Report April 2002: Semi-annual progress report
(3rd Updates)

 View the detailed report

Executive Summary

This Project Report highlights the progress of activities and accomplishment of the project on ''Strategies and Options for Increasing and Sustaining Fisheries and Aquaculture Production to Benefit Poor Households in Asia'' (ADB-RETA 5945) for the period of 1 September 2001 to 28 February 2002.

After the conduct of the Inception Workshop in August 2001, signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with concerned agencies in the participating developing member countries (DMCs) of ADB were completed. Field visits and follow-up discussions were done by ICLARM team during the last quarter of 2001 to provide technical guidance to the DMCs.

The Project works on five interrelated research components to attain the project objectives and these were given below.

Component 1 - Profile of Key Aquaculture Technologies and Fishing Practices
Component 2 - Analysis of Policies, Institutions, Infrastructure and Support
                      Services to Fisheries and Aquaculture
Component 3 - Socioeconomic Profile of Major Stakeholders (Producers,
                      Consumers, Traders) in Fisheries and Aquaculture
Component 4 - Analysis of Fish Supply and Demand and Projections
Component 5 - National Action Plan

The DMCs with technical guidance from WorldFish Center experts reviewed all existing information and available data in their respective countries required for Components 1 and 2. Results of the preliminary analysis were presented during the Inception Workshop on 21-24 August 2001 in WorldFish Center Headquarters, Penang, Malaysia. WorldFish Center experts reviewed these documents and provided suggestions for improving the documents. The national teams of participating DMCs have revised technical reports for Components 1 and 2 taking into account the comments provided by WorldFish Center experts. On-going research activities deal with completion of other relevant information and data for Components 1 and 2 while data collection using surveys or rapid appraisal or both depending on data availability has started for Component 3. Results from Component 3 will be utilized for analysis and projections of fish supply and demand (Component 4).

There were slight delays in implementing the scheduled project activities in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka due to delay in signing of Memorandum of Agreement in Bangladesh and India, and transfer of the national team leader in Sri Lanka to a new post. WorldFish Center team has been working closely with the concerned officials of these countries to expedite the implementation of project activities. The government and national scientists of the participating DMCs are proving necessary supports. The WorldFish Center project team does not foresee any issues that will hamper the smooth implementation of the Project activities. The planned project activities are expected to be completed as scheduled.

 View the previous inception report

Contact Person
Dr. Mahfuzuddin Ahmed
Project Coordinator, ADB-RETA 5945
Program Leader
Policy Research And Impact Assessment
The WorldFish Center
Jalan Batu Maung, Batu Maung
11960 Bayan Lepas, Penang
Malaysia
Telephone: +60 4 - 626 1606 ext 420
Fax: +60 4 - 626 5530
E-mail: m.ahmed@cgiar.org