Farmers from Algeria, Egypt and Oman taking a tour of an aquanponic farm in Egypt.

20 November 2017 – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has organized farmer-to-farmer study tours for farmers from the Near East and North Africa (NENA) Region in order to facilitate knowledge sharing and the exchange of experiences and innovative achievements to develop the integrated agri-aquaculture sector in the region.

FAO gathered farmers and government representatives from Algeria, Egypt and Oman and – through the span of two weeks – visited more than 10 integrated aquaculture agriculture (IAA) farms in Algeria and Egypt. During these visits, participants had a chance to discuss and exchange knowledge, lessons learned, experiences, ideas, and debate about the challenges they go through and the opportunities the sector has to offer in their areas. Farmers were also able to observe the different systems used in each visited farm and reflect on best practices with the farm owners.

Under FAO’s Regional Water Scarcity Initiative, the farmer-to-farmer study tour aims at promoting and developing national potential on effective sustainable non-conventional water use practices for IAA production systems in the NENA Region through knowledge and expertise sharing among farmers.

These peer-to-peer exchanges come under the umbrella of the FAO modality for South-South Cooperation with Non-State Actors in order to invest in the unique skills of farmers, fishers, herders and forest-dependent communities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), bringing partners together based on the concept of solidarity and willingness to share and learn from one another. The knowledge and experiences gained will be documented as a major publication to serve as a reference material for policymaking.

“Over the past two weeks we have seen farmers from three countries exchange their knowledge and know-how, and they have enhance their knowledge and skills day by day. These tours are much needed to bridge the gap between farmers and promote the transfer of technologies and support further dissemination of best practices among countries,” said Valerio Crespi, FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Officer.

“The success of this project will not stop here. Following these tours and the upcoming one in the Sultanate of Oman, we will work with national task forces to develop national and regional road maps which will be expected to serve as a guide to public institutions and the private sector for the sustainable use of non-conventional water resources for the development and growth of desert and arid lands in integrated aquaculture,” mentioned Paula Anton, FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Officer.

During the field visits, farmers observed the functioning of various IAA systems. Aquaponics and biofloc were among the most advanced technologies, delving deep into the technicalities of IAA. They exchanged knowledge on sustainable seed and feed supply, species diversification, fish health and bio-security, farm management, marketing of finished products and cooperatives development.

These peer-to peer exchanges opened channels of future cooperation between farmers, which could lead to better-integrated regional aquaculture and agriculture industries.

“Systems and materials used differ from one farm to another, and so these tours allow us to get exposed to different ideas. I will take this knowledge and implement it in my farm and follow the same procedures we saw in both countries,” said Rabab Hashim, an Omani female IAA farmer.

“I noticed that my fish farm is not as developed as others and so I decided to join the project to learn the newest technologies and procedures. I learned how to grow healthy fish efficiently and to gain the greatest profit with the least cost. This will not only benefit me, but it will also benefit the market in general,” mentioned Gabr Hossny, an Egyptian IAA farm owner.

“I had a good overview of the integrated farms in Algeria and Egypt and I saw the experiences of fellow farmers and I will study how their techniques could be implemented in my farm,” said Laouaoudja Mohammed Salah, an Algerian agriculture investor and aquaponics farm owner.

Integrated Aquaculture Agriculture

Since IAA farms incorporate the rearing of aquatic animals with agriculture, it presents an irreplaceable and resilient source of animal protein and essential minerals for the most vulnerable populations, with the immediate reduction of economic cost, water use and waste. IAA permits the production of nutritious food in inhospitable and non-useable lands, enhancing food security and creating employment where it was impossible before.

This is especially important in the NENA Region where its generally arid climate, predicted population growth and increased water scarcity call for a coordinated regional approach, among others, to increase fish production and consumption, rural employment and the sustainable use and conservation of the aquatic resources. The modern and responsible IAA production systems can use non-conventional water resources, opening new frontiers such as inhospitable desert and arid lands.