As a Fish Culture Extension Agent I will be working with Zambian fish farmers. Generally speaking,the primary duties will be to help the communities build and manage their own integrated aquaculture systems, operate them as small business Enterprise and build organizational capacity of fish farmer associations. My primary duties will include the following:
1. Assess the community for fish farming potential
Teach and guide farmers in assessing their situations and identifying potential for fish farming, using participatory tools, including:
- Community mapping
- Seasonal Calendar
- Daily Activity Schedules
- Needs Assessment
2. Teach Small Farm Business Planning and Management
Offer guidance to farmers concerning fish farm business planning, management and analysis:
- Goal Setting
- Production planning
- Marketing planning
- integration planning
- Financial Planning
- Record Keeping
- Farm Business Analysis
3. Select Sites, Construct Dams, Furrows and Ponds
Offer technical standards, training and guidance to farmers regarding:
- Site selection
- Land Use Planning
- Dam and furrow construction
- Pond design, staking and construction
- Fish see procurement and stocking
- Pond input organization/preparation
- Pond Management
- Harvesting
- Fish Marketing
4. Encourage Integrated Sustainable Agricultural Activities
Training, guiding and assisting farmers to establish and enhance integration or sustainable agricultural activities with fish farming through the following:
- Describing the different types of integration models that have relevance to fish farming
- Developing individual farmer integration plans
- Identifying agricultural crops, vegetables and fruit trees that can be irrigation from furrows and underground water sources
- Teaching principles of permaculture int he process of land use planning
- Introducing sustainable field farming techniques of conservation farming, crop rotation , intercropping, ect.
- Promoting irrigated organic gardening
- Teaching methods for enhancing to introducing traditional animal husbandry practices.
- Using agro-foresty techniques to establish seed multiplication among farmers.
5. Strengthen Fish Farmer organizations
6. Incorporate HIV/Aids Awareness and Prevention Training
A great deal of cultural sensitivity and a knowledge of extension techniques will be necessary to encourage farmers to engage in fish farming and advise them on all aspects of fish culture. I will be required to learn and communicate in a local Zambian Language. I will receive 9 weeks of intense language, technical and cross cultural training in Zambia.
