SHARED VISION PROGRAM

SOCIO-ECOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND BENEFIT SHARING PROJECT

(SDBS)

FEASABILITY STUDY OF INTEGRATED AQUACULTURE WITH AGRICULTURE IN NEW RECLAIMED AND CULTIVATED LAND OF

AL-WAHA/SUDAN

BY

Dr.Ahmed Barrania

Fisheries Economist

Key Words:

Aquaculture: Raising aquatic organisms in water bodies.

 Al-Waha     : Land reclamation and cultivation Project of about 38000 acres south Khartoum, capital of Sudan.

Pilot Project: 1000 Acres of the total area of the Project to be used as a Pilot Project for applying  Integrated aquaculture system.

3- LEADING ORGANIZATION

Name of Institution: FAYOUM  FISH  FARMING  ASSOCIATION (F.F.F.A),

AL-FAOUM –EGYPT.

Address: AL- AMEEN STREET, AL-FAYOUM GOVERNORATE, EGYPT.

                                                P.O.BOX 163

                                    Tel. & Fax:  002 – 084 – 6354608

Contact Person: Mr. MOHAMED GOUDA ELSAYED, Chairman  of the association

                                    Mobile Tel. 002- 010 6089 107

                                    Email: [email protected]

Team Leader   :  Dr. AHMED BARRANIA, Fisheries Development & Economic Consultant.

                                    Mobile Tel. 002 010 5675 474

                                    Email: [email protected]

4- Start & End Date             

    Start: 2 weeks after seining NTDF Agreement.       End: 8 months from starting.

5- Abstract

 Fish as food, meets the demand of one of the most important human instincts and could be an important contributor to the country food security. Very often, the poorest and most seriously malnutrition and undernourished groups are found in rural communities. Fish resources can contribute greatly to the quality of life for the poor and hungry, and reduce malnutrition and under nutrition. Fish provides direct benefits as source of food and indirect benefits as source of income.

According to FAO estimates for the year 2003, the per caput supply of fish in Sudan is 1.74 kg/year, which is mostly obtained by capture fish landing. This figure is not likely to substantially increase, in view of the population growth rate which is currently estimate at 2.8% and the static growth rates of capture fisheries brought about by decline stocks through conventional methods.

In Sudan, freshwater fish culture has not yet developed into vertically –integrated economic activity, despite the fact that the prerequisites for it are available (rivers, reservoirs, rainwater bodies-Hafirs-, fish ponds, irrigation canals and lakes). The current recorded fish production has not exceeded 1600 tons in 2003.

Realizing that demand for fish will increase, there are many questions on how fish supplies will be able to satisfy the demand.

Based on the Egyptian experience in this field, it is recognized that aquaculture is the possible avenue for increasing fish production. Egypt is becoming the main producer of fish from aquaculture in the Near East Region as a whole. During the nineties farmed fish has shown an increase of over 200 percent. The practice of aquaculture in Egypt has gone on for many years due to applying different production systems, as well as incorporates fish farming with local agriculture systems to diversity of the production base.

In case of Sudan, it is proposed that the promotion of aquaculture development should follow a "piloting" approach. These should focus on areas of strategic importance and current growth and will provide a learning process for subsequent expansion of activities, it is essential that pertinent lessons and experiences from other countries are effectively applied to accelerate the development of Sudanese aquaculture.

The collaborating Institute (Fayoum Fish Farming Association, through its Chairman) in cooperation with Sudanese private sector investors had take steps to rent 1000 Acres in the frame of the large scale Al waha Project which aims at reclamation and cultivation an area of about 38000 Acres on the east of Blue Nile River, south of Khartoum city of about 70 km in Osailat region. The Egyptian and Sudanese partners are working on establishing a company with the name "Egypt-Sudan Company for Development" to use the land allocated to them in developing An Integrated Aquacultures Project. The Project is based on transferring the proven fish farming technology in Egypt (that reuses the drainage water from land based fish ponds to irrigate cultivated areas) to Sudan. Furthermore, other aquaculture systems to be introduced in other available water bodies. The different component of the integrated fish farming system to be interacting in symbiotic and synergetic manner enhancing overall production and optimizing natural resources namely land and water considering environmental aspects. It is planned that the Integrated Fish Farming Project to market its fish production in the local market as well as in the neighbor countries mainly Egypt.

Based on what had been mentioned above, The Fayoum Fish Farming Association in Fayoum, Egypt is applying this NTDF Concept Note to finance conducting Feasibility Study of the integrated aquaculture system in an area of 1000 acres as a pilot project to be expanded in the rest areas of AL-Waha Project and other regions of Sudan. Workshops and other capacity building activities to be conducted for different Stakeholder ( investors, policy makers, local community members and others ) to become aware with the introduced aquaculture systems as well as its economic, social and environmental impacts.

6- Overall Objectives

A) Supporting the adoption of integrated aquaculture with agriculture systems as a mean of increasing income and food security in rural areas.

B) Encouraging private sector investment across the sector.

C) Supporting priority aquaculture zone.

D) Supporting the emerging transboundry trade in aquaculture products.

E) Applying proven  aquaculture technology in Egypt to increase fish production in Sudan.

7- Collaborating Institutions & Beneficiaries of Output

A)                Collaborating Institutions ( NGOs, Private Sector )

B)                 Beneficiaries ( Rural Communities )

8- Budget Requested from NTDF & Co-funding Provided

_____________________________________________________________________

   Budget Requested                                                              Co-funding Offered  

_____________________________________________________________________

    US$ 50,000

_____________________________________________________________________

Cost Item

A. Salaries                                                                                      34,000                                                                                        

B. Field Office materials and supplies                                             1,000                                                            

C. Travel                                                                                         10,000                                                                                 

D. Meeting and workshop                                                                2,000

E. General Administration Costs                                                     1,500

F. Overheads and contingency                                                         1,500

_____________________________________________________________________

                        Total Amount                                                          50,000   

                         _____________________________________________________________________

9- Relevance to SDBS/SVP & ENSAP/NELSAP  

A) SDBS

-The proposed activity will contribute to enhance food security and alleviate poverty in rural areas in Sudan.

- Increased cooperation and integration among two Nile states (Egypt & Sudan).

- Enhance trans-boundary investment and benefits sharing between Egypt and Sudan.

- Establish and promote a knowledge base and information on the principle and ideas of integrated aquaculture system for creating and sharing potential social, economic and environmental benefits that enhances poverty reduction.

- Develop analytical tools and frameworks needed to design, appraisal and negotiate cooperative aquaculture projects.

- To enhance the diffusions of the private sector in Egypt and Sudan.

B) ENSAP/NELSAP

- The proposed Integrated Aquaculture System could be introduced to other ENSAP/ NELSAP member countries when available to increase fish production, rationalize the use of natural resources and strength regional cooperation in the benefits of all.