Technical training and capacity building program for the restoration of tsunami-impacted brackishwater aquaculture ponds

The December 2005 tsunami caused extensive damage to approximately 20,000 ha of brackishwater aquaculture ponds in Aceh. Another 5,000 ha of ponds were also put out of production because of damage to canals and infrastructure. The tsunami has created many challenges to the reconstruction effort. Acid sulfate soils are common in the coastal lowlands of Aceh and damage to primary dykes has exposed thousands of tonnes of these soils to oxygen. Consequently, many ponds are now more acidic than before the tsunami and will cause recurrent production losses if not remediated. Low-cost methods to assessing and remediate pond soils, developed during a former ACIAR project (FIS/1997/022), are directly applicable to Aceh. Similarly, methods to reconstruct dykes and canals are also relevant to Aceh. The present project transferred this technology through the delivery of training programs and the dissemination of published extension materials.

A 10-day intensive technical training program was delivered in April/May 2005 to staff of Dinas Perikanan (Bureau of Fisheries) and the Centre for Brackishwater Aquaculture Development (CBAD). The program used a 'train the trainer' model so that Government of Indonesia (GoI) staff could then train NGOs and farmers. The program included class-based training followed by field activities at tsunami-affected locations. GoI staff developed sufficient skills in soil science, pond engineering, disease management and reconstruction methods to provide technical support to the industry.

The project equipped four technical extension teams with soil sampling equipment, field pH meters and other field equipment to assess physical and chemical properties of soils. Each team also learnt data interpretation to calculate lime and fertiliser dosages, optimal dyke and canal dimensions and to determine the most appropriate methods of pond soil remediation and management. Additionally, teams were provided with training in disease management, dyke and canal reconstruction methods and water management.

NGOs and other programs involved in reconstruction methods also received technical training through three one-day workshops. The project team contributed to the development of reconstruction activities funded by other agencies in Pidie, primarily through the design of dykes and canals and assessment of soil and hydrological constraints.

Technical materials produced under ACIAR Project FIS/1997/022 - on soil assessment, remediation and management as well as polyculture alternatives - were also provided. Technical notes on pond and channel design, pond layout and dyke reconstruction were produced, based on data collected from Aceh by the project team. A beta version of a software program called PondTool was created to help NGOs, consultants and GoI staff. PondTool enables them to calculate lime and fertiliser requirements, determine soil texture classes, calculate tidal conditions, estimate food conversion ratios and growth rates of shrimp, and to determine the most appropriate dyke and canal dimensions for each site.

Project Developments
A follow-on project was developed to provide longer-term technical and research support as well as to build technical capacity at Centre for Brackishwater Aquaculture Development (CBAD). The new project (FIS/2002/009) entitled 'Technical capacity building and research support for the reconstruction of tsunami-affected brackishwater aquaculture ponds in Aceh' was launched in July 2006 and will continue to deliver training programs and produce extension materials. The new project also has a research support component to map and characterise soils and model hydrological conditions at the reconstruction sites.