Feasibility assessment of fish farming in seasonal reser-voirs: Packaging technical, social and financial aspects

Abstract

Many fish farming committees in seasonal reservoirs give up their activities after one or two years of operation due to a number of problems they encounter. The reason for this often can be traced back to insufficient preparatory work for the formation and preparation of committees before starting fish farming. The project has developed a comprehensive procedure for a feasibility assessment of fish farming in seasonal reservoirs including technical, social and financial feasibility assessment. By covering all three aspects it is hoped that failure rates can be re-duced considerably and, at the same time, will ensure a higher acceptance and reputation of fish farming as an economic activity in the rural communities. Based on the proposed assessment process, extension personnel need to be trained in all these aspects especially in financial and social issues. Ex-tension service must change from providing purely technical advice towards facilitating a process of institution and capacity building in the communities to enable them to participate in the economic development of the country.