Dr. Ayalew Wondie wins technology development grant

A tripartite Grant Contractual agreement was signed among The Ethiopian Ministry of Science and Technology, Bahir Dar University and the principal Investigator/Dr. Ayalew Wondie/ at colorful ceremony organized by the Ministry on June 07, 2013 at Addis Ababa.

 

 The purpose of the project is to introduce Rice-based fish farming as a means of double crop production from the unit land, is cost-effective practice for poor farmers. The lack of adequate knowledge and support to farmers keep them away from the benefits of rice-based fish farming in Lake Tana floodplains. Thus, rice farming becomes the single most important livelihood for a vast majority of the rural poor in the study area. None of the farmers use fish in integration of rice so far. However, rice and fish cultivation have been an essential part of the life of Bangladeshi, Singapore, Thialand and China people from time immemorial.

 

 According to the finding of several studies carried out across the world, Fish farming in rice fields offers a solution to places that have huge population and limited farmland, contributing to food production and income generation.

 

 During the agreement it was learnt that the project will be conducted in selected individual farm landowners to improve food security and income which eventually would inspire farmers to take up rice-fish farming in the selected areas. Nevertheless, a number of community based Fish Culture pilot site studies are important for a system to upscale. This study will investigate the potential rice-fish farming so as to maximize the productivity of the areas