1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Ngara District Council (Ngara District Council) - Tanzania, United Republic of

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

This is a practice of fish farming whereby farmers excavate ponds ,fill in fresh water,stock-in fish fingerings and manage them to mature or marketable size

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Select a suitable area/site with permanent water source or alongside the flowing river/stream preferably with a clay soil and excavate a suitable sized pond(30mx20m)and a depth of 1,5-2m at the upper and lower side respectively. A crib of 4 m2 for application of manure is constructed using short tree poles at the shallow portion of the pond before filling in water and introducing fish fingerings

Purpose of the Technology: The crib provides an area where Farm yard manure or compost is put to decompose and thereby stimulate the growth of fish foods (phytoplanktons).

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: ESTABLISHMENT
-Selection of suitable area and pegging to required size/area
-Excavations to suitable depth
-Dig inlet canal from the water source through the shallow side and outlet canal from the deeper portion of the pond back to the main stream (Alternatively use small metal pipes,bamboo or plastic pipes for inlets and outlets)
-Compact the embankment and stabilize soil by planting suitable grass species such as vetiva spp etc
-Cut 2.5m long strong poles and construct a crib for manure application
-Spread manure at the bottom of the pond and wait for weeds growth (normally 2 weeks)
-Fill in water and stock in fingerings( 1 fingering per sq meter)
-Protect the pond by fencing preferably planting around live fence trees such as Dovyalis caffra,Pthecelobium dulce etc
MAINTANANCE
-Regular cleaning of the pond,and weeding the sorounding environment
-Feeeding with extra foods such as rice/maize brun,rice husks,chopped vegetables,pumpkins and potatoes etc
-Weekly application of farm yard manure or compost(1 tin 15-20 kg) by putting and tying by hanging a sac full in a crib.
-Shaking once daily the hanging sac while in water to release nutrients

Natural / human environment: The pond site should be easily accesible and where possible near homesteads for security purpose
-Harvesting may done by draining the water from the pond, using a seine net,and catch the desired size of fish while returning the young fish to continue growing
In good pond management/feeding farmers are able to harvest every after six months

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

fish farming in Ngara has been supported since the 1980s by UNICEF,DRDPS and recently by DANIDA through NGOs(REDESO and TCRS)

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• create beneficial economic impact

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): -less utilisation of wetlands resources to contribute in improving (livelihood) nutrition and groups/huosehold income
-some fish species (larvifish)may be stocked in ponds to feed on diseases vectors such as mosquitoe larva and reduce malaria incidences

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): To obtain fish for food and surplus harvest for income

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: farmers cultivate small plots of vegetables,sweet potatoes in valleys near fish ponds and chop them to supplement fish meals

3.3 Further information about land use

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 120; Longest growing period from month to month: October to January; Second longest growing period in days: 90; Second longest growing period from month to month: March to May

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• beekeeping, aquaculture, poultry, rabbit farming, silkworm farming, etc.

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, indicate approximate area covered:

• < 0.1 km2 (10 ha)

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 0.06 ha.

The group owns a fish pond of size 30mx20m in a wetland located in Kasulo village and is stocked with Tilapia spp fingerings

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Secondary measures: management measures

Specification of other agronomic measures: water storage for fish culture

Type of agronomic measures: manure / compost / residues

Type of vegetative measures: scattered / dispersed

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Bh: loss of habitats

Main causes of degradation: other human induced causes (specify) (over exploitation of fish in natural water bodies)

Secondary causes of degradation: Heavy / extreme rainfall (intensity/amounts) (Causing siltation,flooding of already constructed fish ponds), other natural causes (avalanches, volcanic eruptions, mud flows, highly susceptible natural resources, extreme topography, etc.) specify (blocking of water channels, ponds due to mud)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Fish pond fertilization with manure using a crib

Location: yyy village. Ngara District Council/Tanzania

Date: 15 May 2012

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate (Once the fishpond is established,the extension kit requires regular monitoring for improvement of fish feeds and outbreak of diseases which are relatively few compared to other livestocks such as pok)

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate (Following the fish pond manual developed by the district is simple with regard to pond management and feeding regimes)

Main technical functions: increase in nutrient availability (supply, recycling,…)

Secondary technical functions: increase in organic matter, promotion of vegetation species and varieties (quality, eg palatable fodder)

Manure / compost / residues
Material/ species: cowdung
Quantity/ density: 50 kgs
Remarks: applied in crib once weekly per pond

Scattered / dispersed
Vegetative material: G : grass
Number of plants per (ha): 300
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): seedlings
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.1
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.1

Grass species: vetiva planted to stablise pond embarkments

Dam/ pan/ pond
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 1.5
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 20
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 30

Reshaping surface
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 2

Construction material (earth): The pond has the deeper side 1.5m and shallower side 1.0m,with the top earth compacted 2m wide

Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.

Change of land use practices / intensity level: Wetlands were marginally used only for dry season agriculture and some vegatable growing-now aquaculture intergration adding productive value to it

Control / change of species composition: Most farmers preferered Tilapia nilotica for stocking in fishponds,phytoplanktons growth promoted

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology unit

other/ national currency (specify):

Tanzania shilling

Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

1600.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Buying of vetiva	Vegetative	during the rains
2.	Planting of vetiva on embarkments	Vegetative	during rains
3.	Allignment and layout of pond	Structural	before rains
4.	Excavation of the pond	Structural	before rains
5.	Raising embarkments,compaction construction inlets and outlets	Structural	before rains
6.	Collect cow dung	Agronomic
7.	Purchase fish fingerings	Agronomic
8.	Purchase tools	Agronomic

Comments:

Lifespan of dung, fish fingerings and tools: 3 years

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Planting of vetiva on embarkments	persons/day	2.0	1.25	2.5	100.0
Labour	Allignment and layout of pond	persons/day	2.0	1.25	2.5	50.0
Labour	Excavation of the pond	persons/day	120.0	1.88	225.6	100.0
Labour	Raising embarkments,compaction construction inlets and outlets	persons/day	3.0	1.25	3.75	100.0
Equipment	Fish fingerings	pieces	1000.0	0.06	60.0	20.0
Equipment	Tools	pieces	4.0	12.5	50.0	20.0
Equipment	Vetiva	pieces	300.0	0.16666	50.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Cowdung	kg	50.0	1.25	62.5	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					456.85

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 4 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Application of cowdung	Agronomic	weekly
2.	Application of extra feeds	Agronomic	fortnight
3.	Clean weeding	Agronomic	monthly
4.	Trimming the live fence,weeding and monitoring	Vegetative	dry seson
5.	Repairing of walls	Structural	after heavy storms
6.	Management of fingerings -monitoring of growth,control of overpopulation	Management	monthly
7.	Cowdung application and manipulation for nutrients release	Management	weekly

4.7 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Clean weeding	persons/day	2.0	1.25	2.5	100.0
Labour	Trimming the live fence,weeding and monitoring	persons/day	2.0	1.25	2.5	100.0
Labour	Repairing of walls	persons/day	2.0	1.25	2.5	100.0
Labour	Management of fingerings	persons/day	4.0	1.6	6.4	100.0
Equipment	Extra feeds (maize and ricebran)	kg	10.0	1.88	18.8	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Cowdung	kg	50.0	1.25	62.5	100.0
Other	Labour: Cowdung application and manipulation for nutrients release	persons/day	1.0	1.25	1.25	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					96.45

Comments:

the costs are calculated per fish pond of size 20m width,30m length and depth 1.5m

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

labour especially during excavations(establishment phase)
cowdung when the land user buys instead of obtaining from the homestead/kraal

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• concave situations

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Soil depth on average: Shallow (ranked 1, loamy to heavy clayey basement) and moderately deep (ranked 2)
Soil fertility: Medium (ranked 1), low (ranked 2) and high (ranked 3)
Topsoil organic matter is medium (ranked 1) and high (ranked 2)
Soil drainage / infiltration is poor and retains water in pond permanently, but medium in severe dry spell and water level decrease to half pond depth.
Soil water storage capacity is high near wetlands and permanent streams. Sometimes also very high

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Availability of surface water: Good (ranked 1) and excess (ranked 2, the site of the pond is located such that at maximum flooding it shoul d not be reached by flood water to prevent fish escape/overflow)
Water quality (untreated): For agricultural use only: Wetlands used for dry season farming and small horticultural gardens. Farmers fetch water in the streams due to unavailability of safe water points

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Decreasing rapidly due to pollution of water sources, deforeatstion and overexploiation of natural fish stocks

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Difference in the involvement of women and men: Excavations usually by men labour but for maintanance activitiies women play increasing roles

Population density: 10-50 persons/km2

60% of the land users are average wealthy.
20% of the land users are poor.

Off-farm income specification: Most of the farmers with ponds have livestock and apply cow dung instaed of compost

Market orientation of production system: Mixed (farmers sell some surplus fish although productivity still below avarage)

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• communal/ village
• group

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Comments:

water use is free for use by all community members especially for agricultural activities

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	Type of climatic change/ extreme	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	not well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	not well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	not well

Comments:

The productivity of the fish pond is determined by many factors including the selected species of fish,the feeding levels and the temperature of water. Most tropical fish species grows well when the temperature of the pond water remains warm

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

Comments:

Initial establishment capital high
Cow dung may be obtained free from kraal or altenative use compost
manure

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• single cases/ experimental

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

3 households

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many have did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 0-10%

Comments:

3 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: The fish ponds project attracted many families to engage in the activities,the constraints were high capital investments and poor pond managent

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: especially for well off farmers with land holdings near wetlands and streams

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Availability of permanent water sources especially streams How can they be sustained / enhanced? Conservation bylaws enforced on bufferzones

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Availability of permanent water sources especially streams How can they be sustained / enhanced? Conservation bylaws enforced on bufferzones
Farmers owns cattle/shorts How can they be sustained / enhanced? Enhance crop and livestock intergration
Wetlands are owned comunally and by village governments How can they be sustained / enhanced? Bylaws enforcement to prevent encroachment and pollution

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
High capital investments	Family oriented groups have some success ,to think of some subsidies throgh government or simple credit schemes

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
High capital investments	Group approach used -although many groups fail to sustain the ponds