At the end of the four-year Swiss-funded Improving Employment and Income through Development of Egypt’s Aquaculture Sector (IEIDEAS) project, there are some excellent results to report.
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Participating farmers reported $16,000 in extra annual profit, with a total of $D27 million added to the sector over the duration of the project.
Increased profitability was achieved primarily through more efficient feed management rather than increased production and this, in turn, resulted in reduced environmental impacts, namely greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient discharges.
The project, funded by the Embassy of Switzerland’s Office for International Cooperation, was implemented by WorldFish in partnership with CARE Egypt and the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation.
The IEDEAS Impact Assessment Report notes that around 2400 fish farmers benefitted from best management practice training, and that 109 million fry of the faster growing Abbassa strain of Nile tilapia were distributed to 459 fish farmers.
A total of 1125 women formed six fish retailer organisations under existing community development associations. Due to IEIDEAS sponsored training and provision of small grants for equipment and self-help loan schemes, these women are now able to work together in a group and advocate for their rights with local authorities and other value chain actors, such as wholesalers.
The impact survey showed that on average, project beneficiary retailers made significantly higher profits than non-beneficiaries. Twenty one village savings and loan association groups were also established helping women in particular escape exploitative credit arrangements and price-fixing. ■
Under an intense surge of arctic air, Friday morning will begin with the coldest temperatures so far this season across much of the central and eastern U.S. with blustery conditions and a piercing wind chill.