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Conference Report |
Publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Creation date: February 2000
http://www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/X3978E.htm
This paper describes a Proposal for Action for the elaboration of national and regional aquaculture development policies; policies that will enable aquaculture overcome its present difficulties and realise its potential contribution to improved regional food security and economic growth. Aquaculture, in any of its varied forms, can play an important part in rural development in Africa. To do so, aquaculture must be well understood. This understanding should be based on an awareness of past aquaculture development efforts, using the successes and weaknesses of these to guide future ventures. This document is intended to foster such an understanding among decision- and policy-makers of the region. Aquaculture has the potential to play an important role in Africa. Small-scale fishponds can be integrated into traditional farming systems to diversify production, reduce risk and enhance household food security. Larger, commercial-scale systems offer opportunities for income generation as well as a means to offset the imbalances in fish imports experienced by many countries in the Region. However, Africa's aquaculture history has not been full of long-term successes. Although numerous aquaculture development projects were undertaken in most countries of the Region in the 1960s and 70s, there are few sustainable results of these efforts and production remains well below the estimated potential . A review of past efforts reveals a number of causes for the poor results experienced. Most of the problems can be traced directly to the political/economic difficulties faced by several countries at the time. Other recurrent problems relate to unavailability of production inputs (e.g., feed, seed, etc.), lack of logistical support to isolated fish farmers and difficulties in competing with cheaper fish products from natural waters. The most serious problem was often the absence of national and regional aquaculture development policies, or the existence of outdated or un-implemented policies. Africa is on the threshold of significant aquaculture production at the beginning of the new millennium. Rural communities are increasingly looking to fish farming to provide them with products that are no longer available from conventional suppliers. Aquaculture can be effectively integrated into a variety of farming systems, developing synergy and enhancing resource utilisation. But, to benefit from this currently untapped potential, aquaculture development must be undertaken within a framework of comprehensive national and regional policies that foster integration and ensure that stakeholders receive necessary support from downsized government agencies. This document is only available from the FAO website. Please click the link to access this document.
Key Words: UN • FAO • Sub-Saharan Africa • Sustainable Aquaculture • Rural Development • Policy
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