Integrated Rice-Duck Farming System

Bangladesh produces about 26 million tonnes of rice annually and the country has almost attained self-sufficiency in food. However, this increased rice production depends heavily on higher use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, which has increased both the risk of environmental pollution and the costs of rice production.

ice research in Bangladesh has so far centred on its cultivation as a sole crop. However, in China , Korea and Japan the rice-duck farming system has been widely adopted. Besides providing another source of income, ducks in the rice field are reported to control weeds and insects and add plant nutrients through their droppings. Traditionally, ducks are not allowed in the rice field in Bangladesh for fear of crop damage. Changing this age-old conception could increase the productivity and income of Resource-Poor Farmers (RPFs) in the country.