New Delhi: The rice-fish farming system developed by the Orissa-based Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI), an affiliate body of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), farmers are making it sure that rice cultivation, besides providing food safety, also guarantees livelihood security. Under the rice-fish system, developed specifically for the water-logged areas of Orissa, a major portion of the land is used for paddy cultivation, while a smaller part is developed as a fishpond.

The bund can also be used for seasonal vegetables and horticulture plantation. During monsoon months when the water table is high, popular varieties of fish such as catla and rohu are bred in the paddy field. When water recedes they swim back to the fishpond adjoining the rice field.

"Fishes eat the weeds normally present in a paddy field, thereby indirectly helping in better paddy cultivation," according to K S Rao, head, crop production division, CRRI. The presence of fish in paddy fields has drastically reduced pesticide use. CRRI data shows that a hectare of land under rice-fish system would produce around 15-18 quintals of paddy, 2-3 quintals of fish and 30-35 quintals of fruits and vegetables.