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Rice-Fish Farming

by | 12-10-2014 22:03 recommendations 0

I was given assignment to write about "Rice Fish Farming" in my Fishery class. Being agriculture student, I found topic so much interesting. I immediately started to search in Google about "Rice Fish Farming", read some book in library and also contact "Department of Fisheries" here in our university.

Rice is the main agricultural crop and prime staple food of Nepal. Rice is grown in flooded condition here in  our country. So rice plant, weeds and algae become competitive to each other as they are dependent on same source for the nutrient. However introduction of fish after 2 weeks of rice plantation can change the whole scenario, booming the production of rice, controlling of weeds and algae and flow of nutrient thus providing advantages to farmers economically, socially and environmentally.

Despite loss of 3-5% loss in rice cultivating area due to ?trench? as fish hiding place rice production increases up to 9% in addition of 529 Kg ha-1 fish from rice-fish integrated farming than cultivating rice alone (TB Gurung and SK Wagle). According to what fisheries department said, production can be increased upto 15% . Isn't this so amazing.

Some of the benefits of Rice-fish farming are:
  1. Reduction in use of fertilizer, weedicide and pesticide
  2. The recycling of nutrients by the fish through feeding and depositing feces in the soil. This increases the uptake of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen by the rice
  3. Increase in rice production
  4. Fish could become reliable source of animal protein
  5. Increase in income from both fishes production and rice.( In some cases fish production could even excel the rice production in terms of money)
  6. Control mosquitoes causing reduction of anopheline and culicine larval population by 90 and 70 percent respectively (WHO 1980 in Pao 1981)
  7. Reduction in insect pest


There are some constraints as well. Such as:
  1. Low fish price
  2. Other source of animal proteinare much preferred like Beef, Chevon, Mutton, Pork, Poultry and so on
  3. Reliable water supply and source of fingerlings are necessary
  4. Uncertainty of rainfall and poor irrigation system
  5. Commonly cultured fishes like Tilapia, Carp have less value when there is access to marine species, Milk fish and so forth
  6. It can be done only if houses are near
  7. It is more risky
  8. Difficulty in properly stocking fingerlings, which are often not available at the right time, in the right number or the correct size



I got much interested into this system of farming considering the environmental advantages like control of weeds, pest and algae( which otherwise would have to be removed using weedicide, pesticide and alagecide respectively), mosquito control and also providing and circulating nutrients (hence reducing use of fertilizer). 
 

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16 Comments

  • says :
    Thank you for sharing, Rahul!
    Posted 29-11-2014 23:58

  • says :
    @Alina Ale thanks for reading the articl and finding the system interesting. Certainly it will be great and beneficila from every pont of view if you apply in you field as well.
    Posted 15-10-2014 13:18

  • says :
    @Konstantinos- Eirinaios Tsiampouris Yes, nature is amazing and has provided us so many opportunities and many more magics to be discovered. Its great to see species coperating with each other.If we can only use their coperation as advantage to us.
    Posted 15-10-2014 13:16

  • says :
    @Sabin you have rightly said its an example of biological symbiosis. and pure organic method as well. Its a win-win for both farmer and environment. Through this farming not only we will rice but also production of fish will be done along with protection from mosquitoes which otherwise would have invited many diseases.
    We must popularize this system considering its advantages and positive report obtained from case studies.
    Posted 15-10-2014 13:13

  • says :
    Thanks for sharing such an interesting method.It's benificial in every way.Hope to apply them in our paddy field too.
    Posted 15-10-2014 13:07

  • says :
    i had never heard before about this method, but it seems like a brilliant idea. It is like magic, how species cooperate so well with one another!
    Posted 15-10-2014 05:49

  • says :
    Rice fish is one of the biological way to control the weeds and other competitors for paddy.
    It increases the paddy production and it also reduces the number of mosquito and decrease the chance of spreading disease like Malaria and Dengue.
    It is an example of biological symbiosis where both organisms interact to get benefit.
    Being purely an organic method it should be increased as it increases paddy production and provide you with fish, which is great source of protein.
    Thank you sharing for interesting post.


    Posted 14-10-2014 22:31

  • says :
    @Nanditha thank you so much for reading article. Glas to know it was able to make you know more about rice-fish farming.
    Posted 14-10-2014 19:54

  • says :
    @Christy Surely i will share some more interesting information in my upcoming articles especiallly related to eco-friendly agriculture practices. Some othe such eco friendly practices also exist. thank for informing about rice-duck snail farming.
    Posted 14-10-2014 19:52

  • says :
    Thank you for sharing this rather interesting piece of information! I am familiar with combined fish farming with rice crops being done in rural area but your report broadened my knowledge of the topic.
    Posted 14-10-2014 05:30

  • says :
    Thank you Rahul for this informative article :) In Korea, likely the Rice-Fish Farming, we use duck and snails. And we also can enjoy more productive result from the organic method. Maybe it's the way our mother nature works. Maybe we've been so clumsy in dealing with the nature like using pesticide and chemical fertilazers to grow grains. Please go on sharing better way for the eco-friendly agriculture in your upcoming articles also.
    Posted 13-10-2014 20:22

  • says :
    Yes. I will post about methodology in upcoming articles @Rohan
    @Arushi you have write lying said about mosquito control.
    In our fisheries department there are some posters which shows the research done in various region of Asia.
    Certainly rice-fish farming is a great Way to enhance the condition of rural farmers in addition to protect get our environment.
    Posted 13-10-2014 19:34

  • Arushi Madan says :
    That's very interesting. Had never heard of Rice -Fish farming.
    Raising rice and fish in fields together is a beautiful example of natural symbiosis. This is like a complete ecosystems supporting a food chain. Through this mechanics of this ecosystem soil is fertilized, the need for pesticides is reduced through natural weed and insect control and human health is improved. . Fish in rice fields also decrease the amount of mosquito larvae, which reduces the number of malaria cases.. Fish effectively control mosquitoes. This is such a sustainable way of farming.
    I was trying to google and know more on this and came across great site where case studies have been done and poor farmers have expressed their happiness due to extra money by virtue of this Rice-Fish culture. You can refer to this site
    Posted 13-10-2014 16:45

  • Rohan Kapur says :
    Wow! This is simply amazing.
    I never considered this as an option. Fishes swimming in paddy fields!
    That cements my belief in nature. Natural control of weeds, pest and algae, by having fishes in the fields is mind blowing.
    If humans are considerate enough they can find answers to all such issues. We do not have patience & time for the natural methods, which are greener, more effective & long lasting.
    Thanks for the wonderful report Rahul.
    Pls share more information, pics & literature in this regard
    Posted 13-10-2014 12:48

  • says :
    Thank you Afra for reading and commenting on the article.
    Posted 13-10-2014 11:56

  • says :
    This is indeed a rare method. Thank you for informing about this to us.
    Posted 13-10-2014 03:24

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