concentrations in the water. The use of washing powder in streams that enter the
ponds should also be avoided and, while pesticides are being applied, the channels
that connect paddy fields and ponds should be closed. To avoid the oral intake
of pesticides, weeds from treated paddy fields should not be used as fish feed
(Pucher et al. 2012a). In a comparative trial by Pucher et al. (2010a), improved
management practices had a positive effect on the recapture rate of grass carp, even
though no disease occurrence was observed over the 7 months of the trial. Under the
traditional pond management regime, 42 Æ 24 % of the stocked grass carp could
not be recaptured, while under the modified management regime this figure was
26 Æ 21 %. However, it is not known whether the better survival rate under the
modified pond management system in this study could be attributed to better water
quality, a better feed base or a lower stocking density for the grass carp.
8.8 Outlook for Further Innovations in Upland Aquaculture
and Conclusion
This chapter described the local traditional pond management system used by the
Black Thai households in Yen Chau district, and the importance of pond aquaculture for the group’s food security and income generation. Given the limitations of
this traditional aquaculture practice, a modified pond management system was
designed, introduced into the research area and tested under local field conditions
during action-research pond trials. During the trial, local fish production levels
increased due to a change in the water regime and the use of higher quality inputs.
Higher financial inputs into feed resources, as funded by proceeds from the harvest,
led to greater net benefits being gained from aquaculture. However, the level of
acceptability of this set of innovations to the local farmers was limited due to the
need for constant financial inputs to be made (such as feed ingredients and
fertilizers), as well as the additional knowledge required on feed preparations,
feed ingredients storage, and feed and fertilizer handing. Better market access,
both for trading pond products and for buying pond inputs, was also highlighted as a
requirement. Aquaculture was named by only a few farmers as their main farming
activity and most practiced aquaculture as a financial low-input farming activity
and preferred to financially invest in other land uses, such as maize, paddy rice
and cassava. To overcome the financial constraints in adopting aquaculture
innovations, farmers may need financial assistance from microcredit facilities or
farmer co-operatives, plus they may need additional information via extension
systems or fish farmer schools regarding good aquaculture practices in relation to
marginal upland areas.
Further adjustments to the modified pond management system, those introduced
to suit farmers’ requirements, may also be needed. Firstly, the level of financial
inputs required to introduce the new system must be reduced. During animal
production activities, feed is generally known as the main expense, especially in
8 Improved Sustainable Aquaculture Systems for Small-Scale Farmers . . .
309
ponds should also be avoided and, while pesticides are being applied, the channels
that connect paddy fields and ponds should be closed. To avoid the oral intake
of pesticides, weeds from treated paddy fields should not be used as fish feed
(Pucher et al. 2012a). In a comparative trial by Pucher et al. (2010a), improved
management practices had a positive effect on the recapture rate of grass carp, even
though no disease occurrence was observed over the 7 months of the trial. Under the
traditional pond management regime, 42 Æ 24 % of the stocked grass carp could
not be recaptured, while under the modified management regime this figure was
26 Æ 21 %. However, it is not known whether the better survival rate under the
modified pond management system in this study could be attributed to better water
quality, a better feed base or a lower stocking density for the grass carp.
8.8 Outlook for Further Innovations in Upland Aquaculture
and Conclusion
This chapter described the local traditional pond management system used by the
Black Thai households in Yen Chau district, and the importance of pond aquaculture for the group’s food security and income generation. Given the limitations of
this traditional aquaculture practice, a modified pond management system was
designed, introduced into the research area and tested under local field conditions
during action-research pond trials. During the trial, local fish production levels
increased due to a change in the water regime and the use of higher quality inputs.
Higher financial inputs into feed resources, as funded by proceeds from the harvest,
led to greater net benefits being gained from aquaculture. However, the level of
acceptability of this set of innovations to the local farmers was limited due to the
need for constant financial inputs to be made (such as feed ingredients and
fertilizers), as well as the additional knowledge required on feed preparations,
feed ingredients storage, and feed and fertilizer handing. Better market access,
both for trading pond products and for buying pond inputs, was also highlighted as a
requirement. Aquaculture was named by only a few farmers as their main farming
activity and most practiced aquaculture as a financial low-input farming activity
and preferred to financially invest in other land uses, such as maize, paddy rice
and cassava. To overcome the financial constraints in adopting aquaculture
innovations, farmers may need financial assistance from microcredit facilities or
farmer co-operatives, plus they may need additional information via extension
systems or fish farmer schools regarding good aquaculture practices in relation to
marginal upland areas.
Further adjustments to the modified pond management system, those introduced
to suit farmers’ requirements, may also be needed. Firstly, the level of financial
inputs required to introduce the new system must be reduced. During animal
production activities, feed is generally known as the main expense, especially in
8 Improved Sustainable Aquaculture Systems for Small-Scale Farmers . . .
309