Technical Transfer from On-Station Research to Producers

1) To continue collaboration with AIT outreach stations using fertilization trials for all-male tilapia culture. This will include dissemination of current CRSP research on tilapia and possibly on polyculture.

2) To extend fertilization trials into Laos and Vietnam. AIT's aquaculture outreach program, funded by several international sponsors, has already established field offices with personnel in Sawanake, Laos, Phnom Phen, Cambodia, and Hanoi, Vietnam. AIT has also established a functioning relationship with national aquaculture institutions in those countries. The CRSP project can utilize these ties to conduct field trials and other outreach activities in these countries.

The major goal of the PD/A CRSP has always been to increase pond culture efficiency. Over the last ten years, CRSP has emphasized collection of pond dynamics data at selected experimental stations in participating countries. The most visible accomplishment of the project is perhaps its contribution to the scientific literature. To be more meaningful, this information should also be disseminated in a useful manner so fish farmers, the ultimate users, can directly benefit. The project should develop an outreach mechanism and methodology to disseminate its technology. A small outreach trial was initiated in Thailand in 1992 to respond to this need and to urgings of the AID mission. At this point, CRSP should not only continue this limited effort but expand and focus its outreach activities over the next five years.

In Thailand the CRSP outreach activity has collaborated with Department of Fisheries stations in the northeast region. It has focused on trials using inorganic fertilizer and all-male tilapia in small earthen ponds. Fish farming follows a progressive pattern of intensification from semi-intensive with simple fertilizer inputs to intensive with complete feeding, depending on available resources and economic incentives. CRSP technology on fertilization and low-level feed input can also provide appropriate technology to northeast Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.

In order to test farmer practices, we intend to establish training sessions for extension workers at each outreach station. These sessions will extend our currently optimum fertilization rates and schedules. Cooperating farmers will then be trained and evaluated for inputs and results during their next grow-out. Field personnel will visit the participating farms monthly, evaluating water quality and inputs. They will also visit at harvest to measure production and yield.

This experiment will fulfill several goals of the CRSP experiments. It is one means of technology transfer of aquaculture systems. It also results in extension training and outreach to professionals in the region of southeast Asia. It may also open the door to further social and economic studies in areas considerably different from Thailand.

CRSP outreach is viewed as a critical activity in all of the countries involved. Outreach has been a major component of the Rwanda project, and is similarly expanding in Honduras. While it is difficult or impossible to initiate identical outreach activities at all sites, it is crucial that outreach be conducted and emphasized throughout the CRSP.

Culturists throughout southeast Asia and other tropical countries who are remote from CRSP research sites and to whom the CRSP experiments have not been extended. Also, CRSP participants will benefit by receiving more directly the critical needs of fish farmers from throughout the region. Finally, regional biologists will benefit from the training and experimental work designed and overseen by CRSP researchers.

The Asian Institute of Technology will collaborate with these analyses. The facilities for such research include ponds at outreach stations in Laos and Vietnam, which will serve as test sites for further field trials in these countries. AIT will coordinate the training of extension agents and the follow-up activities. In particular, Nick Innes-Taylor will coordinate the outreach work through AIT. The University of Michigan will provide logistic and planning support for this project, and will be involved in the final data analysis and write up as well.

Sites: Southeast Asia; various outreach stations in Thailand, Laos and Vietnam; Udorn facilities, as well as other possible sites throughout Southeast Asia.

Pond facilities: Since specific experiments are not defined in this proposal, facilities will vary in local ponds. We anticipate trials involving fertilization and controlled stocking in at least 6 ponds at each farm, with hopefully 5-6 farms involved per station.

Other inputs: Chicken manure will be added at 70 kg·ha^-1·wk^-1, and sufficient urea and phosphorus will be added to provide 0.5 g·m^-2·d^-1 N and 0.125 g·m^-2·d^-1 P.

Sampling plan: Measurements of water quality will be taken monthly including standard PD/A CRSP water quality parameters. Fish growth will be measured on a monthly basis. Diel analyses will be done monthly.

Statistical methods and hypotheses: The null hypotheses are that each site will not have appreciable differences in water quality parameters, primary production, and fish growth compared to research stations. Significant differences will be tested using ANOVA and multiple regression.

This experiment is planned for the second year of the new work plan. Pond experiments will continue for 150 days, with initiation and termination dates variable among sites but occurring during 1997-98.

Final Report Submittal: Final reports will be completed with the 1997-98 annual report in Fall 1998.

The Pond Dynamics/Aquaculture CRSP is funded under USAID Grant No. LAG-G-00-96-90015-00 and by the participating US and Host Country institutions. Questions for or about the Aquaculture CRSP? Comments about this site? Email ACRSP@oregonstate.edu.

Disclaimers

Eighth Work Plan
1 August 1996 to 31 July 1998
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