SMALL FARMER FISH PRODUCTION

The Ministry of Animal Breeding, Fisheries, and Animal Industries will implement the project with USAID technical assistance. At the Foumban training center, 45 new extensionists will receive 6 months training to enable them to demonstrate and advise farmers on pond site selection, cooperative methods of pond construction, fingerling care, pond management, timely harvesting, marketing, and the nutritional benefits of fish. In-service refresher courses will be provided to existing extension agents, first in the Western Highlands and then throughout Cameroon. Forty-five motorcycles and five pick-up trucks (including one at each station) will be provided for extension support and for delivering fingerlings to farmers. Field days will be held at the stations or selected ponds every 2 months to demonstrate various stages of fish culture. Two Cameroonians will receive M.S.-level training in aquaculture and personnel management in the United States and will return to supervise fisheries and extension work in the North West and West Provinces. Six technicians (3 at U.S and 3 at LDC institutions) will receive 6 months academic and 3 months practical training in such areas as fish spawning, harvesting, and distribution, and fish pond vegetation. Two people will be trained at the USAID vehicle maintenance center in Maroua to maintain project vehicles. Existing fishery stations at Foumban, KuBome, and Bamessing will be upgraded. At each station, hatchery and associated livestock (poultry and swine) buildings and a feed warehouse will be constructed, and Foumban will be electrified. As a result of the project, 5,000 fish farmers cultivating 6,500 ponds in the Western Highlands will improve their level of pond management to an average of 500-1,000 sq m of water yielding 1,200-1,600 kg of fish per ha annually. The Peace Corps will provide two volunteers at the Foumban training center and 28 in the field until 1985.