Fingerling production in irrigated paddy

Fish fingerlings supply is scarce in Northern Bangladesh. It is usually expensive and laborious for fish farmers to procure fish seeds. The production of common carp (Cyprlnus carpio) fingerlings with different types of "boro" or irrigated paddy is an alternative. Although production figures are below the commercial rates, small farmers can grow their own fingerlings at minimal cost.

The four types of irrigated paddies for fingerling production (as practiced by poor farmers in Northern Bangladesh) the have following features:

soil	:clay loam	fish species: Common carp
water supply	:irrigated	rice variety: Bangladesh Rice
water depth	:maintained at7.5 -10 cm	(BR) 3, BR -8 , BR-9, BR-14, Tayap and China Pajam.
area range	:12.5 - 1,320 sq m

Fingerling production in irrigated paddy

ADVANTAGES

1. Fish hatchlings or fry can be reared in different types of "boro" paddy plot designs without altering farmer's normal practices in rice production.

2. Farmers' existing resources can be used.

3. Only minimum additional expenses are required.

4. When the fish get bigger than one inch, they control weeds, pests and insects in the paddy.

5. Fish feces serve as fertilizer for rice.

6. Can provide additional income.

7. Farmers can sell fingerlings when prices are highest.

CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES IN FISH PRODUCTION

Paddy preparation

Transplanting rice

Apply Sumithion to kill predators d.25 mg/sq m

Stock with 2-week old fingerlings at 10/sq m

Monitor fingerling growth by weighing, done in weekly intervals. Maintain water depth at 7-10 cm in the paddy.

Harvest the fingerlings. Condition them in hapa before selling, or stock them for further growth.

Note: Apply pesticides for the rice crop only if needed. Malathion (suggested rate 27 ml/1000 sq m) has been shown to cause the least harm to fish. Deweed along paddy embankments to remove breeding places of and sheiter for predators.

WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE ADAPTING THE TECHNOLOGY

1.Paddy soil should have good water - holding capacity

2. Common carp is recommended for stoking:

- spawns earlier;
- fries are available at the same time as “boro” rice transplantation
- hardy fish

Tilapia can also be stocked.

3. Fish have higher survival rates in smaller paddies.

4. It possible, use fry (instead of hatchlings) for stocking because they have higher survival rates.

5. Use of supplementary feed, like fine bran or wheat bran, can help increase fingerling production at very minimum cost.

6. To reduce risks of paddy field drying out, use treadle pumps.

Production details between stock of fry and hatchlings (based on 1,320 sq m paddy).

	FRY	HATCHLINGS
Stocking rate/sq m	10	40
Stocking (#)	13200	52800
Survival rate (%)	40	5
Growth Cycle (days)	42	60
Yield (#)	5280	2673

Partial budget for common carp fingerling production in boro paddy (based on 1,320 sq m paddy).

	FRY	HATCHLINGS
COSTS	1075.64	4;20
Fry costs at Tk. 0.08/u	1056	-
-Hatchlings cost at Tk. 00875/unit	-	462.00
-Family Labor	-
-Interest on operating cost (16% per annum)	19.64	12.20
Income Return
(Fingerlings Tk. 0.5/unit)	2640	1336.50
BALANCE	1564.36	862.30

Comparative budget and income from 3 systems: rice; rice and common-carp hatchlngs' and, rice and common carp fry.

	Rice only	Rice and Hatchilngs	Rice and Fry
· Rice production
Cost
Inputs	684	601	601
Labor	492	509	509
Irrigation charges
(Tk. 500/bigha)	500	500	500
Interest on operating costs16% per annum(1.33 % /day)	89	85	85
Income	3855	3943	39¢3
Return for Rice	2090	2248	2248
· Fingerling Production:
Fingerlings (Tk. 0.50/pc.)
Cost	NA
Fish		462	1056
Family Labor
Interest on operating costs16% per annum (1.33% day		12	20
Income NA	NA	1337	2640
Return for Fish	NA	863	1564
Return for Plot	2090	3111	3812

Records from CARE/ODA/BRAC Rice/Fish Pilot Project. Rangpur 1991

1 US$ = Taka 38

1,320 sq m = 1 bigha, a standard area measurement used in Bangladesh.

Prepared by: FRRANCISCO NOBLE

FARMER-PROVEN INTEGRATED AGRICULTURE-AQUACULTURE
A TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION KIT (IIRR-ICLARM)