The First Farmer Field Day for Rice-Fish Integrated Agriculture 4.10.19

Abstract

With ACIAR funding CGIAR partners WorldFish and IRRI along with three Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Irrigation Departments (Fisheries, Agriculture and Agriculture Research) have been researching into the viability of rice-fish integrated farming systems in the Ayeyarwady Delta. This work started with a small-scale experiment which concluded with good results in 2017. The current large-scale research project started 23 June 2017 and will run for 4.5 years with a completion date 31 December 2021. The project has three main objectives: 1. To characterise rice-fish systems in the Ayeyarwady delta 2. To identify improvements in rice-fish production and management systems that optimise genderequitable income, food and nutritional outcomes and 3. To strengthen the capacity and enabling environment for research, dissemination and uptake of improvements in rice-fish systems

To date the research has shown that the use of Best Management Practices for Rice, Fish and Water, with a fish refuge area less than 15% of the rice plot area, can maintain the rice yield over the rice-fish area (with higher rice yields than neighboring farmers) while doubling the profitability of the integrated farming unit due to the introduction of fish. In addition considerable benefits are delivered in terms of improved human nutrition and environmental protection due to the reduction in pesticide use and return of aquatic animals as a food source. While work continues under objective two to optimize gender equitable incomes the project has started to work on output three with capacity development and a series of land use policy initiatives to allow the rice- fish integrated diversified cropping system to be promoted at scale. This process involves work at both National and sub-National levels. Hence the first Farmer Field Day on 4 October 2019 at one of three demonstration sites in the Delta to disseminate the results to date and seek clarifications regarding our land use policy work form the Regional Minister U Tin Aung Win.