INTEGRATING FISH INTO RICE FARMING AS AN ECONOMIC SUBSTITUTE TO CHEMICAL PESTICIDES
Abstract
In an effort to eradicate pests and significantly increase food production for sustainable agriculture, rice farmers in Kenya have bowed to intensive and indiscriminate utilization of agrochemicals, particularly the chemical pesticides. Consequently, extensive use of pesticides in rice farming has become an integral part of production of the crop. Increasing empirical evidence suggests that chemical pesticides have intrinsic environmental risks during their use, storage and disposal, posing serious ecological and health concerns. However, most empirical studies on mitigation measure have proposed utilization of integrated pest management methods to control use of pesticides and minimize the effects of these pesticides as others examined the viability of integrating fish into rice farming and the rest revealed a sustainable rice agro-ecosystem. Related studies conducted locally have scantly addressed the rice-fish integrated farming approach as an economic alternative mechanism to chemical pesticides, denying Kenyan rice farmers at Mwea irrigation scheme important information for propagating a healthy environment. This study sought to lock this gap by assessing the economic viability of integration of fish into rice farming as substitute to chemical pesticides at farms in Mwea Irrigation Scheme. The present study adopted experimental design using completely randomized block design undertaken in the rice field of Mwea irrigation scheme. The experiment comprised of three separate treatments, each replicated three times with the; first treatment having rice, stocked with fish and fertilized with regular urea fertilization; second treatment had rice, stocked with fish, partial fertilization and supplementary feeding, and the third treatment was kept as control (rice without fish). Pishori variety of rice plants was be transplanted in the paddy field and after 14 days of transplantation of rice plants, fingerlings of Nile Tilapia were released in on two plots. Rearing was done at two levels: fish present (rice-fish culture) and fish absent (rice-monoculture). Data on rice and fish growth was collected at intervals after three months of the project initiation. The study concludes that integrating Nile tilapia fish into rice farming increases rice yields and increase fish produce. Accordingly, there is increased net returns from rice and fish, reduction of chemical pesticides utilization (eliminate the use pesticides), increase of the farmers’ income, diversified productivity of the soil, soil protection, increased nutrients uptake and biological control of pests.
Downloads
References
Abong’o, D . A, Wandiga, S.O. ,Jumba, I. O., Madadi, V. O. &Henrikkylin. (2014). Impacts of Pesticides On Human Health And Environment In The River Nyando Catchment, Kenya. Best: International Journal of Humanities, Arts, Medicine and Sciences (Best: Ijhams), 2(3), 1-14.
Alam, M. Z., Haque, M., Islam, S., Hossain, E. Hasan, S. B., Hasan, S. B. & Hossain, S. (2016). Comparative Study of Integrated Pest Management and Farmers Practices on Sustainable Environment in the Rice Ecosystem. International Journal of Zoology, 2016, 1 - 12. Available Online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/7286040.
American Public Health Association [APHA]. (1980). Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Waste Water. 2nd Edition. Washington DC, USA : American Public Health Association.
American Public Health Association [APHA]. (1989) Standard methods for the examination of water and waste water 17th Edition, Washington, D.C: American water works association, American Public Health Association.
Baba, I. I. Y., Abudulai, M., Dogbe. W & Heskaya. A. (2013). Integrated rice-fish farming as a business: The case of Golinga irrigation scheme small farmers. Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, 8(8), 54-163
Balogun, O. S., Aliyu, T. H. & Musa, A. K (2014). Perception Of “Fadama” Iii Participating Farmers On Pests And Diseases And The Use Of Integrated Pest Management Control Strategy In Kwara State, Nigeria . Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and Management, 6(6), 601 -610 Available Online at :http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ejesm.v6i6
Bennett, E.M., Peterson, G.D. & Gordon, L.J. (2009). Understanding relationships among multiple ecosystem services. Ecology Letters, 12, 1394-1404.
Berg, H., Berg, C & Nguyen, T. T. (2012) Integrated Rice-Fish Farming: Safeguarding Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for Sustainable Food Production in the Mekong Delta. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 36(8), 859-872, DOI: 10.1080/10440046.2012.712090.
Bremner J. M. &Mulvaney C. S. (1982). Methods of soil analysis, Part 2, Chemical and microbiological properties. Agronomy Total Nitrogen.
Chebai, P. A (2014). Method Optimization and Determination of Selected Organophosphate and Carbamate Pesticide Residues in the Rice (Oryiza Sativa) Growing Region of Mwea, Kirinyaga County, Kenya. Unpublished Master of Science in Chemistry Thesis, Nairobi: Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
Dang K N. , Le TePhong, Marc, Verdegem J. C., Le T. D. , Roel H. , Bosma, Little DC (2007). Integrated fresh water aquaculture, crop and livestock production in Mekong delta, Vietnam. Determinants and role of the pond. Agricultural systems, 94, 445-458.
Das D. N., Mandal R.N &, Mukhopadhyay P. K. (2009). Deep water rice-fish integrated culture system: A viable option for increasing fish production as well as natural water harvest, world. Aquaculture, 40(3):58-63.
Desta, L., Devi,. L. P., Sreenivasa, V. &Amede. T. (2014). Studies on the ecology of the paddy and fish co–culture system at Dembi Gobu microwater shed at Bako, Ethiopia. International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies, 1(3): 49-53.
Fessehaye, Y. (2006). Natural mating in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromisniloticus (L). Implications for reproductive success, inbreeding and cannibalism. Wageningen: Wageningen UR.
Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (2008). FAO Yearbook of Fisheries Statistics.
Halwart, M., Litsinge, J. A, Viray, M.C. & Kaule, G (2014). Efficacy of Common Carp and Nile Tilapia as Biocontrol Agents of the Golden Apple Snail in the Philippines. Philippine Journal of Science, 143 (2): 125-136.
Indeche, A &Ondieki-Mwaura, F (2015). Level of knowledge on application of sustainable agriculture practices among rice farmers in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, Kenya. International Journal of Education and Research, 3(9), 313-330.
Kimkhuy, K. & Chhay. N (2014). Does Cambodia Need Integrated Pest Management? Past Experience, Present Knowledge And Future Prospects . Development Research Forum Synthesis Report, April 2014, No. 03.
Krumbein W. C. & Pettijohn F. J. (1938). Manual of sedimentary petrography. New York: Appleton century crofts.
Kumar J. Y., Chari M. S. &Vardia H. K. (2012). Effect of integrated fish-duck farming on growth performance and economic efficiency of Indian major carps .Livestock Research for Rural Development. 24(12). Article #219. Available online at: http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd24/12/kuma24219.htm
Lorenz, E. S. (2009). Potential Health Effects of Pesticides. Pesticide Safety Fact Sheet Ag Communications and Marketing. Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences on The Pennsylvania State University
Mace, G.M., Norris, K. & Fitter, A.H. (2012). Biodiversity and ecosystem services: a multilayered relationship. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 27, 19-26.
Momen-Nia, M. (2002). Management of fish farming in rice field. Aquaculture Magazine Yearbook. Iranian Fisheries Organization, 10, 27-43.
Munguti, J. M. Jeong-Dae K. & Ogello, E. O. (2014). An Overview of Kenyan Aquaculture: Current Status, Challenges, and Opportunities for Future Development. Fisheries and Aquatic Science, 17(1), 1-11.
National Environmental Secretariat [NES]. 2006. National Implication Plan for Stockholm convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Nairobi, Kenya: National Environmental Secretariat.
Nhapi I., Wali U.G., Uwonkunda B. K., Nsengimana H., Banadda N. & Kimwaga R.(2011). Assessment of water pollution levels in the Nyabugogo catchment, Rwanda. The Open Environmental Engineering Journal, (4), 40-53.
Noorhosseini-Niyaki, S. A. & Bagherzadeh-Lakani, F. (2013). Ecological and Biological Effects of Fish Farming in Rice Fields. Persian Gulf Crop Protection, 2(2), 1-7.
Odada, E.O., Ochola, W.O. & Olago. D.O. (2009). Drivers of ecosystem change and their impact on human well-being in Lake Victoria basin. African Journal of Ecology, 47: 46-54.
Olsen S. R, Cole C. V, Watanable F. S. & Dean L. A. (1954). Estimation of available phosphorus in soils by extraction with sodium bicarbonate. USDA Circular 1954; 9398:1–19.
Pengseng, P. (2013). On Farm Trial with Rice Fish Cultivation in Nakhon Si Thammarat Southern Thailand. Walailak Journal of Science & Technology, 10(1), 67-75.
Poston, F. L., Pedigo, L. P., Pearce, R. B. &Hammond, R. B. (1976). Effects of artificial insect defoliation on soybean net photosynthesis. J. Econ. Entomol. 69:109-112.
Pretty, J. &Bharucha. Z. P. (2015). Integrated Pest Management for Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture in Asia and Africa. Insects, 6, 152-182; doi:10.3390/insects6010152.
Rabanal, H.R. (1988). History of Aquaculture. FAO. Available online at :http://www.fao.org/docrep/field/009/ag158e/AG158E02.htm
Saikia S. K, Das D. N. (2008). Rice-fish culture and its potential in rural development: A Lesson from Apatani farmers, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, 6(1-2):125-131.
Saikia, A. K., Abujam, S., Das, D. N. & Prasad, B. S. (2015).Economics of paddy cum fish culture: A case study in Sivsagar, Assam. International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies, 2(5): 198-203.
Seppelt, R., Dormann, C.F., Eppink, F.V., Lautenbach, S. & Schmidt, S. (2011). A quantitative review of ecosystem service studies: approaches, shortcomings and the road ahead. Journal of Applied Ecology, 48, 630-636.
Stadlinger, N., Mmochi, A. &. Kumbilad, L. (2013). Weak Governmental Institutions Impair the Management of Pesticide Import and Sales in Zanzibar. Ambio, 42:72-82.
Stern, V. M. 1973. Economic thresholds. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 18, 259-280.
Steve, R. (2009). Pollution issues; pesticides. Available online at: http://www.pollution issues.com
Strickland, J. D. H. & Parsons, T. R. (1972). A practical hand book of sea water analysis. 2nd edition. Canada: Bull Fish Res bd.
Tam, N. T. (2016). Pesticide use in rice farming and its impacts on climbing perch (Anabas testudineus) in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. Unpublished PhD Thesis Stockholm: Stockholm University.
Yeboah, I. (2013). Urban Agriculture And Pesticide Overdose: A Case Study Of Vegetable Production At Dzorwulu-Accra. Unpublished Master’s Degree In Agroecology, Norwegian University of life sciences.
Zira, J. D., Ja’afaru, A., Badejo, B. I, Ghumdia, A. A. & Ali, M.E. (2015). Integrated fish farming and poverty alleviation/hunger eradication in Nigeria. IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science (IOSR-JAVS), 8(6), 15-20.
Copyright (c) 2020 IJRDO - Journal of Agriculture and Research (ISSN: 2455-7668)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Author(s) and co-author(s) jointly and severally represent and warrant that the Article is original with the author(s) and does not infringe any copyright or violate any other right of any third parties, and that the Article has not been published elsewhere. Author(s) agree to the terms that the IJRDO Journal will have the full right to remove the published article on any misconduct found in the published article.
