fisheries), but it is small and very fragile with a very limited number of technical hands and activities. Therefore, in view of future prospects of fisheries/aquaculture development and their production programmes, the present institution needs strengthening as well as expansion to its district level so that the institution develops its capability in adopting new technologies as well as in disseminating them at community/individual level. To carry out technical work effectively, the consultant strongly feels the necessity to deploy the Assistant Director - Fisheries, with sound academic background in the field of fisheries/biological science, at selected four Trout Hatchery and one Carp Breeding Centre.
The present strength of manpower in the Department of Fisheries is very limited and inadequate in quantity as well as in quality for smooth implementation of the activities. Therefore, to promote the sustainable cold/warm water fish culture/aquaculture and sports fishery, the present institution needs a sound strengthening of technical manpower, especially at officer and medium level, so that the project activities under the new plan can be implemented smoothly with better impact.
Presently, due to the poor budgetary allocation in the fishery field, the Trout Hatchery has neither updated physical facilities nor has any basic equipment. Thus, the hatcheries are in poor state and less productive. The scarce allocated budget does not even allow to maintain parental stock of fish in good condition with supplementary feed for effective breeding. The allocated budget neither allows to send the staff for training nor is adequate to repair the existing facilities. To come out this state of despair, the provincial budget need to be increased substantially so that sound technical works, improved management and repairs of physical facilities can be done and tangible impact could be shown within the given time frame.
In the present institutional framework, there are two Assistant Directors, one stationed at Gilgit, looking after three districts, and the second one stationed at Skardu who looks after two districts. However, the office of Assistant Director fails to cater the district demand due to lack of supportive technical hands in the district. Moreover, they are also not mobile to give something tangible to each district. Besides, due to lack of scientific know-how on cold water fisheries management, commercial trout culture and capital, there is no significant production of stocked or farmed fish in the target areas. In the region, there are several excellent rural/community development systems in operation, but due to lack of an extension unit, the institution has failed to cater such operational community too.
Therefore, the institution needs to establish an extension unit giving priority to the most promising district/community. The staff of such new extension unit need to be appropriately oriented and equipped with packages of training and extension material. Under the guidance of professionals, the extension staff should design and demonstrate the economic viability of the activity at community or village level. On the successful demonstration, the interested community or the individual will come forward to take up the activity and the extension unit should be prepared to render technical assistance to such parties.
