Performance Evaluation of Integrated Aquaculture of Catfish, Pig and Rice

Abstract

Study was carried out on the performance of fish, pig and rice integration to assess the productivity of integrated fish farming system against conventional fish, pig and rice farming, carried out in 84 days, T-test was used to compare means of the growth performance of fish and pig and water use efficiency (WUE) of rice culture under conventional and integrated farming systems. The average weight gain (167g), specific growth rate (1.2) and the feed conversion ratio (1:1) in the integrated system were better and significantly different (p< 0.05) from those got from conventional systems. Water use efficiency of the integrated system in terms of rice production (3.566) was 16.99 times better than that conventional system that relied on irrigation. Physico-chemical parameters of the two system studied were within tolerable range and showed no significant difference. According to the results got, integration of fish, pig and rice reduces waste and input and thus increased productivity which in turn brings about wider profit margin and contributes to food security. In the face of the greatly dwindling freshwater reserve, integrated aquaculture holds the key to sustainable food security. This study has shown that integration of catfish, pig, and rice gave more yield and profits.

Keywords: Integrated aquaculture, fish - pig –rice, performance, water use efficiency

DOI: 10.7176/ALST/71-04