Rice-Fish Farming System for Increasing Farm Productivity and Income in Rainfed Lowland Areas of Eastern India - A Case Study

Abstract

Rice-fish farming technology was demonstrated in two rainfed lowland farms of Orissa, India. Carps and freshwater prawn were grown with rice during the wet season, while crops like, watermelon, pulses, oil seed and vegetables were cultivated after rice in the dry season. The available dyke area was used for production of vegetables and fruit crops round the year. The two rice-fish farms of 0.9 ha each, produced 167-256 kg of fish and prawn, 1,980-2,610 kg rice, 5,000 kg straw, 700-1,130 kg fruits and 1,323-1,635 kg of vegetables with in a period of one year. Adoption of rice-fish farming system resulted in 3-4 times increase in production of food crops and net income over traditional farming. The cost benefit ratio in the two farms was 1.42-1.51. The study revealed that the rice-fish farming practice could be a viable option for enhancing farm productivity and income in the rainfed lowland ecology and adoption of the system can provide better livelihood to the farmers of eastern India.