Capacity Building and Training in Commercial Aquaculture for Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, and American Samoa

Capacity Building and Training in Commercial Aquaculture for Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, and American Samoa

Summary

The islands of the Marianas and American Samoa have difficulty progressing in agriculture due to many factors. One of the major factors is the capacity of personnel. This project seeks to provide training to professionals and farmers in the Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas and American Samoa. The training was conducted in Bangkok, Thailand by the Asian Institute of Technology. Twelve participants completed the 2 week study tour. Video footage was taken to produce training videos. A training manual will be produced and participants will use these to conduct a series of workshops in their islands.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Ojective 1: Conduct Study Tour of Aquaculture Activities in Thailand.
The study was completed in July 2005. Twelve participants received classroom training, visited research facilities and commercial farms and hatcheries, processing facilities, fish markets and cooperatives.

Objective 2: Produce training manual
The training manual is under production and will be completed in year 2 of the project.

Objective 3: Prodcue video of commercial aquaculture technology used in Thailand.
Extensive video footage and still photos were taken durign the study tour. The video footage is currently being compiled and edited for the video production.

Objective 4: Conduct workshops in each participating island.
This objective wil be completed in year 2.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Major Accomplishments/Milestones include:
1) identification of working teams of professional and farmers in each participating island.
2) Coordination of Study Tour to Thailand and completion of all activities in Thailand.
3) Capture of extensive video footage and still photographs of major activities on the study tour.

Work left to do:
1) Completion of training manual
2) Completion of final video
3) Workshops in each island.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Some impacts are being realized already. Farmer participants have been actively talking to family anf farmer friends about their experiences in Thailand. An article was submitted and published to a regional aquaculture newsletter (Regional Notes..a newsletter of the Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture).

Two farmers purchased enhanced tilapia fry from commercial tilapia hatcheries in Thailand to improve their production.

The public hatchery in Guam purchased 6000 enhanced tilapia broodstock from the Asian Institute of Technology, for their tilapia hatchery

Eight farmers and professionals purchased equipment for their farms or work activities, while in Thailand. This was based on what they were able to see and experience.

Collaborators: