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Rice-fish systems in Indonesia

by Catalino dela Cruz




Seedfish produced in ricefields are stocked in
various growout systems

Rice-fish farming has a long history in Indonesia. In general, farmers have developed the systems that are now used. The widely practiced rice-fish systems in irrigated areas of West Java are minapadi, penyelang and fish palawija. A special system called sawah tambak also exists in the coastal areas of East Java.

Fish produced from ricefields are mostly seedfish for restocking in growout systems, such as floating net and bamboo cages, running water (concrete tanks) and irrigation canal systems.

Minapadi system

In this system, rice and fish are concurrently raised in the same area. A trench refuge (0.5 m wide and 0.3-0.4 m deep) is used. The payaman method is another kind of minapadi system. The difference is that the rice-fish field is connected to a pond refuge instead of a trench.

Minapadi system

Rice varieties that are proven to give high yields with fish during the wet season such as IR 64 and during dry season such as Ciliwung are planted. Planting distance in a thoroughly prepared plot is 20 x 20 cm, 22 x 22 cm or 25 x 25 cm. In West Java, fertilizers used (and their rates of application in kg/ha) are: urea, 200; triplesuperphosphate,100; potassium chloride, 100; and ammonium sulphate, 50. Water level is kept low during the tillering stage of rice. It is gradually raised to 10-15 cm throughout the rice growth period.

Common carp weighing 15-25 g are stocked in the ricefield at 2 500-3 000/ha 7-10 days after rice transplanting. A center or cross-trench occupies about 2 percent of the total ricefield area. Harvesting is done by draining the field slowly after a culture period of 40-60 days. Within this period, the fish attain 50-100 g, the size desired for stocking cages and running water culture systems.

Penyelang system

This is the culture of fish in between the first and second rice crops. The fish culture period is shorter than in palawija system. A portion of the ricefield with rice stubbles is immediately stocked with common carp, while preparing the remaining portion to the dry season rice crop.

Stocking size varies: 5-8 or 8-12 cm or 15-25 g, depending on availability. Stocking rate is 2 000-4 000/ha. Water depth is 10-20 cm. Fish are harvested after 30-40 days. This short period may not produce the desired size for growout in cages and running water systems, especially if stocked small. However, growout operators also buy small fish seeds if supply is scarce. The unsold small fish are restocked in the following dry season rice crop cycle.

Penyelang system

Raising dikes after dry season rice
crop for palawija ikan system

Palawija ikan system

Immediately after the harvest of the dry season rice crop, dikes are raised by using a hoe, to contain water depth of 30-40 cm. The stocking size and rate vary. In West Java, common fish carp of size 3-5 or 5-8 cm are stocked at 5 000/ha without feeding. In North Sumatra, consumption size is produced in the palawija system. The usual common carp sizes stocked are 30-50 g or 50-100 g at the rate of 1 000- 1 500 (no feeding); and 1 500-3 000 (with supplemental feeding). Supplemental feeds are rice bran, chopped cassava, corn kernel soaked in water, poultry feed, kitchen refuse and others. Harvesting the fish is done by draining the field.

Fish stocking and production data

Cropping patterns

The above systems are combined into sequential cropping patterns in a year such as:

In the last pattern, ducks are allowed to roam in the ricefield 25-30 days after transplanting the rice. Ducks have potential for controlling golden snail (Pomacea spp.) infestation on rice at a density of 25 ducks/ha. The ducks have a small refuge pond where they are kept when necessary.

The addition of ducks in the last pattern made it the most profitable pattern. The year-round supply of eggs provides monthly income to a farmer. In the absence of ducks, the minapadi-penyelang-minapadi-palawija pattern is the most profitable.

Minapadi

penyelang

minapadi

palawija

(rice+fish)

(fish only)

(rice+fish)

(fish only)

Rice

penyelang

rice

palawija

Rice

rice

palawija

 

(Rice-fish-duck)

(fish-duck)

(Rice-fish-duck)

(fish-duck)


Issues for further consideration

For the system described, potential users may need to obtain local information about the relative importance of different markets for fish seed, and the quantity and schedules these are needed.

The practice is concentrated in West Java. Wealth ranking of the types of farmers involved (previously and present-day), as well as the inputs provided by and the access to benefits by different household members, would provide useful information for further applications. Also of interest are the local variations in the relative value of fish and rice, in comparison to the situation in West Java by main system type.

Economics of the systems should be evaluated based on local trials, considering local species needs, costs and returns. Generally the system may find successful application where there is adequate demand for fingerlings.

Additionally the system can bring with it employment opportunities for women, particularly in fish seed rearing, as it ensures quick return on their labour, cash and material investment.



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