Aquaculture development fund set up in Cambodia

One of the AwF Directors, Dr. M.C. Nandeesha, was invited to Cambodia as an AwF volunteer to review the activities carried out by the JICA project entitled “The freshwater aquaculture improvement and extension project (FAIEX)” and to provide suitable advice on its activities. This project, implemented in four provinces, aims to increase fish availability through aquaculture. Dr. Nandeesha spent time with the project from 9-19 February 2008 and presented a seminar based on the observations made, in order to improve their intervention strategies.  

The honorarium paid to him by JICA was donated to the Aquaculture Division of the Department of Fisheries. The Director General of Fisheries and Adviser to the Prime Minister, His Excellency Mr. Nao Thuok, inspired by this contribution, announced a US$ 2500 donation to the fund. He also promised to inspire others to donate so that this fund could be utilized to help deserving farmers. Based on the inputs provided by Department staff and farmers, it was decided to set this up as a revolving fund and to provide credit support to farmers to increase income through aquaculture activities. It was also indicated that if a suitable research proposal is submitted, AwF would be willing to consider provision of support to the revolving fund with a view to enlarge the activities to suitable scale.

Dr. M.C. Nandeesha presented with Sahameitrei award by the Royal Government of Cambodia

AwF Director Dr. M.C. Nandeesha served as the Fisheries Advisor in Cambodia from 1992-1997 through PADEK (Partnership for Development in Kampuchea), a consortium established by the Oxfam group NGOs. During that period, Dr. Nandeesha built Bati Fisheries Research Station and fish seed production centre, which has now become a national centre for aquaculture activities. He also worked very closely with small farmers in four provinces of Cambodia and developed small scale aquaculture technology through farmer participatory research. Village level seed production and the nursing centres concept promoted have now become successful activities and these small scale seed producers meet the seed requirement of farmers locally. 

More than the above, with his background and interest as a teacher, he associated voluntarily with the activities of the Fisheries Faculty of the Royal Agricultural University in Phnom Penh and guided 25 students to complete their dissertation work. He also provided support to Preak Leap Agriculture School offering diploma level education in Fisheries and guided students. PADEK provided grants liberally and flexibly to these student activities. Several of the graduates were also given opportunity to work as counterpart staff with the PADEK project, particularly to carry out the work with farmers. Eight of the bright students were assisted to secure scholarship in best places to pursue postgraduate education in aquaculture. Many of these students trained in the Bati Fisheries Research Station are now serving as the major source of strength to the Fisheries Department and contributing to fisheries development in the country.