Sustainable agro-pisciculture systems in Sub-Saharan Africa

Fish farming is a relatively new activity for small-scale farmers in sub-SaharanAfrica. It was first introduced in the 1950’s and 1960’s as a way to improve theavailability of fish in rural households for home consumption and income generation. The results of many years of research and the experiences of many development projects have shown that fish farming can make a contribution towards improving rural livelihoods, however, many challenges remain, including the following issues: Most areas where small-scale fish farming has been promoted, have experienced cycles of adoption and neglect, corresponding to the amount of effort expended by the extension services. Fish farming extension is expensive and to cover because suitable areas are often widely scattered. In many countries fish farming falls within the remit of several organisations; it fits better with agriculture but is often the responsibility of a Department of Fisheries (dealing mainly with open water fisheries) in a different Ministry Malawi has been host to a number of fish farming research and development projects over the last 20 years. It has areas with high potential for small-scale fish farming and several thousand farmers who are benefiting from the integration of fish into their farming systems. Interest in both small-scale and commercial fish farming is increasing as fish stocks from natural water bodies are reducing through over exploitation. In late 1998/early 1999, the Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural indicated that they would like to support a study visit focusing on integrated agriculture-aquaculture farming systems and preparatory investigations identified Malawi as a suitable venue. The study visit on Sustainable Agro-Pisciculture Systems was organised by CTA in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries of the Malawian Ministry of Natural Resources Environmental Affairs and the Malawi of the International for Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM). The overall objective of the study visit was to focus on the development of sustainable strategies for the dissemination of knowledge about integrated agriculture-aquaculture farming systems as a realistic option for smallholder farmers by analysing the approaches used in Malawi and sharing experiences from other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Specific objectives were as to assess the current status of fish farming in Malawi, in particular, whether the extension systems used in the past and at present are sustainable.The overall objective of the study visit was to focus on the development of sustainable strategies for the dissemination of knowledge about integrated agriculture-aquaculture farming systems as a realistic option for smallholder farmers by analysing the