supporting the use of earthworms found in on-farm waste in the research area
(Mu ¨ller et al. 2012), and these could be used as a feed ingredient in order to reduce
the costs of providing supplementary feed (Pucher et al. 2012b), and; therefore,
increase the net benefit, reduce the constant financial input and reduce the risks
associated with the adoption of the modified pond management system. These
further innovations are discussed in more detail in Sect. 8.8.
In over-fertilized ponds there is an increased risk of algae blooms and die-offs
resulting in complete oxygen depletion, and as a consequence, the risk of losing any
financial investments in fish stocks is higher than under the traditional management
system. Furthermore, by using common carp as the main species in the modified
system, there is the risk of these fish being affected by diseases such as the Koi Carp
Virus CyHV-3, which was recently identified in the brood stock of the Son La
hatchery (Richard Mayrhofer, personal communication).
To minimize the risks involved in the adoption of a modified pond management
system, further research, either off-farm or through farmers using participatory
methods, should be conducted, especially with regard to fertilization schemes
adapted to local soil conditions and water sources. Further research is also required
on alternative feed ingredients of a high protein content, the details of which will be
discussed in Sect. 8.8.
8.6 Farmers’ Perceptions of the Proposed Innovations
in the Aquacultural System
The previous section presented a potential solution using a modification of the
existing pond and feed management practices, a modification which showed some
promising results – with a significant potential to improve the household incomes
derived from aquaculture. Building on these insights, this section follows upon how
farmers perceived the proposed set of innovations, in order to provide important
information in support of further expansion of such practices to the wider farming
community.
Traditionally, information about improvements in farming activities in the
research area has been exchanged horizontally between friends, neighbors and within
the family (Acharya et al. 2011; Schad et al. 2011). This was confirmed by farmers
who said that the various state extension services (see also Chap. 11) were rarely
reliable sources of information regarding new technologies, nor did they provide
much support how these technologies could be applied to the specific mountain
environment. Informal information channels- like the ones mentioned above – are
regarded as more valuable sources of information as they provide more applicable
knowledge. More recently, TV and private shops have become supplemental information sources, especially on the subject of new technologies. These sources;
however, were criticized by farmers for not often providing information applicable
to the uplands context, as they are rarely adapted to the local environmental
8 Improved Sustainable Aquaculture Systems for Small-Scale Farmers . . .
303
(Mu ¨ller et al. 2012), and these could be used as a feed ingredient in order to reduce
the costs of providing supplementary feed (Pucher et al. 2012b), and; therefore,
increase the net benefit, reduce the constant financial input and reduce the risks
associated with the adoption of the modified pond management system. These
further innovations are discussed in more detail in Sect. 8.8.
In over-fertilized ponds there is an increased risk of algae blooms and die-offs
resulting in complete oxygen depletion, and as a consequence, the risk of losing any
financial investments in fish stocks is higher than under the traditional management
system. Furthermore, by using common carp as the main species in the modified
system, there is the risk of these fish being affected by diseases such as the Koi Carp
Virus CyHV-3, which was recently identified in the brood stock of the Son La
hatchery (Richard Mayrhofer, personal communication).
To minimize the risks involved in the adoption of a modified pond management
system, further research, either off-farm or through farmers using participatory
methods, should be conducted, especially with regard to fertilization schemes
adapted to local soil conditions and water sources. Further research is also required
on alternative feed ingredients of a high protein content, the details of which will be
discussed in Sect. 8.8.
8.6 Farmers’ Perceptions of the Proposed Innovations
in the Aquacultural System
The previous section presented a potential solution using a modification of the
existing pond and feed management practices, a modification which showed some
promising results – with a significant potential to improve the household incomes
derived from aquaculture. Building on these insights, this section follows upon how
farmers perceived the proposed set of innovations, in order to provide important
information in support of further expansion of such practices to the wider farming
community.
Traditionally, information about improvements in farming activities in the
research area has been exchanged horizontally between friends, neighbors and within
the family (Acharya et al. 2011; Schad et al. 2011). This was confirmed by farmers
who said that the various state extension services (see also Chap. 11) were rarely
reliable sources of information regarding new technologies, nor did they provide
much support how these technologies could be applied to the specific mountain
environment. Informal information channels- like the ones mentioned above – are
regarded as more valuable sources of information as they provide more applicable
knowledge. More recently, TV and private shops have become supplemental information sources, especially on the subject of new technologies. These sources;
however, were criticized by farmers for not often providing information applicable
to the uplands context, as they are rarely adapted to the local environmental
8 Improved Sustainable Aquaculture Systems for Small-Scale Farmers . . .
303