Comparative analysis of production performance in integrated aquaculture system and single system of production of fish, rice, poultry and pig

Abstract

As the population of Nigeria continue to increase rapidly, there is corresponding increase in demand for food. In order to secure food security of the growing human population, it is imperative that a suitable agricultural production system that will meet the increasing demand for food be embraced. An important way of increasing agricultural production is through Integrated Aquaculture (IA). IA is known to diversify production thereby ensuring increase productivity and profitability in an ecofriendly manner. This project assesses the productivity of IA as a method of increasing food production. Two integrated combinations, Fish, Rice cum Poultry (FRPo) and Fish, Rice cum Pig (FRPi) were studied for production performance for period of one year. Comparison between productivity of (FRPo), (FRPi) and single system of production of fish, rice, poultry and pig were carried out. Seventeen farms (five fish farms, five poultry farms, five pig production farms and two rice plantations) were selected for the comparison based on their close proximity with the research site so as to reduce spatial error and error due to the influence of climate and weather. Production performance data were monitored daily in the IA systems and in-depth interview was used to collect information on single system of production of rice, fish, poultry and pig. The data collected were subjected to descriptive statistics such as mean, median, and frequency using SPSS version 22. The result of production performance showed that the average weight of fish under FRPo at 12 weeks was 309.9±1.78g; the feed conversion ratio and percentage survivability of the fish under this system were 1.39 and 72.6 respectively; while twenty five kilogram of rice was harvested per 50m². Also, the average weight of fish under FRPi at 12 weeks was 179±1.3g; the feed conversion ratio and percentage survivability of the fish under this system were 1.25 and 50 respectively; twenty eight kilogram of rice was harvested per 50m² under FRPi. The average feed conversion ratio and percentage survivability of fish under the single system of production studied were 1.1 and 78.99 respectively and average weight of rice harvested per 50m² was 11.3kg. Integrated fish farming was more productive and profitable than unitary system of farming as it ensured a spread of financial risk because of its varied and diversified nature in rearing of fish, animals and crops. The research studied also shows that IA offers cost saving strategy of operation in the manner that conserve the ecosystem by converting wastes to resources. IA therefore is a more productive system than the unitary system of production.