Ducks ideally suited for integrated aqua-forestry
By Our Agriculture Correspondent
In private holdings up to 60 ducks could be stocked in a hectare of integrated aqua-forestry system.
DUCKS ARE ideal for integrated aqua-forestry system, and various studies have shown that they contributed significantly to the increased productivity and profitability of the system according to Dr. F.R. Sheriff, Director of Extension Education, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS), Chennai.
The aqua-forestry system comprises composite fish culture in farm ponds, and raising fodder, fuel, timber and fruit trees on waste lands along the bunds. Inland fish such as Catla, Rohu, Mrigal, common carp, silver carp and grass carp can be grown in the ponds for 6 to 10 months. Ducks could perfectly be integrated into such a farming system.
Farmers could get higher incomes through fish, duck eggs, duck meat, fodder, grass, fruits, vegetables and nuts on a regular basis, explained Dr. Sheriff.
Various advantages
"Ducks enrich the ponds by manuring and thus encourage plankton growth. They also voraciously feed on snails, grasshoppers, beetles, small crabs, earthworms and unwanted aquatic weeds, and provide a good environment for fish development. Ducks also feed on dead fish and unhealthy fingerlings and the trash fish, which compete with the cultured fish. Duck eggs ensure a regular income for the farmers," he said.
Each duck will add about 200 g of organic manure daily to the ponds. It helps reduce the cost of feed for the fish.
The frequent movement of the birds in the fishpond helps in better aeration of the ponds. By growing grass and trees on the bunds, soil erosion is arrested, and the grass is consumed by the grass carps and to a certain extent by the ducks.
Well appreciated
"Our studies proved that integrated aqua-forestry system with duck rearing as a key enterprise has been well appreciated by the farming community. It has proved to be successful as a community endeavour, as well as an independent private initiative.
When implemented in farmers' fields it fetched higher return, created additional jobs and instilled an interest among farmers to use their time more profitably," he pointed out.
In private holdings up to 60 ducks could be stocked in a hectare of integrated aqua-forestry system. The integration can be taken up in places where paddy cultivation is not taken up on a large stretch of land.
Maintenance
A fish culture period of at least seven to eight months should be ensured to enable the maintenance of the ducks on hand feeding only for a short duration, according to him.
In community lands, a maximum of 96 ducks could be stocked per hectare. It could be done successfully in almost all community ponds, lakes, reservoirs and marshy lands.
When paddy nursery is raised in the vicinity, adequate care should be taken to prevent the birds from wandering into the paddy nursery, cautioned Dr. Sheriff.
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