Question

Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct with respect to fish and paddy integrated farming?
I - It helps in the control of weeds, pests or insect larvae which are harmful for paddy.
II - The integrated fish and paddy farming requires less water compared to paddy cultivation alone.
III - The movement of fish in the paddy fields can negatively impact the growth of paddy.

• A. I and II
• B. I and III
• C. II and III
• D. only I

Answer 1

The correct option is D only I

Paddy Cum Fish Culture (PFC) is the integration of fish farming with paddy cultivation. This is a sustainable system as both paddy and fish can be harvested from a single cultivable area. Integrated fish farming provides the option of getting extra income along with the main crop for the farmers.

This integrated system is possible because rice is a water intensive crop which can tolerate submergance in water and can be grown in water logged land and the fish can be cultivated along with it.

The culture of fish in paddy fields benefits rice cultivation because:

• Movement of fish in the water provides better aeration of water for the crop roots to breathe. So, statement III is incorrect.
• The fish excreta makes the soil fertile the fertility of soil.
• The fishes devour any harmful pest or insect larva that may damage the crop.
• Water logging helps to eliminate the chance of weed growth as the weeds are unable to survive in submerged land. So, statement I is correct.

However, there are some cons to this process. PFC requires more water compared to rice cultivation alone. The yield of fish is also much less compared to open pond fish farming. So, statement II is incorrect.