| Author | Heng Socheath |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no. AE-94-22 |
| Subject(s) | Fish-culture--Cambodia
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement
for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources & Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Fish is the traditional source of animal protein in the
Cambodian diet but per caput fish consumption has declined
drastically in recent years due to population growth, overfishing
and environmental degradation. Attempts are being made to introduce
fish culture to rice farmers through the Family Food Production
Program (FFP), a joint activity between the Cambodian Government
a nd UNICEF. This study interviewed 134 households to identify the
constraints to, and opportunities for, fish culture by rice farmers
under the FFP project in Svay Ri e ng and Prey Veng provinces,
southeast Cambodia.
There were five groups of respondents. Group 1, respondents
who stocked fish before 1993 and continued to stock fish in 1993;
Group 2, respondents who stocked fish before 1993 but gave up the
fish culture ; Group 3, respondents who n ever stocked fish; Group 4 ,
respondents who never stocked fish be fore but stocked fish in 1993
for the first time a nd Group 5, respondents who owned a newly
co n structed pond in 1993. The respondents ' perception of wild fish
stock was of decreasing a mounts , providing a stimulus for
aquaculture development. Although there is increasing intention to
raising fish, lack of knowledge, shortage of fish seed at the
village level and the predation of small-sized seed emerged as key
factors restricting the development of fish culture under t he
project. Farmers sought information but there was a lack of
manpower at district and communal l eve l to transfer proper
information to the respondents. A belief of death of tilapia in
pond mud during thunder storms was prevalent in the thoughts of the
respondents. However l about was not a major constraint . A certain
number of respondents began Pangasius fish culture as they have
learnt of the success of fish farmers from neighboring Vietnam.
Respondents in Group 2 ceased to release fish due to failure of the
previous crop ; as a result of l ack of knowledge and motivation ,
they did not get an attractive return from fish culture and thus
were reluctant to continue. Respondents in Group 3 had n ever
stocked fish because of lack of cash to purchase seed and awaiting
free seed from FFP. Respondents in Group 4 began fish culture for
the first time in 1993 because they were given free seed by FFP a nd
were interested in Pangasius as they had seen the success of local
Vietnamese fish farmers . Respondents in Group 5 with a newly
constructed pond were mainly constrained by muddy water to start
fish culture . fish seed distribution at no cost was not a good
practice of aquaculture development . The feasibility of fish
culture to provide a subsidiary job to supplement household
consumption was suggested by respondents . Technical advice and fish
seed availability were the most common needs to be resolved for all
groups of respondents. Group 3 who never stocked fish needed more
consideration for financial support and motivation while Group 5
who owned a newly constructed pond required specific technical
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input to c l ear muddy pond water as a first step prior to commencing
other fish farming activities. The r e was a good opportunity for
further promotion of fish culture as respondents had a n alternative
water supply for domestic consumption from dug-well. Respondents
derived only s mall benefits from fish ponds suggesting t he weakness
of aquaculture development under FFP. However, FFP has offered a
useful resource to farmers in terms of assisting the poor to
possess an individua l house hold fish pond and t h is would be o f
great value for further promotion o f fish farming whenever the
farmers are in a position to proceed . |
| Year | 1994 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural and Food Engineering (AE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Edwards, Peter
|
| Examination Committee(s) | Demaine, Harvey ;Little, David C.
|
| Scholarship Donor(s) | The Government of Ne w Zealand |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1994 |