Integrated Fish Farming
Indian agriculture is known for its multifunctionalities of providing employment, livelihood, food, nutritional and ecological securities .Today the Indian economy is based on mainly in the field of agriculture and software development in the area of Information Technology. For achieving rapid progress in rural area, our strategy must focus on; conserving natural resources, enhancing efficient of resource use, increasing productivity and profitability and improving quality and competitiveness through reduced unit cost of production.
Integrated plant nutrients and protection systems of crop, livestock and aquaculture production are being updated for various agro-ecologies. Water is emerging as national challenge and its most efficient management as well as recycling has been given high priority in the plan of formulation. Recycling of crop residue as well as agricultural by products inclusion of nitrogen fixing legumes in rotation, bio fertilizers, vermicultres,Agro forestry, nutrient solubbizing micro-organisms, efficient nutrient up taking plant varieties etc. are being strategies in the research mandate. Improved efficiency farm machinery energy, agro- input and resource conservation technologies of minimum tillage are being researched to minimize the cost of production.
In certain areas, paddy fields remain flooded with water for a period of 3-8 months in a year, during which some growth of fish is easily possible. Hence, fish is cultivated in paddy field to give sustainable additional supply to the farmer. This practice is common in Italy, Japan, Malaysia, several African countries and to some extent in India various techniques are employed for fish culture in paddy fields depending upon the climate local conditions, species of fish available and the variety of paddy cultivated. The cultivation of paddy is the primary purpose of farmer; hence fish culture is to be adapted to the schedule of paddy cultivation. Species that are suitable for culture in paddy fields must be able to thrive in shallow water. They should be able to tolerate relatively higher temperature and turbidity. Certain carps, murrels and tilapia are suitable for culture in paddy fields. Fish culture is beneficial to the paddy also to some extent. Fish perform tillage; destroy weed and insect that cause damage to the paddy plants, thus increasing paddy production.
In India, experiments conducted on fish culture in paddy fields in W.Bengal have shown that the survival rate of Labeo, Catla and Mrigal ranges from 34-40%, and the species show more rapid growth in paddy fields than in ponds. Fields that are left flooded for a long or short period after harvesting can be easily utilize for fish culture.
. The wetland area which is generally waste land can be used as integrated fish farming with Makhana culture .This type of mixed culture will offer greater efficiency in resource utilization, will reduce risk by diversifying crop and will provide additional food and income. This system will be of special significance as it will improve the socio-economic status of weaker rural fisher community.
Fish culture in Makhana ponds can be grouped as:-
a) secondary crop of fish after a Makhana corp.
b) along with the Makhana during the period of cultivation; and
c) continuous fish culture, transferring the fish to specially prepared ponds or channels during the harvesting period of Makhana.`
The various stages of Makhana cultivation in ponds and tanks considerably alter as well as disrupt the ecological conditions of the water body. The planktonic productivity of such ponds remains very meager due to shaded surface imparted by Makhana leaves which mostly cover the entire surface of the pond. So that the air-breathing fishes, by virtue of the presence of accessory respiratory organs can thrive well in such adverse, low- oxygen environmental conditions. It is a common view that the air- breathing fishes in such ecologically disrupted ecosystem are probably made for each other by nature itself. These fishes are well known for their high protein, high iron, high calcium and low fat content and easy digestibility and such, suitable for all people.
There are various species of air- breathing fishes most ideally suited for stocking in Makhana ponds. These are generally carnivorous in nature and in culture operation they adopt themselves excellently to supplementary feeding with dried trash fish, oil cake and rice bran. Among these fishes Magur (Clarias batrachus) and Singhi (Heteropneustes fossilis) are known to be feeding gastropods, insects, micro crustaceans, and other larvae. Koi (Anabas testudineus) is generally a micro plankton feeder in younger stages and takes to insectivorous habit in later stages.
Makhana cum fish culture has certain advantage and disadvantage. The main advantages are :-
1) the most economical utilization of pond or wetland area, since the same pond would be
used for the production of both Makhana and fish.
2) Utilization of limited extra labour to take care of fish, since both Makhana and fish may be taken care at the same time.
3) The quantity of supplemental of fish feeds, if it all given, will be comparatively less
compared to feed given to the fish in general pond culture and the unused feed in Makhana pond increases the fertility of the pond by acting as organic manure.
4) Fish eat harmful organisms, such as insect larvae and some other water insects, fresh water mollusks. The Makhana yield would increase due to reduced insect pest pressure and increased organic fertilization.
5) The movement of fish would result in better aeration of the water and greater tillering of
the Makhana crop.
The disadvantages of the Makhana cum fish culture are: -
1) If the fish are introduced to early, they may damage the young Makhana plants.
2) The huge sprawling leaves of Makhana plant keep the water surface shaded from May to August. During this period sun-light will not penetrate inside the water surface due to
which the grazing chain gets disrupted. As a result of this the dissolved oxygen content of
water gets depleted which makes the environment unfavorable.
Another example of mixed farming is prawn culture in combination with fish, like major carps. There is no competition for food or space, as carps are non predatory. The faecal matter of fish might serve as an additional source of food for prawns, which are detritus feeder or scavengers. For extensive pond culture, fertilization of the pond and artificial feeding play a significant role. Rice bran, broken rice, ground nut oil cake, fish meal, worms and meat are used as artificial food.
Thus by applying modern method for integrated fish farming on large scale by the people living in the wetland region will definitely play an important role in the rural economy.
Bibha Kumari
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