Fish cultivation in paddy fields is as primitive as farming itself in other states of North East India but in Assam, this system has recently been adopted by farmers to diversify their income. In this farming system, rice is the primary enterprise whereas fishes contribute towards additional income.

In India, more than 70 per cent population depend on paddy cultivation. Communities from Karbi Anglong district in Assam consider paddy as the main staple crop and almost every family cultivates paddy. It mostly grows in the water-logged of Karbi Anglong areas.

Caritas India FARM Northeast program always promote farmers to make optimum use of available land and resources. Babu Teron, a smallholder farmer was convinced but clueless to move towards large scale multiple cropping. The program helped Babu Teron to do multiple cropping. However, paddy fields are often waterlogged due to rainfall and farmers tend to avoid cultivation during such temporary water-logging. 

Paddy Fish Cultivation (PFC) is the integration of fish farming with paddy. This system is profitable and sustainable, paddy and fish can be harvested from a cultivable area. The system of raising fish from the rice fields probably started in the Northeast with the beginning of the rice cultivation itself, because the waterlogged rice fields form a natural habitat for wild fish. Terrace paddy fields and low-lying fields with a good source of water and spacious benches/plots can be brought under this system. The fish species suited in the system are that can grow to marketable size in a short period. Some successful species are Catla, Rohu, Mrigal and Common Carp.

The FARM team of Jirsong Asong (JA), a Caritas India partner has trained the farmers on Paddy cum Fish (PFC) cultivation during the exposure visit to TSSS. Ms. Venika Hansepi, Animator JA while visiting the fields of Babu Teron from Jorlep Teron village in the district suggested Babu go for PFC. Taking note of the suggestion Babu Teron initiated Paddy cum fish cultivation in his field in the month of July 2021. He converted a piece of wasteland into a model Paddy Cum Fish Culture. Babu is among those lead farmers in the FARM programme who is involved in the cultivation of Banana, Pineapple, Arecanut, Seasame, Ginger, Chilli, varieties of Yam, Tapiocas and lots more. “I keep cultivating the crops to support my family and by the grace of God this helped me through the peak of lockdown period in 2020”, said Babu.

Babu is into PFC since July and is expecting an income of a minimum Rs. 10,000. According to him, the fish grow faster under such conditions and paddy is also saved from weeds and pests. This duo system of cultivation gives an additional income but also helps in increasing soil fertility, reduces farm input, helps in resource recycling and enhance farmers’ position and livelihood.

The FARM programme of Caritas India is promoting innovations leading to a rise in income of the smallholders and this case is yet another feather to its cap. PFC has gained popularity in the North East region and Caritas India is taking initiatives to take forward such practices to the other parts of the region.