1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Scaling-up SLM practices by smallholder farmers (IFAD)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) - Lao People's Democratic Republic

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Raising fish in rice paddy to optimize the use of land.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

A rice-fish system is effectively the integration of a rice field and a fish pond. This idea was initiated by local people who have been living with natural resources including forests, mountains and streams for generations. Their idea was to optimize these resources – namely the land and water to fish raising in the rice field at the same time. In the past, people were dependent on shifting cultivation. However, they recently switched to lowland rice cultivation because shifting cultivation for upland rice cultivation is insufficient for household consumption and against government policy for natural environment conservation; whatever the farmer still keep the upland rice cultivation in burned area but no allow to expand the new area. Raising fish in a rice paddy is an important technique to encourage permanent land use. It should be initiated in an appropriate environment especially one where there is water supply throughout the year. The rice paddy should be located along a stream, a river or an irrigation canal so that the water can be adequately channeled both in and out of the field. Ta-Oy is a district where there is limited productive agricultural land with most of the rice paddies being situated along mountain valleys and at the base of the hills. In this area agricultural activities rely entirely on natural rainfall. The creation of rice fields requires a considerable amount of labour from local households or otherwise a tractor needs to be hired to clear the area along the mountain valleys. Basically, rice paddy development in such areas requires the construction of small dykes in cross sections of the stream channel. Ground levelling may be required to ensure that the water reaches all of the plots. Typically, these paddy fields are arranged in a terraced formation. Raising fish in rice fields may require different methods from those of traditional rice paddies as there need to be appropriate measures taken in order to prevent natural disasters, particularly soil erosion. Rice fields that are suitable for fish raising need to have higher levees built around them and be equipped with an appropriate drainage system. The farmer also needs to construct deep retention water in the pond next to the rice field so as to regulate the water from the canal flow directly to rice field, which helps to reduce levees erosion. The integrated rice-fish system sets out to maximize land use as it enables both rice production and the raising of fish thereby providing increased food security for households as well as improving their income. In order to apply the technology, farmers need drainage pipes which are installed on levees to leveling the water in rice fields that are a part of the irrigation system. Other production inputs include the rice variety, fish fingerlings, knifes, hoes, spades, shovels and sickles. Both of these activities are mutually beneficial because the food waste and suspended nutrients in the water resulting from the fish waste provide a natural fertilizer for the rice and this also enhances the soil’s fertility, whilst at the same time the rice stalks provide a habitat for the fish. When pests or insects threaten the rice crop, fish fulfill the role of consuming them. The practice of raising fish in rice paddies also helps to reduce water pollution due to the process of eutrophication through fertilization, even though process of decaying is loss of oxygen production but it can be regenerated by phytoplankton’s photosynthesis and water sources recharge . In fact, the technology reduces expenses and labour required for the cultivation of rice and at the same time preserves the environment, as the soil is moist throughout the year. This technology is very pragmatic for farmers as it allows them to provide sufficient rice and fish for their families’ needs. Benefits also include increased productivity in comparison to shifting cultivation which provided insufficient outputs and farmers often experienced rice shortages. Farmers can now cultivate rice for two seasons. Another benefit are the nutrients and the decay from fish faeces which become a natural fertilizer for the rice and add microorganisms to the soil. An integrated rice-fish system can be implemented in an area of 500 sqm (25m x 20m), with a water depth of 0.5 – 1 m and a gradient between 3 - 5% which is similar to that of terraced rice paddies. The space between rows of rice stems should be 20 – 25cm with an open area for the fish without any rice plants approximately 5 square meters from the levee to the field where there is a water pipe to generate oxygen for fishes. The fish population should be at a density of five fish per square meter, and suitable species include Pa pak (Barbonymus gonionotus), tilapia and Pa kheng (Anabas testudineus).Strengths: (1) An increase in rice production in a smaller area because the farmer is able to cultivate rice for two seasons as well as in fish production (both a dry season and a rain fed rice crop). (2) An integrated fish culture maximizes the agricultural land. (3) Nutrients and fish faeces are essential for rice as well as add microorganisms to the soil. (4) Raising fish in a rice field provides a good return and optimizes land use. Weaknesses (1) A lack of funds to implement this technology – farmers need some source of funding. (2) It has been implemented traditionally without any technical knowledge –there is the need for farmers to receive technical advice regarding the maintenance of a rice-fish system as well as land management. (3) The need for appropriate equipment to implement the production process. (4) If the fish population density is too high, it might affect the health of the rice. (5) It is not possible to propagate an adequate number of fish fingerlings for the next year in the existing rice-fish system, an individual nursery pond for propagation is required.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2013

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation
• during experiments/ research

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The farmer has seen this technology in the northern part of the country, where it is a traditional system, and then wanted to do it on his own fields.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• create beneficial economic impact

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Comments:

Livestock density: 5 fishes/m2

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

Comments:

canal irrigation from the stream

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• Rice-fish system

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

A4: Subsurface treatmentSoil tillage (stuff tillage) is needed to rotate the subsoil for paddy rice cultivation

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation
• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

kip

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

8000.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Make levees	May
2.	Surface leveling	May
3.	Fill the water	July
4.	Rice planting	July
5.	Release the fish	July

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Labour	person-day	5.0	35000.0	175000.0	100.0
Equipment	Hoe	piece	1.0	40000.0	40000.0	100.0
Equipment	Shovel	piece	1.0	25000.0	25000.0	100.0
Equipment	Tractor	Day	1.0	1000000.0	1000000.0	100.0
Equipment	Knife	piece	1.0	35000.0	35000.0	100.0
Plant material	Rice variety	Kg	30.0	5000.0	150000.0	100.0
Plant material	Fish breed	Fish	2500.0	200.0	500000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Bio fertilizer	Bag	10.0	10000.0	100000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Manure	Bag	10.0	5000.0	50000.0	100.0
Construction material	Bamboo tube	Piece	5.0	10000.0	50000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					2125000.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					265.63

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Fertilizer	One time per season after rice planting
2.	Fish feeding	Once a day
3.	Weeding	Once a month
4.	Levees repair	Once a season

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Labor for weeding on the levees	Day	5.0	35000.0	175000.0	100.0
Labour	Labor for both fish and rice harvesting	Day	10.0	35000.0	350000.0	100.0
Equipment	Hoe	Piece	1.0	40000.0	40000.0	100.0
Equipment	Shovel	Piece	1.0	15000.0	15000.0	100.0
Equipment	Knife	Piece	2.0	35000.0	70000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Bio fertilizer	Bag	5.0	10000.0	50000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Manure	Bag	5.0	5000.0	25000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					725000.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					90.63

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Tractor hiring (including tractor driver) and fish breed (young fish) are the most important factors affecting the costs.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• concave situations

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Water availability and quality

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	moderately
seasonal temperature	dry season	increase	moderately
annual rainfall		increase	moderately
seasonal rainfall	dry season	decrease	well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	well
local windstorm	moderately

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	moderately
land fire	moderately

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
landslide	moderately

Biological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
insect/ worm infestation	moderately

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
extended growing period	moderately

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 11-50%

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

5 household initiate implement this technology

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 91-100%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

Yes

If yes, indicate to which changing conditions it was adapted:

• climatic change/ extremes

Specify adaptation of the Technology (design, material/ species, etc.):

The technology was adapted to a long period of rain

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Increase in yields even in small area, able to produce 2 seasons a year
Integrated rice and fish can produce 2 products in one area
Fish byproduct can increase soil organic matter in the rice field

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Farmers need to buy the fry in the next season, as they have a lack of knowledge in fish breeding	Fish breeding training course is needed

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Fish raising in rice fields is limited because its water is shallow compared to a pond in general (fish pond)

7.1 Methods/ sources of information