Effective use of rice fields for wider variety of food production

Abstract

There is increasing need for food security due to increasing human population pressure. Sustainable and effective production of food is key in a dynamic environment. Rice fields’ coverage has increased over the years. There is the need to improve the effectiveness of the rice fields in food production. The basis for this idea is that fish production can be managed concurrently within rice plantations. This would enhance variety of produce per unit coverage of plantation. The mudfish is a species that is most suitable for it thrives in muddy water and tolerates high turbidity levels. Young and mature fish are introduced into the unit field. Observations are noted with regards to behaviour as they grow and develop with time. This fish usually dig into the mud and can therefore live in the rice fields’ condition. This behaviour would minimize the disturbance the fish would have on the rice plants. Excretion from the fish is a source of nutrients for the plants. The fish are later harvested once mature. This project is thus viable because of the adaptation to mud water. This would imply that the type and amount of nutrients added to the field should be tolerated by the mudfish. This calls for better harvesting measures of both fish and rice so as not to interfere with the other. This would result in an increase in the amount of food obtained from unit coverage of land hence efficient production.