Integrated farming in Asia is either considered an eco-friendly good that should be preserved for environmental reasons or a poor practice that will soon be superseded by industrial aquaculture. The reality, as this book describes, is a dynamic set of practices that have expanded rapidly under certain conditions but have proved inconsequential in others. An analysis concludes that most livestock-fish integration is sound business conducted by entrepreneurs accessing urban markets where the price of fish is relatively low. It can be used as part of a strategy to reduce environmental impacts of intensive livestock production and to produce low-cost food. Farmers have proved adept at both developing their systems to meet their own needs and diversifying the role of ponds, fish and livestock within their complex livelihoods. This overview identifies the factors that lead to success or failure and gives an insight into both concept and practice.
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED
NATIONS
INLAND WATER RESOURCES AND AQUACULTURE SERVICE
ANIMAL PRODUCTION
SERVICE
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
00100 Rome,
Italy
www.fao.org
