Sustainable Rice Fish Farming: A Case Study in the Kuttanad Region

Abstract

Integrated rice farming is a sustainable agricultural practice that aims to optimise resource use, increase productivity, and reduce environmental impacts. This study focuses on the need for a sustainable farming method in Kuttanad region in Alappuzha , a low-lying, waterlogged region in Kerala. This region is situated below sea level and is highly prone to many natural calamities like floods and will result in huge crop failure. Hence, to increase the income and the biological habit of the area, the study investigates the sustainability of integrated rice fish farming in the study area. Thus, a sustainable farming methodology as Integrated rice-fishing culture is considered. A case study analysis of two farmland is used to reach the research objective. As well, in one farmland, paddy is cultivated twice a year and the other farmland practices rice cultivation in one half and fish farming in the other half of the year. Although, the profit of fish cultivation along with paddy and also through variables like crop yielding, labour inputs, output value, input cost, environmental impacts and social impacts are also analysed. As a result, the integrated rice farming system helps to maintain the water quality of the region, which is essential for the survival of the aquatic ecosystem. The system not only provides economic benefits to the farmers but also enhances the biodiversity and ecosystem services of the region.The findings suggest that the integrated rice farming system in Kuttanad is a successful example of sustainable agriculture, which can be adopted in other regions with similar ecological conditions.