Aquaculture in developing countries can improve the sustainability of small-scale farms provided that it is fully integrated with other enterprises and household activities so as to allow farm families and communities to manage their natural resources effectively. This requires the consideration of pond management and fish husbandry as means to a variety of ends (water storage, soil conservation and fertility, integrated pest management, etc.), not just production of fish. This paper discusses the evolution of this broad Integrated Resources Management (IRM) approach, principally with reference to the Inland Aquatic Resources Systems Program of ICLARM, and gives some examples of relevant activities in tropical developing countries, research methods and future challenges.
This paper deals with an applied research activity, conducted by the International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management, which explored opportunities for the improvement of existing pond management practices, mainly through integration with other farm enterprises and through the introduction of polyculture. The activity was conducted in 1996-98 in 2 communities within a forest buffer zone in the upland areas of Quirino province, Philippines. Results with respect to aquaculture integration and production are discussed in relation to farmer perceptions, other enterprises on the farm, opportunities for nutrient recycling, and in the broader context of sustainable natural resource management.
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