Rice and fish farming : The need of rice farmers of Konkan region M. P. Gawai, R. L. Kunkerkar,

摘要

A farming method by which a flooded rice fields are used for raising both rice and fish.The rice fields are floodedto form shallow bodies of water (10-30 cm deep) in which suchwarm-water fishes as domesticated and common carp can live. Thecarp, in their search for food, loosen the soil. In addition to eating the seeds of weed plants, the fish feed on the larvae of the rice midge and other pests of rice. The fish excrement fertilizes the soil. Hence, the presence of fish results in an increase in therice yield. When the carp are fed and the paddies are fertilized, fish productivity increases per hectare of water. In the USSR thismethod of rice-and-fish farming is being replaced by the more effective method of rice-fish rotation, by which flooded rice fieldsthat would ordinarily lie fallow are stocked with fish. domesticated carp, grass carp, and silver carp are raised by this method.The rice paddies are fertilized and flooded to a depth of 60-70 cm. The yield of fish increases, and weed contamination isdiminished. The next year the rice yield of the paddies is increased. Rice-and-fish farming has existed since ancient times inChina, Japan, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, and the countries of South America. In the 20th century, with the increase inthe area of land under rice cultivation, this method of farming has been adopted by Italy, Spain, Hungary, and other Europeancountries. Most countries outside the USSR stock rice paddies with domesticated and common carp. In Southeast Asia theprincipal fishes raised in paddies include goldfish, milk-fish, teliapiia, mozambique, gourami, catfish, and snakehead. In SouthAmerica the bigmouth buffalo, catfish, and largemouth black bass are raised in paddies. Both methods of rice-and-fish farmingare used in the world’s rice-growing regions. So it is the time now the konkan farmers should fallow this method and prove thatpaddy and poverty does’nt lies together, and uplift our socioeconomic level. For that extension workers has to play a crucial roleto make the farmers aware to cultivate fish along rice.