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CONGO FIELD WORK STUDY

QN. 4. For any field work study, you have carried out either individual or as a group on fishing.
(a) State the:
(i) Topic of the study (2marks)
(ii) Objectives of the study (3marks)
Topic:
THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF CONGO FISH LANDING SITE ON ALBERT
NILE IN LAROPI TOWN COUNCIL MOYO DISTRICT
Objectives:
1. To find out the physical location of Congo fish landing site.
2. To investigate the Historical background of Congo fish landing site.
3. To identify the types of fish landed at Congo fish landing site.
4. To find out the factors that favoured the growth and development of Congo fish landing site.
5. To find out the methods of fishing used at Congo fish landing site.
6. To find out the methods of fish preservation at Congo fish landing site.
7. To find out the problems faced at Congo fish landing site.
8. To find out other economic activities carried out at Congo fish landing site.
(b) Draw a sketch map of the area studied and it mark and name the physical and human features.
(6marks)
A SKECT MAP OF CONGO FISH LANDING SITE SHOWING PHYSICAL FEATURES
AND MAN-MADE FEATURES / LAND USE

WEST EAST
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(c)Draw an annotated cross-section of the area studied showing physical and human features.
(6marks)
AN ANNOTATED CROSS-SECTION OF THE AREA STUDIED SHOWING PHYSICAL
AND HUMAN FEATURES / LAND USE

(d)Draw a panoramic view of the area studied and on it mark and name physical features and land
use activities. (6marks)

(c) Describe the steps you carried out in preparation for the field work study. (5marks)
PRE- FIELD WORK/ PREPARATION
 THEME: selection of the theme of the field work eg Geography is out the class room
 AERA OF STUDY: Identification of the area of study eg. Congo fish landing site
 PILOT STUDY: that is a tour of the area identified especially by geography teachers
(visibility study, our teachers carried out a pilot study in order to see whether the area was
suitable for field work study.
 FORMULATION OF TOPIC: based on the pilot study we formulated the topic as the growth
and development of Congo fish landing site on Albert Nile in laropi Town council Moyo District
 FORMULATION OF OBJECTIVES: based on the topic we formulated the objectives as to
find out the physical location of Congo fish landing site, to investigate the Historical background
of Congo landing fish landing site
 METHOD: Identification of the methods based on objectives during the field work study eg.
Observation, recording, interview, and measurement.
 TOOLS: we selected the tools to be used in the field eg. Tape measure, camera, surveying map.
Questionnaire
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 ADMINISTRATIVE: that is getting permission, organizing transport dividing the students in

groups and briefing the students.
 QUESTIONNAIRES: we developed questionnaires based on topic and objectives and interview
schedule guide and preparation of check list
(f) Explain the relationship between relief and human activities /land use in the area studied.
(8marks)
 The flat land of congo fish landing site encouraged planting of woodlot to be used as fire
wood for smoking the fish.
 Congo fish landing site head land encouraged/ promoted fishing in Albert Nile River basin
acted as gateway to the river.
 Albert Nile river valley encouraged fishing as fishing ground hence led to the development
of Congo fish landing site, laropi fish market, and obongi fish market.
 Gentle slope congo fish landing site encouraged the development laropi- obongi road in
order to transport fish to laropi fish market and obongi fish market.
 Steep slope of oyajo hill promoted the growth of forests which provide ready fire wood for
fish smoking at congo fish landing site
(g) Outline the activities you carried out as follow up of the study. (4marks)
 Re-organization of data collected for final recommendation
 Polishing of sketches, cross-sections to a finish up of details and to make it more accurate
 Interpretation and analyzing data to give more meaning
 Recommendations for future studies and discussions of the findings for improvement and
problem solving
 Dissemination of report to stake holders before storing in the library.
(h) Outline the problems faced by the people in the area of study.
 Water accidents caused by strong storm / wind local known as Leasi.
 Flooding of the side especially during rainy season causing fishermen near landing site to be
displaced.
 Theft on the river among fishermen themselves who steal fish and fish materials like nets,
hooks etc.
 Very expensive fishing materials for low-income fishermen to afford like paying taxes of
boats and license to fish.
 Stiff competition between Congo fish landing site and other illegal fish landing site.
 High disease spreading rate e.g., bilharzia resulting from consuming contaminated water and
prostitution hence moral degeneration.
Possible Solutions
 Regular operations conducted by UPDF marine units to fight against illegal fishing practices
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 Warring of life saving jackets to save their lives in case of drowning/water accidents.
 Engaging fishermen to engage in other business-like trade to unlessen their dependence on
the river.
 Ensuring proper management of cabbage in order to improve hygiene of congo fish landing
site
Markets of Congo fish
 Local market that is laropi market, obongi market, moyo market etc i by road.
 Regional market; Adjumani and Arua by road and water
 International market in south sudan and DR-Congo.
(i) What problems did you face during the field work study? (4marks)
 River flies which interfered with visibility during the study atcongo fish landing site.
 Un favourable weather like strong winds, hot sunshine made difficult to read and write.
 Tire some because of long distance travelled
 Limited instrument to measure the total area of congo fish landing site hence end up pacing
which was in accurate.
 Un honest respondents which led to wrong recording especially profits per the fish sold.
 Difficulty in communication due to language barrier especially with local people the
fishermen and the buyers.
(j) state your findings during the field work study (How did the field work study help you
to understand the geography of the area/ Explain the significant of the field study)
(5marks)
 It enables me to learn the physical location of congo fish landing site in pakoma cell, Idijo
ward, Laropi town council Moyo District along Albert nile.
 It enables me to learn the Historical back ground of congo fish landing site that started by the
three brothers; lateAljabu Tuki, late Justino Ngula and Sabastiano Nyamune in 1937.
 It enables me to learn the types of fish species caught at congo fish landing site which include
Nile perch, tilapia lung fish, labeo, Electric fish etc.
 It enables me to learn the factors that influenced the growth and development of congo fish
landing site like; the relative flat nature of the land scape, supportive government policy,
fairly well-developed transport network, and presence of fishing ground (Albert Nile River)
 It enables me to learn the importance of congo fish landing site to the surrounding area like;
provide fish as food diet, employment opportunities to the local people, and source of revenue
to the local government of Laropi town council.
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FACTORS FOR THE GROWTH OF CONGO FISH LANDING SITE

Physical factors
 Hard basement enabling may boats to operate at the same time, that is spaces.
 Various fish spices handled at congo fish landing site which are highly demanded in market
eg Nile perch, tilapia lung fish etc.
 Strategic located in relation with laropi and obongi market which are reliable source of fish
market and other activities.
 Presence of plankton to feed the fish at congo fish landing site.
Human factors
 Accessible road network which congo fish is transported to the market center e.g., laropi-
obongi road.
 The proximity of congo to laropi where fish is majorly sold for easy service like
transportation.
 Ready market for congo fish mainly from major fish market e.g. Nile perch.
OTHER LAND USE TYPES AROUND CONGO FISH LANDING SITE
 Trade and commerce selling local goods like tea, cassava etc.
 Boat building and boat repair
 Fish research and study purposes and education
 Subsistence agriculture at the landing site
FISH SPECIES AT CONGO FISH LANDING SITE.
 Nile perch -mud fish - labeo
 Tilapia -Electric fish -Lung fish - moon fish etc.
OFFICIAL METHODS OF FISHING AT CONGO FISH LANDING SITE
 Gill-netting that is use of nets for caching fish at gills.
 Long lining hooks on line with baits at hook to attract fish.
 Hook fishing
 Light fishing (lampara for trapping sliver fish)
ILLEGAL METHODS OF FISHING AT CONGO FISH LANDING SITE
 Cast nets fishing
 Basket fishing these are done in fish breeding ground
 Beach seining highly non selected method it caches primitive fish.
 Use of under size nets of less than 5inch below
METHODS OF FISH PRESERVATION AT CONGO FISH LANDING SITE
 Smoking using fire wood on stalls.
 Salting and sun drying
 Deep frying by locals for sell.
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CONTRIBUTION OF CONGO FISH LANDING SITE TO THE SURROUNDING AREA

POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS
 It provides employment opportunities to the people around such as fishermen and fisheries
officers.
 Fish as raw materials for Agro-based industries such as sliver fish for making animal feeds.
 Revenue to Congo town council through taxing fishermen and taxes levied on fish mongers.
 Promote tourism because of its beautiful cliff hence foreign exchange to the government.
 Promote research and study purposes as congo is endowered with good relief feature such as
oyajo hill, ondojo hill and Idijo hill.
 Source of food for the surrounding population as diet.
 Development of laropi trading center to laropi town council as per the population increase.
NEGATIVES CONTRIBUTIONS
 It has led to pre-urbanization with its related evils such as prostitution hence moral
degeneration.
 High school dropout especially boys who engage in fishing to look for easy money.
 Environmental degradation through deforestation in search for fire wood to smoke fish eg
ondojo forest nearly depleted.
 Illegal fishing methods are practiced hence led to depletion of fish species.
PHYSICAL FEATURES AROUND CONGO FISH LANDING SITE
 Ondojo hill north congo fish landing site
 Albert Nile basin/valley water body south.
 The landing site that is congo fish landing site
HUMAN FEATURES AROUND CONGO FISH LANDING SITE
 Fish store near the fish landing site
 Fish slab near the fish landing site
 Boat yards west of the shore
 Laropi- obongi road in central congo fish landing site
FUTURE PROSPECTS OF CONGO FISH LANDING SITE
(m) What are the future plans of the field work study carried? (4marks)
 Construction of pier for boat landing
 Construction of modern stalls for smoking fish.
 Finalizing the fencing process from entire land.
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(k)Explain how you used any six of the following field work techniques during the study and
explain the advantages and disadvantages of the techniques you used. (8mks)
(i) OBSERVATION
 This involves the use of naked eyes to see the geographical information in the area of study.
 In the field, I used my eyes to see the types of fish species caught, relief features, method of
fish preservation at congo fish landing site.
 I saw Nile perch, tilapia, oyajo hill, smoking method of fish preservation at congo fish
landing site.
ADVANTAGES
 Firsthand information is obtained due to direct experience
 Up to date information is obtained due to direct observation and cost effective.
 Saves time due to direct experience/ seeing the features of interest.
DISADVANTAGES
 Not easy to evaluate by observation, subject to biased information when interpreting the
objectives of the topic.
 Not reliable for numerical values e.g., total incomes earned.
 Not all what one observes is final, there is aspect of forgetting and being selective and biased.
(ii) RECORDING
 This involves noting down/ writing/drawing geographical information obtained during the
field work study through observation and interview inform of notes, diagrams, tables and
sketch maps.
 During field work, I used a pen and paper to write down the types of fish species, names of
relief features, and other economic activities at congo fish landing site.
 I drew the sketch map, cross-section, and panoramic view of congo fish landing site, and I
wrote down the names of fish types which include tilapia, Nile perch, sliver fish etc.
ADVANTAGES
 Geographical information recorded cannot be easily forgotten and always can be used for
reference.
 It makes easy to cross-check geographical information recorded in future date.
 Recording co-ordinate other methods during field work study eg observation, interview etc.
DISADVANTAGES
 Recording is bound to wrong recording of geographical data.
 Biased recording of individual ideas during field work study.
 Recording is tiresome which involves writing and drawing.
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(iii) INTERVIEW
 This is face to face interaction between the person looking for information (interviewer) and
the one from whom information is obtained (interviewee) by means of oral questions.
 I asked the beach management unit the location, Historical background, types of fish spices
landing at congo fish landing site and methods of fishing. Preservation and marketing.
 He told us that congo fish landing site started by the three brothers; late Aljabu Tuki, late
Justino Ngula and Sabastiano Nyamune in 1937.
ADVANTAGES
 Good in obtaining historical and statistical information when in the field.
 Build cordial relationship between interviewer and interviewee and its cheap.
 Yield firsthand information for the correct respondent.
DISADVANTAGES
 Bias responses from respondents gives wrong bias information.
 Problem of language barrier between interviewer and interviewee especially with local
people.
 Sometimes needs interpreter when the interview is between locals and the researcher.
(iv) MEASUREMENT
 This is the use of calibrated and non-calibrated instruments to measure height, weight and
volume in order to determine the geographical phenomenon under study.
 We used pacing to determine the area of congo fish landing site and the head land.
 When paced, we found its about 6km squared.
ADVANTAGES
 Measurement methods are cheap and faster compered to pacing.
 Measurement yields accurate geographical information when used calibrated instruments.
 Help the students to acquire skills of measurement when in field.
DISADVANTAGE
 Measurement is tiresome and it involves recording and reading the units.
 Problem of measuring equipment can be faulty and difficult to correct.
 There may be limited/ inadequate knowledge about the units hence wrong data.
(v) SAMPLING
 This is an act of selecting representatives of whole geographical information to investigate in
the field.
 We selected few fish species for the investigation in order to find out the common fish
species found at congo fish landing site.
 We find the common fish species landing at congo fish landing site were; Nile perch, tilapia
and sliver fish.
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ADVANTAGES
 Easy to select representatives in sampling method.
 Easy to summarize the information sampled.
 Sampling total avoid biasness.
DISADVANTAGES
 Bias in selecting items to represent in sample total
 Bias in selecting respondents and question distribution.
 Sometimes selected items are not representative enough in the sample hence leave other items
out in the sample.
(vi) QUESTIONNAIRE
 This is a formulated questions to be administered to obtain geographical information under
investigation in the field.
 The geography teachers send questionnaires to the respondents to fill in and sent back for
analysis.
 When we received the filled questionnaires; we found congo was located in laropi town
council Moyo District, which started in 1937, fish species include; tilapia Nile perch and lung
fish are common type of fish.
ADVANTAGES
 Gives ample time for the respondents to fill in the answers of the questions.
 Save both time and costs of transport to and fro in the field.
 Variety of information is obtained due ample time given to the respondents.
DISADVANTAGES
 Bias responses from respondents due to different interpretation and requires commitment
between questionnaire and respondent.
 Irrelevant geographical information is possible and delay in returning the questionnaires.
 Costly to formulate the questionnaires and follow up and time consuming.