Rice-fish farming – a potential venture for livelihood security for the tribal community of East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh

A multi-locational trial on rizi-pisciculture was conducted to evaluate the feasibility and economic viability of rice fish culture (RFC) in the East Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh. The experiment was conducted in the wet season of 2010 and 2011 in 4 villages of the district viz. Ngorlung, Niglok, Balek and Mirem. One experimental unit at each location was prepared for RFC, while at Ngorlung, another adjacent plot of rice sole cropping (control) was studied separately. In all the location under study, survival rate of advanced fry was recorded between 41.7 % and 45.4 % with an average size of 80 g to 90 g at harvest. Average grain yield recorded in RFC field (4.86 t ha-1) was 12% higher than the control (4.33 t ha-1) with additional mean fish productivity of 3.56 q ha-1. Total cost of cultivation of RFC and sole cropping of rice was recorded to be Rs. 40,800 and Rs.24,450 respectively. Average gross income and net income increased by Rs. 44,528 and Rs. 28,178 respectively by practicing RFC over the sole cropping of rice and it also raised the benefit-cost ratio of the system (2.19)