SECOND QUARTER REPORT

April 1, 2007- June 30, 2007

Title of project: Sustaining famine mitigation through integrated aquaculture-agriculture in Traditional Authority Mavwere, Mchinji District in Malawi.

Project Number: SF-1005-AwF

Principal Investigators:

Dr. Daniel Jamu Regional Director, East and Southern Africa
Joseph Nagoli – Project leader.

Summary

The project “Sustaining Famine Mitigation through Integrated Aquaculture-Agriculture (IAA)” being implemented in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mavwere, Mchinji District of Central Malawi started in January 2007. The overall goal of the project is to promote sustainable integrated aquaculture-agriculture that will help the local communities reduce poverty, increase household incomes, and improve food security and nutritional status. This is being achieved by improving fingerling availability and accessibility and extension services through participatory methods. The participation of farmers allows them to use their experiences and generate sustainable practices that will ensure sustainable provision of services after the project life time. The aim is to strengthen the capacity of small-scale farmers to participate as active stakeholders in the growth of the rural economy.

The major focus in this reporting period was direct coaching of the local extension providers and establishment of demonstration ponds and local fingerling production points. Six demonstrations and fingerling production points were established one in each of six Group Village headmen. The demonstrations aim at providing best practices in fish farming e.g. pond construction, fish stocking, feeds and feeding, water quality management and harvesting. The project established nine (9) Community-based Monitoring and Evaluation (CBM&E) Committees responsible for collecting and analysing data using indicators that were developed by the communities themselves with support from the Research and Extension Team (RET). The project has now 300 ponds stocked with improved fingerlings. Project activities are being promoted by 71 farmer extensionists that were trained in last quarter. Local fingerling producers have also been established that will provide quality fingerlings as the number of ponds continue to grow.

The project is starting to register significant improvements in fish farming and integration skills. About 50% of the farmers with ponds in the area are expanding their hectarage to vegetables and winter maize production adjacent to their ponds.

1. Progress on the project

1. Project goal:

The overall goal of the project is to improve livelihoods of rural people through IAA as a sustainable famine mitigation measure. The delivery of integrated agriculture-aquaculture (IAA) farming systems can improve food security, reduce natural resource degradation and enhance rural economic development in T/A Mavwere. Fishponds also serve as important water harvesting function, and enable farmers to cultivate vegetables and winter maize around the ponds. Water in the fish ponds is also important for animals. To promote IAA the project specifically intends to achieve two main objectives:

1 To improve fingerling availability and accessibility through the identification and training of specialised village fingerling producers.

2 To promote capacity building of small-scale farmers on the farmer-to-farmer extension concept to improve and sustain extension services at local level

2. Implemented work program

2.1. Objective 1: Improvement of fingering production in the project area.

Activity 1: On-farm demonstrations of fish farming practices

On-farm demonstrations were established in six Group Village headmen: Guwende, Manthalu, Chamosola, Mzingo, Malemia and Ntanga. The demonstrations targets the beneficiaries to improve their fish farming skills in better pond construction, stocking, water quality management, supplemental feeds and feeding and harvesting. Through these demonstration farmers will also learn the importance of adhering to production calendar which offers the maximum benefit in terms of food and incomes throughout the year. Tilapia rendalli (figure 1) and Oreochromis shiranus (figure 2) species were used for the demonstrations. It is believed that there will be an increase in productivity and production as a result of improved stocking rates and better fish pond carrying capacities.

Figure 1: Tilapia rendalli

Figure 2: Oreochromis shiranus

Activity 2: Establishing village fish seed multipliers

Supply of quality seed is fundamental to developing profitable fish farming. Apparently, many areas of T/A Mavwere are characterised by inadequate seed supply leading to under stocking of fish ponds. Local fingerling production units managed by farmers on commercial basis have been established in six group village headmen. It is expected that in the next three months fingerlings will be readily available and at relatively low prices that farmers can afford to buy. The availability of fingerlings in close proximity will also reduce transport costs and improve mortality as experienced before. The local fingerling producers were selected by the communities themselves based on the following agreed criterion:

Farmers having at least two ponds

Farmers in (or closer to) existing fish farmers club

Community cooperation and potential for expansion of IAA

2.2 Objective 2: Promotion of capacity building of small-scale farmers on the farmer-to-farmer extension concept to improve and sustain extension services at local level

Activity 1: Community Based Monitoring and Evaluation System (CBM&E)

Community Based Monitoring and Evaluation System (CBM&E) aims to empower communities articulate their developmental needs and priorities, as well as efforts to mobilise communities in the local development planning, management, and evaluation process of service delivery. Project learning and success depends upon the integration of monitoring and evaluation processes at all levels of operation. The community based monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system involves developing the capacity of communities and community groups to undertake M&E activities, including collecting, analyzing, disseminating, and updating data on a regular basis. Monitoring at community level operates at the community where the implementation and utilization of the benefits of the project take place.

CBM&E concept was delivered through a participatory and interactive approach. It was designed as a face-to-face exercise using a blended method of lectures, and group work (Figure 3). The group work approach was adopted to promote learning-by-doing, information sharing, team building and networking. Participants were drawn from all the participating villages. Village M&E Committees were then formed (Appendix 1) that are reporting progress to The Village Development Committee (VDC) monthly.

Figure 3: Village M&E Committee developing monitoring indicators

The committees also developed a Chichewa monitoring tool whose English version is given in Appendix 2. The roles and responsibilities for all stakeholders were also developed and are summarised in table 1 below.

Stakeholder	Role of the Stakeholder	Resources required	Constraints and Opportunities
Community	Participatory needs assessment Community meetings to identify problems and plans. Community actors submit reports.	Funds for mobilization Human and knowledge capacity	Enthusiasm of potential fish farmers Skills available within the community
Fish farmers Association	Community meetings to identify problems and plans. Elect CBM&E committees Identify activities / skills that would be required for increased fish production Develop comprehensive work plans	Funds for mobilization.	Availability of local skills in the community Low production of fish render the association powerless No registered association hence no fund generation
WorldFish Center Mchinji Fisheries Office	Facilitators Capacity building Public information and awareness Government policy coordination Quality technical backstopping	Facilitation funds after the project	Local extensionists established Local fingerling production units Faster growth of than existing capacity Weak farmer association

Table 1: Stakeholders' function analysis

Activity 2: Technical backstopping

A total of 6 backstopping visits were conducted involving the Mchinji District Fisheries Office and WorldFish staff. In general, these visits were aimed at monitoring and coaching local farmer extensionists during local trainings, progress on pond construction and restocking of fish ponds. It was observed that despite high labour competition with agricultural activities (maize harvesting), progress on pond construction was good. More than 30 ponds have been constructed during this quarter alone. However farmers that had completed pond construction were still having problems of accessing quality fingerlings because the currently established fingerling production points had not yet started supplying fingerlings. It was also observed that most of the local extension providers were very good at delivery skills but still required more time of coaching on technical explanations especially when trainees ask questions. The project has so far supplied booklets on aquaculture production system that WorldFish developed with support from USAID funded project COMPASS (Appendix 3).

IAA has started being implemented in a significant way. Many farmers that had their ponds abandoned have cleared them and are practicing better IAA practises after the trainings conducted in the first quarter. The figure below show a well managed a fish pond for Group Village Headman Guwende. He is very keen to provide leadership even in farming on top of his village administrative roles.

Figure 4: Group Village Headman Guwende’s integrated pond

B. Major Achievements during the reporting period

The project is on course in achieving its outputs. In only the first six months of operation, 300 ponds have been stocked with fish and it is likely that by the end of project over 1000 ponds will be established and stocked with quality fingerlings. The communities have since taken up the provision of extension through 71 farmer extension volunteers however; these require further coaching to promote self confidence. Six fingerling production points have been established but are yet to start supplying fingerlings. Monitoring of project activities, processes and equipments is led by the communities whereby reports are submitted to Area Development Committees every month based on indicators developed by the communities themselves.

The table below gives status on progress towards project results as revised at the inception of the project.

Task	Expected results	Achievements to date
Objective 1: Improved fingerling availability and accessibility
1.1 Conduct awareness meeting with ADC and VDC and identify beneficiaries	1 meeting	1 meeting conducted at ADC level and 6 meetings at VDC level
1.1. Identify and train local fingerling producers	21 producers	21 fingerling producers identified and trained. Six farmers have since established hatcheries
1.3. Mount demonstrations	10 demos	6 demonstrations established on proper pond construction, stocking rates, water management, feeds and feeding and harvesting.
1.4 Conduct open days	10 open days	To be done from third quarter
1.5 Document small-scale fingerling distribution model	1 doc	O be developed in third quarter
1.6 Promote restocking with improved fingerlings	200 ponds	300 ponds renovated and stocked with quality fingerlings
Objective 2: Capacity building of small-scale farmers to offer services at local level.
2.1. Identify lead farmers	21 farmers	71 farmers identified
2.2. Train lead farmers in aquaculture and extension delivery skills	21 farmers	71 farmers trained as extensionists
2.3 Develop verifiable easy to monitor indicators with participation of all stakeholders in the target area (Community Based Monitoring and Evaluation (CBM&E)	1 meeting	Indicators developed by the communities. CBM&E established in every village. Reports are now being written to ADC based on the indicators
2.4 Facilitate community project monitoring and Extension	Monthly meetings	2 monthly CBM&E meetings done since the CBM&E concept was initiated.
2.5 Develop guidelines for farmer led extension	Guidelines	Guidelines being developed. However roles for different stakeholders in the project defined
2.6 In conjunction with farmer extensionists train farmers in IAA best practices	200 farmers	200 farmers trained in IAA half of which have been trained by the farmer extensionists with support from WorldFish and Government fisheries staff
2.7. Promote fish and crop production through best practices of IAA	200 ponds	Over 100 farmers practicing IAA.
2.8. Conduct technical backstopping visits	12 visits	Over 10 joint visits by WorldFish and Department of Fisheries (Mchinji) conducted
2.9 Document and publish success stories on AwF website	At least 3	2 stories published on AwF webpage with the help of AwF Chairperson. More success stories expected in third quarter.

Table 2: Progress towards project results

3. Outputs

The project is on track towards achieving its outputs. The list below highlights milestones achieved during the six months of project operation.

Establishment of a Local supported participatory extension system

Establishment of local fingerling producers

Establishment of Community based monitoring and evaluation system and respective monitoring indicators.

Awareness of IAA to communities and their local leaders. in fish farming,

4. Implications of Project Outputs and Achievements

The project has been operational for six months only as such no impacts on households’ livelihoods can be observed at this stage. However there is high confidence that the project will have big impacts on the beneficiaries livelihoods demonstrated by the following factors:

There is high participation and consultation that resulting from the definition of stakeholders’ roles and responsibilities. Participatory problem identification and planning facilitated by the communities implies self reliance and a solid foundation for sustainable development.

It has also been observed that a relatively higher percentage of women (55% in extension delivery services) have been participating in the whole period compared to other projects of similar nature. This is a result of intensive campaigns on gender mainstreaming issues during trainings. The inclusion of more women will not only bring sustainability but also ensure that project impacts are equitably shared.

5. Bottlenecks

Due to the enthusiasm from the communities, there has been proliferation of new ponds. This is creating bigger workload on the farmer extensionists such that there are some ponds that have been constructed without technical support from these extension providers. These ponds are usually of unsatisfactory quality. The situation has so far been solved by frequent supervision from Mchinji Fisheries Office.

6. Linkages with other programmes

Sustaining famine mitigation through integrated aquaculture-agriculture in Mchinji District in Malawi is directly linked to other programmes running for the WorldFish Center in East and Southern Africa. The following are the important projects:

1. Determination of Recommendation Domains for High Aquaculture Potential areas in Africa that will provide a science based tool in identifying potential areas for pond aquaculture.

2. Famine mitigation and food security through IAA in Southern Africa

3. The Malawi Aquaculture Gold Standard production system promoted by the Department of Fisheries

7. Collaborator

The project is being implemented in partnership with Mchinji District Assembly and the Department of Fisheries in Malawi. The two institutions provide personnel which are assisting in capacity building, coaching of the lead farmers and daily monitoring of the activities.

8. Future Plans

The major focus in the third quarter will be implementing community monitoring and evaluation system for sustainability of the project and training of farmers in IAA practices by the lead farmers with coaching from WorldFish and the partners. Farmers will have a chance of learning from each other through demonstrations and open days. The main activities for the third quarter are given in table 3 below.

ID	Activity	Target
1.1	Conduct open days	5
1.2	Develop guidelines for farmer led extension	Guidelines
1.3	Conduct technical backstopping visits	4 visits
1.4	Document and publish success stories on AWF website	At least 1

Table 3: Main Activities for third quarter

9. Budget

Overall budget spending is on track. However, due to the high revised government allowances, there is likelihood to overspend of monitoring budget line

For further information, CONTACT Dr Daniel Jamu, WorldFish Center – Malawi Office. MAIL, P.O Box 229, Zomba, Malawi. EMAIL dmjamu@sdnp.org.mw , FAX (+265)01 536 274. PHONE (+265)01 536 298, (+265)01 536 313, Website: www.worldfishcenter.org