The potential of and constraints to fish culture in integrated farming systems in the Lam Pao Irrigation Project, Northeast Thailand

Abstract

In an irrigated area of the Lam Pao region, Northeast Thailand, a survey was undertaken to assess the potential of and constraints to fish culture in small farm holdings. Local agriculture traditions are favourable for integration of fish with rice, growing a long-stalked variety of rice and making restricted use of pesticides. Yields of paddy averaged ±2.2 metric tons·ha −1. Concurrent fish farming yielded ±260 kg of fish·ha −1. With few extra operating costs, returns of traditional rice culture may be doubled through concurrent fish culture, without affecting the farmers' way of living. Pond fish culture generated much higher fish yields (±2.2 metric tons·ha −1) and profits than rice and/or rice-cum-fish culture. However, high initial investment costs prevent small-scale farmers from taking part in this fish culture activity. Furthermore, as fish farming is economically more risky than rice cultivation, it does not fit well into the traditional attitude of small-scale farmers regarding risk acceptance. Therefore, pond fish culture should be recommended to commercial farmers rather than to subsistence farmers.