Training of Trainers on Good Aquaculture Practices for Aquaculture Field Facilitators (AFFs)

A three-day Training of Trainers (ToT) on Good Aquaculture Practices was successfully conducted for Aquaculture Field Facilitators (AFFs) at the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Pakhribas, Dhankuta. The training was organized by the FORWARD project in partnership with Lutheran World Relief (LWR) under the USDA Food for Progress – Modernizing Aquaculture in Nepal initiative. The program aimed to enhance the technical knowledge, practical skills, and facilitation capacity of AFFs to effectively deliver farmer-level trainings and extension services. Participants received comprehensive instruction on key aquaculture topics including post-stocking management, feed management, water quality management, harvest and post-harvest handling, biosecurity, fish health management, common pond management challenges, and access to financial services. The training combined classroom sessions, practical demonstrations, group discussions, presentations, and experience-sharing activities to encourage active learning and knowledge exchange. Through these activities, participants strengthened both their technical competencies and confidence to conduct future trainings independently and effectively. The trained AFFs are expected to transfer the acquired knowledge and skills to fish farmers through practical village-level training sessions, thereby contributing to improved productivity, better farm management practices, and sustainable aquaculture development in Nepal.