1.0 INTRODUCTION
Over the past 15 years, agricultural sector of Mozambique, has been completely disrupted. The long civil war, rigid pricing and marketing policies, and the focus of government expenditure on capital-intensive state farms have contributed to the poor performance of agriculture. This was compounded by drought in 1991/92. As a result, the country now receives 400,000 tonnes of food aid a year. In 1992 food aid imports reached 700,000 tonnes, as a consequence of the drought.
Agricultural production is in the hands of several distinct groups of farmers, of which the smallholders (called the “family sector”) are the most important. The family sector consists of about 2.5 million families, accounts for over 90% of the cultivated area and is the main supplier of foodcrops and such cash crops as cashew and cotton.
ALCOM's activities in the country concern two sub-projects, EXT/MOZ (Fish culture extension for Manica Province) targeted on smallholders and reviewed by the Mission, and CAR/MOZ (Carp for pond culture and small water bodies) and not included in the Mission's field schedule. The Mission visited Manica Province from 8 to 10 May. It may with the Head of the Department of Fish Culture of the MOA (Maputo), Chief of the Provincial Livestock Service in Chimoio, the staff of the Chizizira Fish Culture station in Sussendenga, the Director of the Manica Agricultural Rural Reconstruction Programme/GTZ (MARRP) in Chimoio, and with the Provincial Director of Agriculture, Chimoio.
The Mission inspected the fingerling production station of Chizizira (Sussendenga District) and fish farmers surrounding the village of Rotonda.
2.0 OBJECTIVES
The overall pilot project objective is to establish fish culture as a viable farming activity in the family farming sector of Manica Province.
The immediate objectives are to:
3.0 ACTIVITIES
3.1 Carry out a survey to identify potential fish culture areas, existing reservoirs, and actual agriculture extension zones in the four targeted Districts, and estimate the need for fingerlings;
3.2 Increase fingerling production (tilapia and common carp) at Chizizira through improved broodstock and pond management, and introduce improved fingerling transport methods;
3.3 Investigate sites and prepare a plan for additional fingerling production centres (using ponds, tanks or happas) in Chimoio, Gondola and/or Manica Districts;
3.4 Train agriculture extension workers in basic fish farming, and establish a system of extension collaboration with the agriculture extension service in selected areas, to promote already proven fish culture practices among family farmers;
3.5 Based on feed-back from extension operations, try out and transfer improved fish culture strategies which incorporate elements of better fish species, feeds and management methods;
3.6 Undertake a survey of fish marketing channels in Manica Province and establish a system to obtain indicative fish prices on a regular basis; and
3.7 Sample the fisheries (fish stocks and fishing methods) of selected small reservoirs and directly advise fisherfolk and community members on improved fish harvesting practices and undertake stocking where needed.
4.0 REVIEW OF OBJECTIVES
During the Mission's discussions with the local authorities it became clear that ALCOM's central objectives intended, to support with technical assistance nationally executed projects, was clearly understood. The ALCOM subproject, EXT/MOZ II extension, started in October 1992 and has a planned duration of 3 years. It is a logical continuation of first phase, when ALCOM trained medium level technicians in extension and trainers' training methods. The Department is now seeking assistance to foster the development of smallholder agriculture cumaquaculture in Manica Province. Following ALCOM's approach, this could be done by strengthening the existing extension service programme through training and transfer of know-how to smallholders interested in aquaculture.
The overall objective, to establish fish culture as a viable farming activity, followed by the immediate objectives: to improve fingerling production and distribution, to integrate fish culture into existing agricultural extension services, and to adapt productive fish culture techniques for farmers, are all congruent. But, it becomes incoherent the improvement of the exploitation of small reservoir fisheries is added. This last objective relates to a completely different type of management and techniques. Fishing in reservoirs, is done at a distance from the farm. Therefore, the target group is different.
5.0 REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES
In any event, in addition to the drought, hostilities in the zone did not permit a survey of other areas with potential to execute similar training and extension activities (activity 3.1). At present, although the hostilities have ceased, access to certain areas is still difficult, owing to land mines. However, access to some of those areas is possible through neighbouring countries.
Concerning Activity 3.2, fingerlings were stocked in 16 reservoirs as follows: 155 500 Oreochromis niloticus, 42 000 of Tilapia rendalliand 30 000 of Cyprinus carpio. Actually there reduced amounts of fingerlings were produced. Limited availability of transportation meant that fewer fingerlings were delivered to targeted beneficiaries. The lack of rain from March has also some effect. As a result from April to December an electric pump has been used in the Chizizira station, which again led to a reduction of area the stocked.
No action has yet been taken for additional fingerling production centres (Activity 3.3). However, in some cases it was observed, that farmers have been selling fingerlings. Accordingly, the alternative of training some farmers to specialize in fingerling production, so these will become of supply centers of fingerlings at market prices, should be explored. It should be noted that these specialized farmers will continue to require technical advice and supply of good stocks of fingerlings. But it would be one important step toward sustainability. Concerning Activity 3.4, in 1990 in collaboration with the Department of Fish Culture and the Agricultural Training Center, ALCOM designed and implemented two training courses totalling eight weeks for 12 medium-level technicians in fish culture extension methods and trainers training.
In 1991, upon request from small-scale farmers in Sussundenga District of the Manica Province, one extension worker assessed, planned and carried out a practical training course for approximately 11 participants. As a result ponds were built by these participants and stocked by the Chizizira fish culture station located in the same district. Unfortunately owing to severe drought, the ponds dried out and the efficiency of the extension methodology approach could not be followed up and evaluated during 1992. The drought is still felt in the area.
This was aggravated by the extension trainer being unable to follow up the trainees. First, he could not settle in Manica Province because of delays in repairing the house in the Posto de Fomento Pecuario. Thus some ponds were built, in unsuitable areas by farmers who had not participated in the training course. The Rotanda Zone has one agricultural extension officer who lacks appropriate training in aquaculture construction technology and feeding techniques.
There has not yet been any feedback for the extension operation to attempt transfer of improved fish culture strategies (Activity 3.5) neither has a survey of fish marketing channels been undertaken in Manica Province (Activity 3.6)
Concerning Activity 3.7 there has been little or no follow-up to advise further community members of improved fish harvesting practices.
6.0 TARGET GROUPS
The Province of Manica was identified for project activities because of the interest demonstrated by farmers. The Chizizira station had a potential for improved management of reservoirs for stock fishing. In addition, the MARRP/GTZ, indicated its desire to train their extension officers together with some district Provincial Directors of Agriculture. The training activities carried out by the station of Chizizira induced the participants to build their fish ponds on their farms. This aroused interest among their neighbours, some of whom followed the example. In fact, in the Rotanda area, many farmers took up aquaculture even without the guidance of extension officers. As a result there are now 28 fish ponds. These are stocked with fingerlings requested and brought by technical staff from the fish culture station in Chizizira. Accordingly, the direct beneficiaries (extension officers and farmers) have been reached. The indirect benefit of increased volume of cultured fish for consumption is not as yet evident.
7.0 MANAGEMENT
The project is implemented by the Fish Culture Department, Maputo, in collaboration with the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture (DPA), Manica Province, with assistance from ALCOM. The Head of the Fish Culture Department makes supervisory visits to Manica Province whenever possible, has many other duties. Day-to-day project activities in Manica Province are being looked after since February 1994 by a trained technician.
From discussion with the Provincial Director of MOA, it became clear that the priorities of the sector are in the reconstruction effort after the prolonged civil war.
According to the subproject document, ALCOM did not analyze sufficiently the actual situation in Mozambique before proposing an ambitious programme of fingerling production and distribution, the development and propagation of rural fish culture methods and the management of small reservoirs, including stocking when needed. Present ALCOM technical assistance is limited to sporadic supervision.
8.0 BUDGET
The shortage of Government funds was aggravated by the phasing-out of an Italian Project, that it was anticipated would support with ALCOM's collaboration most of the locally planned activities. As a result, the Provincial Government could only allocated meagre funds to support basic expenses, such as local non-permanent staff. ALCOM had to provide additional funds so that planned activities could continue. The total budget planned for this subproject in 1994 is USD118, 500. Two ALCOM core members will be mobilised to participate, at a total cost, including travel, of USD67, 500. Training cost amounts USD20,000.
SUSTAINIBILITY
In concept the subproject assists an existing national programme and may, as such, be considered as sustainable. But the activities (especially those related to fingerling production) will need other donor injections to be implemented in an efficient way.
PREVAILING ISSUES
As stated above, despite the unforeseen discontinuance of the Italian project it was possible to achieve limited but encouraging results. This was due to the staff's initiatives that under difficult conditions tried to execute as much as possible.
It was noteworthy that the community almost spontaneously, had the initiative to undertake aquaculture in connection with the farming activities. To the extent that cropping patterns observed on site showed diversification, it is likely that this was done to ensure food security, and, therefore, it was a risk aversion strategy.
Further, it was observed in some cases farmers have been selling fingerlings. So, the alternative of training some farmers who would specialize in the production of fingerlings, such that these will become the supply centers of fingerlings at market prices, should be explored. It should be noted that these specialized farmers will continue to require for sometime technical advise and supply of good stocks of fingerlings. But it could be one important step toward sustainability.
The subproject is congruent conceptually with ALCOM programme. The Mission was impressed by the enthusiasm by which small farmers integrated some fishfarm activities in their vegetable gardens. But the proposed activities are too ambitious and could create eventual discouragement from farmers.
ALCOM executes a second subproject in Mozambique (CAR/MOZ: Feasibility of using Chinese carps to improve fish production and control aquatic vegetation). This subproject, with a tentative budget of 100.500 US$ over three years, was not visited by the mission. The subproject started in 1993, but is actually far behind schedule. Although ALCOM assisted with the importation of bighead, grass and silver carp in 1991 and conducted two environmental studies on the impact of the carps in the local river systems in 1992, no sound results are available at this time moment. The mission observes that it would be more logical to perform introduction studies prior to the introduction itself.
