Sustainability in Integrated Rice-Fish Farming: Issues and Policy, Schemes and Mind Maps of Agricultural policy

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AERC PLATINUM JUBILEE CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABILITY OF

AGRICULTURAL SECTOR: ISSUES, CHALLENGES AND POLICY MATRIX

23rd – 24th DECEMBER 2024

Venue: Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune

Theme -1: Agriculture Growth, Investments, Crop Diversification and Farm Sector Sustainabiliy Venue: Seminar Hall -1, 1

st

Floor Dhananjay Rao Gadgil Library Technical Session 1. Chairperson: Prof. M. Gopinath Reddy Time: 16.30 to 18.

Introduction Agriculture is the backbone of our economy; it feeds and sustains every living being on this planet. As a primary sector, agriculture plays a crucial role in economic development. It enabled rise of sedentary human civilization through farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that allowed people to settle in one place. About one-third of the world’s population relies on agriculture for food, with India ranking second in rice production. Fish is not only environmentally beneficial but also provides the tastiest animal protein, rich in essential nutrients such as proteins, vitamins, and minerals.

Contd…  (^) The fish contributes significantly to economy as well, with India being the second-largest fish producer in the world. There rice in the field and Fish in the Water”- this sentence from sukhothai period - a Thai Kingdom that flourished 700 years ago. it means that the production of fish and paddy at same resources and same unit of area it is also known as integrated paddy cum fish cultivation or Dual culture farming. Rice cum Fish cultivation is a traditional method .it was first started in China above 2000 years ago after that it was introduced in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, India and other countries of the world. In India the farming was adopted especially in coastal areas of the country.  (^) Tamil Nadu, a state in southern India, where rice cultivation is a major agricultural activity. In Tamil Nadu, this farming system is often referred to as "Kuttai Meen Thottam" or "Kuttai Meen Vaazhai" in the local language, it has been adapted to suit the local conditions and practices in Tamil Nadu. Farmers in the state have been practicing various forms of integrated farming for generations, including combining rice cultivation with fish farming.

Methodology  (^) The present study has been specific objectives are; i) to analyse the economic integrated paddy cum fish cultivation compared to traditional monoculture practices; ii) to examine management practices for integrated farming systems to maximize productivity and sustainability; iii) to find out the socio-economic benefits and impacts of integrated farming on rural livelihoods and food security; and iv) to identify the major problems in conducting integrated rice fish farming. Present study is based on both are primary and secondary data nature of sources. Secondary data are collected from various sources such as the district administrative office, village administrative office and agricultural office and some published and unpublished.

Contd…  (^) The primary data are collected from the select household of the study village, which follow integer farming after the getting ideas from various sources. The Primary data collected through direct surveys of households in the study area that practice integrated farming. The total sample size 25 and get from Needamangalam KVK Institute, where 13 members were directly interviewed, and other villages such as Koonur and Paranjithangudi data collected from 12 additional samples. The surveys were conducted between July and October 2023. The present study has been used simple statistical tools like average, regression and with help of diagrammatic representation used.

Conclusion  (^) Integrated farming systems, where fish farming is combined with other agricultural practises, offer a variety of benefits, particularly in terms of sustainability, productivity and economic viability. Fish farming in combination with other agricultural activities, such as rice cultivation, represents a holistic approach that utilises the synergies between the different components of the agricultural ecosystem. Integrated fish farming not only diversifies farmers' sources of income, but also contributes to food security by providing additional sources of protein. It also reduces dependence on external inputs such as chemical fertilisers and pesticides, thereby promoting environmental sustainability. By creating symbiotic relationships between crops and fish, integrated farming systems optimise resource use, improve nutrient cycling and mitigate environmental impacts. These systems also contribute to rural development by providing employment opportunities and promoting community resilience.

Contd…  (^) However, successful implementation of integrated fish farming requires careful planning, use of appropriate technologies and effective management practices. Adequate training and support for farmers is essential to ensure the sustainability and profitability of these systems. To summaries, integrated fish farming is a promising approach to sustainable agriculture that addresses the challenges of food security, environmental protection and rural development. Such integrated approaches can play an important role in building resilient and thriving agricultural systems for the future of the profitable sector in 2030.