Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Aquaculture & Fisheries

This report discusses the first phase of the National Fish Culture Project in Rwanda that extended from 1983 through 1988. The project focused solely on fish culture and endeavored to improve fish production in existing ponds through a dynamic extension service. Physical, social, and economic constraints to fish culture in Rwanda are presented in addition to background on the project’s extension strategy and a description of the extension agent training. Fifty-five extension agents were trained and upon completion of the project, approximately 3,000 ponds had been covered through the project’s extension efforts. Through the four-year duration of the project, average pond productivity increased 3.4 to 14.5 kg are^-1 yr^-1. A 41% internal rate of return was calculated for fish culture as a farm enterprise. The increased cost to maintain the extension program in comparison with the increase in fish production resulted in a 27% internal rate of return to the government of Rwanda. Finally, recommendations for future fish culture projects are discussed in addition to a five-phase aquaculture development plan.

NOP 99-129 (English) (Spanish) (CRSP Research Report)