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Effect of Integrated Rice-duck Farming on Rice Yield, Farm Productivity, and Rice-provisioning Ability of Farmers

Shaikh Tanveer Hossain
Ehime University, Japan

Hideki Sugimoto
Ehime University, Japan

Gazi Jashim Uddin Ahmed
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Bangladesh

Md. Rafiqul Islam
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The feasibility of the rice-duck system of rice production, practiced in some East Asian countries, is studied in Bangladesh as a sub-project of the Poverty Elimination Through Rice Research Assistance (PETRRA). The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) implements the sub-project in collaboration with two NGOs, FIVDB and BDS, in the northeastern (greater Sylhet) and southern (Barisal) regions of the country. Each demonstration trial, conducted in the field of the farmers, is treated as a replication. In these trials, the rice-duck system is compared with the methods of growing rice solely, as traditionally practiced by the farmers in Bangladesh. Evaluation of the activities carried out under the PETRRA sub-project shows that the rice-duck system is not only feasible, but also economically rewarding for the farmers. The yield of rice is, on average, 20% higher in the rice-duck system than the traditional rice system (sole rice), thereby ensuring about 50% higher net return and rice-provisioning ability. The ducks in the rice-duck fields control weeds and insects very effectively; as a consequence, labor and pesticide costs for controlling weeds and insects are minimized and the soil health is improved. The ducks provide another source of added income for the farmers. In view of the favorable results obtained in the study, it might be suggested that the rice-duck system be spread throughout the country as an income-generating activity for the resource-poor farmers.

Keywords: Rice-Duck farming, Rice yield, Farm Productivity, Rice-Provisioning ability of farmers

Location: 48 villages of five Upazillas (parts of districts) under four districts of Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-03-2003

End Date: 00-04-2004

Program Area: Farming System

Non-commodity: Performance

Objectives:

The present study intended to evaluate this integrated system of producing rice and raising ducks in terms of its effects on productivity, outcome, and the rice provisioning ability of resource-poor farmers.

Methodology:

The research was carried out between March, 2003 and April, 2004 by the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) in collaboration with two non-government organizations, namely, the Friends in Village Development in Bangladesh (FIVDB) in Sylhet and the Bangladesh Development Society (BDS) in Barisal. The work was done in 48 villages of five upazillas (parts of districts) under four districts. The trials were conducted entirely in the fields of the farmers. A total of 147 resource-poor farmers took part in this study. Each farmer made available a plot of 2800 sq m, which was divided into two equal parts: one part for the rice-duck system and the other for the farmers’ traditional method of rice production (rice only). Demarcated areas of 5m x 2m were taken as Control treatment, where no measures were taken for the control of insects pests and weeds. Weeding (twice) and application of insecticides (once) were done in the sub-plots allotted to the traditional method. No weeding herbicide application or pesticide application were done in the rice-duck plots to serve the effectiveness of ducks in the production system. As to fertilization, the rice-duck plots received only cow dung at the rate of five tons per hectare (t/ha) and no inorganic fertilizers. In the sole rice plots chemical fertilizers were applied as commonly practiced by the farmers. Locally popular and modern rice varieties were planted in both treatment areas. In the rice-duck plots, seedlings were transplanted at a distance of 25cm x 20cm. The farmers’ usual method of raising rice was employed in the plots meant for comparison. Ten days after transplanting, 20-day-old ducklings were released in the plots at the rate of 350–400 birds per ha. For the first three to five days, ducklings were kept in the plots for 2–4 hours a day. Later they were allowed to remain in the plots from morning to evening. Proper measures were taken to protect the ducklings from predators and to prevent their movement outside the designated plots. The ducklings, upon reaching four months old, were removed from the rice fields which, by then, were at the flowering stage. These ducklings were either sold or further raised in the usual way. Each demonstration trial was treated as a replication. Data on growth, yield-contributing characteristics and yields of the crops, weed population (taken 45 days after transplanting) and insect population (taken every seven days from 30 days after transplanting until flowering) were collected and analyzed statistically. Soil samples from the trial sub-plots were collected and analyzed in the Soil Resources Development Institute (SRDI) at Barisal to determine the amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and sulfur. The number and the weight (g) of the ducklings at the transplanting and flowering stages of the crops were also recorded. Marginal analysis and partial budgeting techniques were used to compare the benefits of rice-duck farming over the conventional rice production system. The statistical analysis of the data generated out of the field and laboratory analyses outlined by Gomez and Gomez (1984) and the mean differences among the treatments were compared using Duncan`s New Multiple Range Test (DMRT) following Zaman et. al. (1982).

Source of Information: Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development, Vol. 2, No. 1, 79-86

Article Link (Online Journal): http://searca.org/ajad/files/070314092238_AJAD_2005_2_1&2_7Hossain.pdf

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Results showed that the integrated rice-duck system was highly beneficial for the farmers from the economic point of view. Besides increasing the yield of rice, the infestation of weeds and insect pests was controlled by ducks in the rice-duck system. As a consequence, labor and pesticide costs for controlling weeds and insects decreased or were eliminated. The long-term adverse health and environmental effects of insecticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizer use were also substantially reduced, thus making the system beneficial to the environment. The farmers also found the system very easy to operate, aside from being economically rewarding. Women would have a good opportunity to participate in this activity. The technology has an inherent ability to improve the nutritional status of the resource-poor farmers. Results yielded by this sub-project convincingly demonstrated that the rice duck system is very feasible in Bangladesh.

Knowledge Management: Journal