Paddy-Cum-Fish Farming: Integrated Rice and Fish Cultivation Guide (2025)

 Learn everything about paddy-cum-fish farming in India: benefits, layout, suitable fish species, rice varieties, management practices, profitability, and government support.

 Introduction

Paddy-cum-fish farming is one of the oldest integrated farming systems in Asia, especially in India, China, and Southeast Asia. The practice involves cultivating rice and fish together in the same field. This system optimizes the use of land and water, enhances farm biodiversity, improves soil fertility, and offers farmers dual sources of income — rice and fish.

In modern agriculture, where sustainable practices are gaining importance, paddy-cum-fish farming has regained attention as a climate-resilient and eco-friendly model. By combining aquaculture with rice cultivation, farmers can minimize risks, reduce input costs, and improve profitability.

                                                                                

Benefits of Paddy-Cum-Fish Farming

1. Dual Income: Farmers earn from both rice and fish cultivation.
2. Pest Control: Fish feed on harmful insects, weeds, and larvae, reducing pesticide dependency.
3. Soil Fertility Improvement: Fish excreta and activity improve soil aeration and nutrient recycling.
4. Efficient Land and Water Use: Same field is used for multiple outputs.
5. Nutritional Security: Families benefit from both staple food (rice) and protein (fish).
6. Risk Diversification: If rice yield fails due to drought or pest attack, fish can still provide income.
7. Climate Resilience: Integrated systems are more sustainable than monoculture.

 

Suitable Regions and Agro-Climatic Conditions

Paddy-cum-fish farming is best suited to regions with:

• High rainfall or irrigation facilities
• Clay or clay-loam soils that retain water
• Flat fields with bunds

In India, states practicing this system include:

• West Bengal
• Assam
• Odisha
• Andhra Pradesh
• Kerala
• Bihar
• Chhattisgarh

Globally, it is popular in Southeast Asian countries such as China, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia.

 

Design and Layout of Paddy-Fish Fields

For successful integration, fields must be modified:

• Bunds (Embankments): Strengthened and raised (1.5–2 feet above highest flood level).
• Trenches: Dug along the bunds to serve as fish refuges. Usually 1–1.5 meters deep.
• Refuge Ponds: Small dug-out areas (5–10% of field area) where fish can take shelter during water scarcity.
• Inlets and Outlets: Fitted with nets/screens to prevent escape of fish and entry of predators.

Proper design ensures both rice and fish thrive without affecting each other.

 

Selection of Fish Species

The choice of fish depends on adaptability to shallow waters, growth rate, and market demand.

Fish Species	Characteristics	Benefits
Rohu	Fast-growing, Indian major carp	High market value
Catla	Surface feeder	Utilizes surface insects, good growth
Common Carp	Bottom feeder	Consumes waste, keeps soil healthy
Tilapia	Hardy, omnivorous	Tolerant to adverse conditions
Mrigal	Bottom feeder	Compatible with rice fields
Grass Carp	Herbivorous	Controls weeds

 

Rice Varieties Suitable for Paddy-Cum-Fish Farming

Rice varieties chosen should withstand standing water and not lodge easily.
Recommended varieties:

• Swarna (MTU 7029)
• IR 64
• Pusa Basmati hybrids
• MTU 1010
• Hybrid rice with short/medium duration

Varieties resistant to pests and diseases are preferable, since pesticide use must be minimized for fish safety.

 

Cultivation and Management Practices

1. Field Preparation: Strengthen bunds, dig trenches, and install inlets/outlets.
2. Rice Transplanting: Use traditional or System of Rice Intensification (SRI) methods.
3. Fish Stocking:
• Fingerlings stocked 7–14 days after transplanting.
• Stocking density: 2,000–5,000 fingerlings per hectare.
• Polyculture (mix of species) recommended for better resource use.
4. Feeding Fish:
• Natural food (insects, plankton) supplemented with rice bran, oil cake, azolla, and kitchen waste.
5. Water Management: Maintain water depth of 10–15 cm for rice and 30–50 cm in trenches/refuge.

 

Integrated Nutrient and Pest Management

• Fertilization: Use organic manure, green manure (dhaincha), and biofertilizers (Azolla, Blue-green algae).
• Pest Control: Fish eat rice pests like leaf folders, stem borers, and hoppers. Neem-based sprays and biological agents can be used instead of chemicals.
• Weed Control: Grass carp helps control weeds naturally.

This reduces chemical input costs and makes the system eco-friendly.

 

Yield and Profitability Analysis

Average yields per hectare:

• Rice: 3.5–5 tons
• Fish: 500–800 kg

Compared to monoculture, farmers earn 30–50% higher net returns.

Example Cost–Benefit Analysis (per hectare)

Component	Cost (INR)	Returns (INR)
Rice Cultivation	40,000	75,000
Fish Cultivation	25,000	65,000
Integrated	65,000	1,40,000

Net Profit: 70,000–75,000 per hectare.

 

Challenges and Solutions

• Challenge: Fish escape during floods.
• Solution: Strong bunds and netted outlets.
• Challenge: Lack of farmer knowledge.
• Solution: Training from KVKs and fisheries departments.
• Challenge: Pest/disease outbreaks.
• Solution: Integrated Pest Management and timely monitoring.
• Challenge: High initial modification cost.
• Solution: Avail subsidies under PMMSY and NABARD schemes.

 

Government Schemes and Subsidies

1. Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): Subsidies for fish farming, fingerlings, and infrastructure.
2. Blue Revolution Scheme: Promotes integrated aquaculture.
3. State Fisheries Departments: Provide technical and financial support.
4. NABARD: Loans and assistance for integrated farming systems.

 

Case Studies and Success Stories

• West Bengal: Farmers adopting paddy-cum-fish farming report 40–50% higher profits compared to rice-only cultivation.
• Assam: Tribal farmers integrate paddy with common carp, reducing pesticide use drastically.
• Kerala: Farmers use bund farming systems with prawns and rice, increasing income per hectare.

These examples prove that small and marginal farmers benefit the most from integrated systems.

 

Future Scope and Market Opportunities

• Growing demand for organic rice and fish.
• Scope for export of specialty rice and fish.
• Opportunities for value addition (processed fish, branded rice).
• Integration with duck rearing, azolla cultivation, and biogas units.
• Climate-smart agriculture recognition makes it eligible for international funding.

 

Conclusion

Paddy-cum-fish farming is a sustainable, eco-friendly, and profitable farming practice. It allows farmers to earn double income from the same land, improve soil and water management, and contribute to nutritional security. With government support, scientific practices, and farmer awareness, this system can transform rural livelihoods.

Farmers who adopt paddy-cum-fish farming not only secure higher profits but also take a step toward climate-resilient agriculture.

suggsted reading

1. Pulses Crop Advisory: Complete Guide for Farmers in India (2025)

2.Ultimate Guide to Cereal Crops Advisory: Boost Yield and Profit in 2025

3.ICAR – Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA)