This report documents 5 years of involvement in aquacultural development in the Republic of Rwanda by Auburn University's International Center for Aquaculture. From May 1983 through February 1988 the Center provided technical assistance to the Rwanda National Fish Culture Project (PPN) which was jointly funded by the Government of Rwanda and USAID.
PPN has demonstrated conclusively that fish culture in higher, cooler altitudes with limited inputs is technically sound, economically feasible, and socially acceptable. Few aquacultural development efforts on the African Continent have had similar success.
Earlier aquacultural projects did not develop production systems appropriate to Rwandan climate and needs. In 1982, several thousand private fishponds were in operation, as well as numerous government facilities. However, there were few trained technicians, little functional infrastructure, and no agreement on an effective technological package appropriate for Rwandan conditions. Pressure on limited agricultural resources demanded that this situation be improved.
The goal of the PPN was to develop profitable fish culture activities. Project initiatives included training personnel, improving infrastructure and facilities, developing an appropriate technological package, and strengthening the extension program to deliver the technology to farmers.
During the 5 years of the project, aquacultural production in the targeted area increased by 425 percent. At these increased production levels, profitable harvests were obtained by farmers using previously underutilized inputs. A relatively cold tolerant fish (Tilapia nilotica, Egyptian strain) was introduced and pond management practices recommended which were suited to the environment and available resources. The extension program was upgraded and redirected to better meet the requirements for extending fish culture technology to farmers and focused on technology that could easily be adopted by farmers.
Acceptable fish growth was obtained from ponds at elevations up to 2,200m if nutrient inputs were adequate. When nutrients were applied as recommended and water properly managed, productions of 20-24kg per acre per year were obtained by fish farmers.
The management technology generated a farm enterprise with a 41 percent internal rate of return, while the increased cost to the government compared to the production increase presented a 27 percent internal rate of return.
Under the project, 1,061 fish ponds were renovated and 661 new ponds were built. Fifty-five extension agents, eight regional extension supervisors, and six fish station managers were trained. The National Fish Culture Center benefited from new installations, better equipping it for training and demonstrations. Six regional stations were renovated and four stations fully equipped and provided with offices, storerooms, and fish holding facilities.
The project established integration of aquaculture and agriculture that efficiently used limited resources to maximize output.