Integrated Rizi-Pisciculture: An approach towards livelihood and nutritional security for the tribal community of East Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh

Abstract

An approach was made to evaluate the feasibility and economic viability of rice fish culture (RFC) by conducting trials in 8 different villages viz. Ngorlung, Niglok, Balek, Mirem, Sikatode, Ayeng, Rayang and Seren of East Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh during Kharif seasons of 2011 to 2014. In the multilocational trials on rizi-pisciculture survival rate of advanced fry was recorded between 44.5 % and 48.7 % with an average weight of 83 g to 91 g at the harvest. During the study period average total cost of cultivation of RFC and sole cropping of rice was calculated to be ` 42,700 and ` 26,612 respectively. Average gross income and net income increased by ` 61,937 and ` 44,849 respectively by practicing RFC over the sole cropping of rice and it also raised the benefit-cost ratio of the system (2.61). Highlights • Main advantage of RFC is proper utilization of land resources and irrigation water as well as securing extra income from fish without additional labour. • Survival rate of advanced fry was recorded between 44.5 % and 48.7 % with an average size of 83 g to 91 g at harvest • Benefit-cost ratio was higher in RFC (2.61) than that of the sole culture of rice (1.98).