ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE: Katoa: GIZ procures conservation and processing equipment for fish farming groups
In a famous quote, Confucius said, “When a man is hungry, it is better to teach him to fish than to give him a fish.” GIZ (Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), in partnership with LCBC, as part of the “Applied Water Resources Management in the Lake Chad Basin” project, offered isothermal boxes (iceboxes), mobile barrel ovens (with insulation), drying racks, presses for making ecological charcoal, gloves for handling ice, hand extruders, carbonisation barrels, pickaxes, shovels, hoes and buckets. The project also supported about fifteen associations working in the fishing sector in Katoa, an area located seventy kilometres from Bongor, the chief town of the Mao Kebbi-East province. The fish processing and conservation equipment were given to these people who live by fishing and for fishing during a mission organised in the area from 13 to 16 April 2022. Better still, and still, in keeping with this maxim, an awareness-raising campaign on measures to adapt to the impacts of climate change was organised for these communities who are experiencing the effects of climate change daily. The handover ceremony was preceded by an awareness-raising campaign on the effects of overexploitation of fisheries resources, in particular prohibited fishing equipment, fishing channels and related conflicts.
“It is fundamental that these associations are provided with resources and tools for their fisheries generating activities to protect the fisheries resource and for the rational management of these resources, health, and resilience to climate change and associated impacts. According to Mr Chetima BOUKAR, climate change adaptation expert, this equipment is a qualitative leap, especially since it will enable them to improve the processing of fish and fish farming.”
Mrs Khadîdja Abdoulaye, talking on behalf of the Mariako group, said: “The support from the project is timely as it will significantly improve our income, living conditions and our respective families.” All these fish farming groups widely shared the feeling.
The project is implemented in Cameroon and Chad. The “GIZ/LCBC Adaptation to Climate Change” project has provided support to farmers in previous seasons in implementing pilot measures through production systems such as rainfed agriculture and flood-recession agriculture and the livestock system, practised by transhumant herders, agro-herders, and farmers. There has also been the introduction of off-season cultivation through early sowing due to the shortened rainy season to reduce the vulnerability of communities to drought, among other things.
It is important to appreciate what is being done by all the project actors to improve the living conditions of these populations and address the challenges of climate change and good management of fisheries resources.
