FOOD FORTHE POOR, INC.

www.foodforthepoor.org
Coconut Creek, Florida

A Proposal for the

TILAPIA FARMING PROJECT

Caribbean & Latin America

As often as you did it to one of the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it to me. Matthew 25:40

FOOD FOR THE POOR, INC.

6401 Lyons Road Coconut Creek, FL 33073

www.foodforthepoor.org

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to link the church of the First World with the church of the Third World in a manner that helps both the materially poor and the poor in spirit. The materially poor are served by local churches, clergy and lay leaders who have been empowered and supplied with goods by Food For The Poor. The poor in spirit are renewed by their relationship with and service to the poor through our direct ministry of teaching, encouragement and prayer. Ultimately, we seek to bring both benefactors and recipients to a closer union with our Lord.

TILAPIA FARMING PROJECT

Caribbean & Latin America

PROPOSAL SUMMARY
The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reported that agriculture and rural economic activities are essential for growth, poverty reduction and food security for under developed countries. However, land-based agriculture development is becoming increasingly limited. Consequently, the sea and fishery sector now play a critical roles in developing food resources for poor and undernourished countries. Over the last two decades aquaculture (fish farming) has become a viable farming alternative for food insecure countries. Tilapia farming, the nurturing and harvesting of tilapia fish, is a prime example of aquaculture. Tilapia farming is a self-sustaining fish harvest initiative specifically designed to enhance food production, produce a nutritional source of food to reduce malnutrition, and encourage economic sustainability with a viable and marketable product. The Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) have mastered the development of tilapia farms and have successfully implemented tilapia farms in Taiwan and other impoverished countries in the East. The TaiwanICDF has partnered with Food For The Poor to establish farms in poverty-stricken, food deficit countries we serve. As a result, Food For The Poor has developed the Tilapia Farming Project. The Tilapia Farming Project is a self-sustaining fish farming program that allows for the conservation of natural resources while providing a nutritional source of food to present and future generations. Food For The Poors goal is to provide the necessary training, supplies, and means to help impoverished families increase the potential of marine living resources to meet social, economic and nutritional needs. The Tilapia Farming Project has been successfully established in rural regions throughout Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, and Haiti. A gift of $8,450.00 will establish one, 5,000-sq. ft. tilapia pond that will benefit an entire community.

August 2008

Page 1

TILAPIA FARMING PROJECT

Caribbean & Latin America

PARTNER SUPPORT OVERVIEW

The Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) have mastered the development of tilapia farms and have successfully implemented tilapia farms in Taiwan and Costa Rica. The TaiwanICDF has partnered with Food For The Poor to establish farms in the poverty-stricken, food deficit countries we serve. Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) The TaiwanICDF's purpose is to strengthen international cooperation and enhance foreign relations by promoting economic development, social progress and the welfare of the people in partner nations around the world. Since its inception, the TaiwanICDF has assembled a team of well-trained professional staff, adopted sound management practices, and employed program methodologies successfully used by international economic development agencies. The TaiwanICDF's core competencies include technical assistance, investment and lending operations, education and training, Representatives from TaiwanICDF not only train farmers farming, they and humanitarian assistance. It uses these on fish commodities. also provide business training for selling skills to help partnering nations develop their economies, alleviate poverty, strengthen international human resources, expand agricultural output and rebuild after natural disasters. Technical cooperation programs managed by the TaiwanICDF are structured to ensure that their work can be extended during implementation and replicated elsewhere upon completion. TaiwanICDF education and training programs, often developed in conjunction with government agencies, nongovernmental organizations and educational institutions, have developed human resources in nations around the world.

August 2008

Page 3

TILAPIA FARMING PROJECT

Caribbean & Latin America

STATEMENT OF NEED
Food availability in countries throughout the Caribbean and Latin America is poor. Food deficiency in these impoverished countries are due to vulnerability to environmental factors such as droughts, floods, deforestation, soil erosion, as well as inadequate government agricultural and economic policies. Fats, animal proteins, and micronutrients are particularly absent among the low-income population groups. A recent survey by the Mother/Child Health organization reported that growth retardation is a major problem, which is associated with malnutrition/lack of essential nutrients. And, the situation of growth retardation becomes worse with increasing age, and affects males and females in the same way. It is most serious among the indigenous, rural populations, those with a low level of education and economic opportunities. Low-income, food-deficient countries must find immediate and alternative ways to enhance their diminishing food supply and increase nutritional intake among the rural poor. Aquaculture has proven to be one of the worlds fastest growing food production systems. Aquaculture is an environmentally sound and cost-effective means for developing countries to improve food supply and enhance dietary intake. In addition, aquaculture has proven to be a viable means of fostering economic development within rural communities. With the assistance of the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund, Food For The Poor has developed the Tilapia Farming Project, a self-sustaining fish farming initiative specifically designed to enhance food production in countries that are food insecure, produce a nutritional food resource for the alleviation of hunger and malnutrition, and encourage community economic sustainability with a marketable product.
Children who lack sufficient sources of nutrients are malnourished and suffer from growth retardation.

August 2008

Page 4

TILAPIA FARMING PROJECT

Caribbean & Latin America

PROJECT BACKGROUND
In 2003, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reported that agriculture and rural economic activities are essential for growth, poverty reduction and food security for developing countries. However, land-based agriculture development is becoming increasingly limited. The sea and fishery sector now play a critical role in developing food resources for poor and undernourished countries. Over the last two decades aquaculture (fish farming) has proven to be one of the worlds fastest growing food production systems. Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organism such as fish, shellfish and aquatic plants. It is an environmentally sound and cost-effective channel for developing countries to augment food supply and enhance nutritional intake. Over the years, Food For The Poor has developed a variety of programs to help impoverished communities remedy immediate dilemmas while working toward sustainable solutions that promote a promising future for generations to come. The Tilapia Farming Project is a self-sustaining fish farming initiative that utilizes existing natural resources, provides a significant nutritional value to food-deficit communities, and is a viable commodity for economic opportunity. Aquaculture has contributed in the past towards poverty reduction in poor societies in the few areas of the world in which it is traditional practice -- China, Indonesia and Vietnam. And, the practice continues to provide economic opportunities and an abundant source of nutritional food resource to developing countries today. Non-traditional areas for aquaculture (i.e. Asia and Africa) reveal that poor farmers can successfully adopt aquaculture where certain predisposing conditions are met:
Consumers must perceive the value of fish and this must be reflected in market demand. Farmers must have access to a water body in which to cultivate fish stock. Knowledge of appropriate technology and resources to ensure successfully harvest. A supply of seed or fingerlings. Institutional support for new entrant farmers that can provide training and feedback.

Food For The Poors goal is to introduce the practice of aquaculture to the food deficit countries we serve as a viable means to provide a low-cost, accessible nutrition source to the poor. The Tilapia Farming Project has proven to be a successful aquaculture project.

August 2008

Page 5

TILAPIA FARMING PROJECT

Caribbean & Latin America

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Tilapia Farming Project is a joint venture between Food For The Poor and the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), whereby communities produce tilapia (fish) farms for personal consumption and economic sustainability. The TaiwanICDF provide expertise in developing tilapia farmland, as well as training and counseling for the successful production of tilapia fish. A tilapia farm generally consists of three ponds. A pre-selected family will manage a 5,000 square feet pond (each pond can accommodate up to 7,000 fish) and receive training on how to cultivate and harvest tilapia, as well as receive best practices on how to distribute as a marketable product. The goal of this project is to raise total production of tilapias beyond a level, which is ultimately sustainable through natural processes. With continuous production, a tilapia pond can generate 1,800 pounds of tilapia every four months. Starting with an initial number of fingerlings, farmers will nurture and cultivate young tilapias (fingerlings) until they grow into fully mature tilapias. Once the fish have grown to size -- to 1lb -- they are ready for consumption/market. Successful tilapia farms can generate up to 1,800 pounds of harvest The entire process takes four to six every four months. months, depending on climate and temperature. Under the guidance of TaiwanICDF, the family will follow set price guide (retail price is set at a below-average price to ensure accessibility to low-income consumers) and marketing strategies for selling the product to the public. Portions of each harvest will be donated to local feeding centers, orphanages, and church outreach programs. Incomes from sales are reinvested into the production process. Your gift of $8,450.00 will cover the cost of land excavation and start-resources and supplies for the successful implementation of one, 5,000-sq. ft. tilapia pond in one of the many food deficit regions in the Caribbean and Latin America.

August 2008

Page 6

TILAPIA FARMING PROJECT

Caribbean & Latin America
This harvest has produced an abundant supply of tilapia.

Samplings are conducted to monitor fish growth and ripeness for proper harvest.

At the end of each cycle, water is drained and the pond is cleaned with lime then refilled with fresh water to ensure a healthy and mature harvest.

Not only are tilapias suited to the regions where food supply for the human population is scarce, they also fit into a nutrient-recycling scheme.

August 2008

Page 7

TILAPIA FARMING PROJECT

Caribbean & Latin America

BUDGET
DESCRIPTION Infrastructure Preliminary Costs and Site Preparation Infrastructure/Security Pond Construction Water Supply System (well pump, dredging, etc.) Drainage Electrical System Subtotal: Infrastructure Operating Costs Fish Pond Management: Product and Food Fish Pond Management: Accessories Administrative Costs Subtotal: Operating Costs TOTAL COST: (One 5,000 sq. ft. tilapia pond) $893.89 2,055.53 641.69 1,988.68 1,139.94 73.94 $6,793.67 TOTALS

$1,025.30 219.21 411.82 $1,656.33 $8,450.00

August 2008

Page 8