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Summary of General Observations
First attempts at fish culture in West Africa involved little
more than seeding shallow ponds with native fishes and gleaning the resulting
production after a period of time. Much of what is done in the name of fish
culture is still practiced at this same rudimentary level, which is consistent
with other animal production practices. Harvests are small, but costs and
effort are negligible so operators get something for almost nothing. Efforts
of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Peace Corps (PC) have
focused on enriching ponds with manures or composts and supplemental feeding,
along with the stocking of more productive, lower trophic level species such
as Tilapia mlotica. These more recently introduced techniques do give significantly
better results, but they generally require a degree of
management discipline, government extension, and hatchery support that has
seldom been forthcoming. Common carp have been introduced in a few places,
particularly where altitude and cooler temperatures suppress tilapia growth
and reproduction. Common carp, however, will not reach high standing crops
without substantial inputs of feed that are usually beyond the economic capacity
of small farmers to provide.
Profit seemed to be the prime stimulant for fish production. Communal fish farming schemes, however, evidenced little history of success and were not regarded with enthusiasm by those interviewed in any of the countries visited. Once harvested from ponds, fish generally go into the family soup pot. Unfortunately, pregnant and lactating women and newly weaned children, the prime targets for protein and nutrition programs, typically receive only meager amounts of fish. Fish produced in excess of family consumption is readily sold.
Fish were well accepted as food by the vast majority of the population in each country visited. There was uniform agree- ment that a considerable quantity of fresh fish could be marketed in almost any area where they could be produced, and that marketing, distribution, or preservation did not constitute a constraint to production. In coastal areas where there were significant landings of marine fish, cultured fish are not highly competitive.
In general, large fish of 200 grams or more were preferred.
Smaller fish, although readily saleable, frequently were substantially discounted.
Prices of fish were good but usually below that of a comparable quantity of
beef, chicken, or other meat. Fish farming was generally considered a cash
crop enterprise and within the domain of the male in village society (possible
exceptions existed in Liberia). This condition may be one reason why fish
farming has not become well established. Typically, livestock have not been
well tended in African villages and men give priority to other cash crops,
such as palm fruits, coffee, or cocoa, over fish production. Changing attitudes
about fish production or any other modernization of agriculture must be regarded
as a long-term process which cannot usually be
accomplished within the life of a brief foreign aid project.
Health and environmental problems did not appear to be a significant factor in fishpond development, with the possible exception of the disease schistosomiasis. Specific information about this disease for most localities seems to be unreliable. A monitoring component should be included to document pre and post-project incidence of schistosomiasis and a public education and sanitation effort should be a component of any pond development project.
Every country visited had at least some land area with suitable
conditions for fishpond development. Many of the resources adaptable for fish
culture had virtually a zero opportunity cost and should be put into production
alternatives. Higher-placed officials in the government ministries were also
generally receptive and sincere in their desires to support fish culture development.
In turn, little was seen to inspire confidence or give encouragement at government
fish hatcheries or demonstration farms. Economically feasible, field level
operations on the part of government organizations were not apparent. Most
hatchery or farm managers are not technically qualified nor sufficiently analytical
for their applied functions. None of the fish culture development efforts
studied has really had the financial support and stable economic-political
environment required to facilitate complete success. There is an unlimited
and all too familiar litany of frustrations associated with almost all the
projects. Clearly, future projects should seek ways to insulate programs from
political change and at the same time stress the public accountability of
each program.
In spite of the interest expressed in West Africa, the study
team found little good production data involving local conditions upon which
reasonable development programs could be based. As an example, the feeding
of cassava leaves to tilapia is generally considered useful, but no one knows
how many kilograms are needed to produce a kilogram of the different species
of fish, or the most effective nutrient and species combinations. Similarly,
information is lacking on the use of crushed agricultural limestone to correct
acid water conditions.