Page 33 - FAO Aquaculture News, May 2021 - No. 63

access to good quality fingerlings and
feed and the transfer of technical and
managerial expertise to farmers and officers
for aquaculture to develop effectively and
sustainably.
Aquaculture Updates by Region
One of the tasks of the project was to
rehabilitate an old hatchery, originally
constructed with donor support in
2008–2009, which continued to be in use
until 2013. The relevant ministry at the
time organized overseas training of staff
members in the different disciplines of ©FAO/Sirra Njai (photo taken before COVID-19 pandemic)
aquaculture during which the hatchery
became dysfunctional. The project
rehabilitated and modernized the hatchery
for tilapia and catfish and purchased two
fish-feed manufacturing units, one for
the Jahally hatchery and another one for Various fish, including farmed catfish, being sold at market, an important income-
a well-established youth group in Koloro, generating activity for some Gambian women.
on the South Bank of the Gambia River.
The project also provided shelter for these units and growing population, and for this purpose additional
connections to water and power grids. hatchery capacity may be required. In the light of climate
change, the proposed project will assist in providing
The hatchery and feed plants provided the relevant assistance to integrate fish in rice fields, promote growth
ministry with the means for fingerling production and of catfish in high-density fish tanks, resort to climate
feed manufacturing. In 2020, the hatchery was handed proofing existing fish ponds, and strengthen the oyster and
over to the Government and inaugurated by the Ministry cockle culture in mangrove forests and on tidal flats.
of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly
Matters. It took the ministry considerable time upon The proposed project will focus on on-the-job training
conclusion of the project to complete the final works at of fish farmers through the Fish Farmer Field Schools
the hatchery, which delayed the hatchery operations approach at a demonstration farm, for which the Jahally
considerably. Consequently, some fish farmers are waiting hatchery has been selected. The hatchery will require
for farm inputs with impatience to stock their fish ponds simple modifications to provide on-site training capacities.
with quality fingerlings. Additionally, the proposed project will supply fingerlings
and feed for rice-and-fish activities; fingerlings, feed and
During the implementation of the TCP project, the processing kilns for catfish culture in tanks; tools and
Gambian Government requested FAO to assist in preparing equipment, fingerlings and feed for fish ponds; and toolkits
a large fisheries and aquaculture project to be financed by and canoes for oyster and cockle collection by women’s
the Green Climate Fund (GCF) with emphasis on further associations.
support to the emerging aquaculture sector. In 2021, a
decision will be made by the GCF Secretariat (during its This intervention is expected to contribute greatly to the
October 2021 Board Meeting) whether the project will be development of aquaculture in the country, and more
funded or not. importantly, it will help improve the socio-economic
status of beneficiary communities, especially for youth and
The proposed project aims at producing sufficient quantities women, through employment creation, income generation
of fish to maintain the same level of consumption for a and increased food production.

©FAO/M. VanDerKnapp

Aquaculture pond in The Gambia.

32 FAO AQUACULTURE NEWS – Nº. 63 ■ MAY 2021