Integrated rice-fish culture

A well-known model of integrated aquaculture-agriculture which has been practiced in countries whereas rice is a key crop. In Egypt, this integrated system is carried out with the support of the government whereas common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is delivered to contributing farms at no cost. The economic advantages of such integrated system include the increase of rice productivity as a result of having fish in the system which provide organic manuring and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers. Also, fish feeding on algae in rice field would minimize the need for copper sulfate for chemical treatment. Added value of this type of integrated system including fish crops would surplus rice production which could have been produced from the land area that has been converted into a ditch in this system. Rice in this system is the principal crop, therefore, aquaculture practice should prove compatable with rice crop especially in regard to the growing period of rice crop.

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