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Aquaculture Development Project for sustainable Livelihood in Ampara District – FRESH WATER FISHING

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Aquaculture Development Project for sustainable Livelihood in Ampara District – FRESH WATER FISHING

PROJECT DESCRIPTION 
- Waiting upon Ampara District Approval for Project Implementation.

Through the Aquaculture Development Project, Pledge to Restore is dedicated to creating employment opportunities for local communities and fostering sustainable Livelihood in Ampara District in Sri Lanka.

The rationale for the implementation of the project is to utilize the vast potential for the development of inland aquatic resources to ensure food security and uplift the socio-economic status of the rural populations in the area as means to reduce poverty.

Valathapitiya – Ampara District in Sri Lanka is the most backward area. It is a war-torn area with people living below the poverty line.

The above project is being implemented in a natural tank which holds 20 – 25 acres of capacity for fish farming. This project will boost domestic freshwater fish production.

The tank contains fish, which is surrounded by natural forests and hills. Therefore, the food for the fish is found naturally in the Lake. The water in the tank holds a temperature of about 32°C annually and rainfall is across three months at the tail end of the year.

The water discharge system in the tank is available during monsoons and summers. The tank water is maintained not less than 8ft during summer.

PROJECT SCOPE

  1. Increase fish production in Lake through juvanile fish.
  2. Increase income by selling fish produced.
  3. Improving the standards of living.
  4. Promoting dry fish, smoked fish and smoked egg production.
  5. Profits through collaboration.
  6. Making use of the natural water and tanks.

A community-based program to revive fresh-water fishing in the selected rural area will help the poor achieve self-sufficiency, while providing them with useful skills and knowledge-based training to sustain employment.

The project is expected to help some of the poor people to establish fishing societies, enabling them to work together to develop and manage aquatic resources, enhance food security, support small-scale entrepreneurs, and foster public-private partnership programs.

Partner with the Ministry of Fisheries & Livestock Development and under the rehabilitation & reconstruction program of the Sri Lankan government, implement support for the people to initiate freshwater fishing farms.  The Valathapitiya area in Sammanthurai Divisional Secretariat in Ampara District was reinstated. During the armed conflict, people in the area left their homeland and when they returned, they found their lands were occupied by displaced people.

However, in the absence of any sustainable employment opportunities in their own area, 78 families are likely to find livelihood opportunities in Valathapitiya Kulam (Lake) within the village limits to start natural water fishing farm.

  1. Have identified that the people in the area are well experienced in dry land production.
  2. Harvesting of each time seedlings in 3 months.
  3. The amount of Rs.2.50 per fish seed is charged on the commencement of harvesting and the fishermen earn a certain profit. This will enable the fishermen to pay the amount for the seeds without burden.
  4. The price of fish in this region is LKR 240.00 and in the dry land it is LKR 800.00 to LKR 1200.00
  5. Apart from the fresh fish trade, there is an opportunity to produce fresh water Dry Fish. This will create new employment opportunities, which will include women.
  6. There is an unlocked potential for smoked fish and fish eggs.

PROJECT GOALS

With the more recent development has been the growth in the natural water fish trade, including

the establishing of small micro project activities pertaining to fish farms and hatcheries, the goal

of this program is to create employment opportunities and uplift living standards of the poor

families in Ampara district.

MAIN AIM OF THE PROJECT

Include 50,000 Fish seeds in tank covering 20-25 acres in Valathapitiya Kulam (Lake).

  • Harvesting timeline will be in 3- 6 months, and the fishermen will earn a certain profit during this time.
  • This will enable the fishermen to pay for re-harvesting without any financial constraints.
  • Estimating that the 780 beneficiaries are likely to earn a profit between LKR 1,000.00 to 1,500.00 per day.