Integrated Farming of Duck and Fish
What does Duck and Fish combined farming mean?
It is integrated duck-fish farming, otherwise, called “duck fish composite”. It is an ecological agricultural approach that involves mixed poultry and freshwater aquaculture. The method involves exploiting the symbiotic relationship between ducks and fish to intensify production, reduce environmental destruction, and keep costs down.
What are the objectives of Duck and Fish combined farming?
- No extra land is needed for ducks.
- Farm Productivity: Increase yield by combining duck and fish farming.
- Multiple revenue streams: Earn from both duck and fish products.
- Cost Reduction: Cut down on maintenance fees plus feed using resource sharing.
- Environmental Sustainability: Maintain the ecological balance while minimizing waste production.
- Low costs for increasing the productivity of protein.
- No extra labor costs.
How can you prepare duck and fish integrated farms?
- Pond Preparation: Establish a pond with appropriate depth & water quality management
- Duck Housing: Floating or Pond side duck shelters
- Stocking Ducks & Fishes: Introduce compatible duck species (e.g. Pekin, Khaki Campbell ) & fishes (e.g. Carp, Tilapia) at optimum densities.
- Fish Feeding System: Employing duck droppings as organic fish feed, with supplementary commercial feed.
- Duck and Fish Health Management: Regular health checks and biosecurity measures as preventive measures against diseases.
- Water Quality Control: Optimal water parameters should be maintained by regularly monitoring using a natural filtration system.
Financial Projections for Integrated Duck and Fish Farming:
- Farm Initial Investments: Approximately 1,000,000 Tk. covering pond construction, duck housing, and initial stock
- Farm Operating Costs: The first year operating costs include feed(500,000 Tk.), health care (150,000 Tk.)and maintenance-150,000 Tk.).
- Farm Revenue: Projected annual revenue of 2 million tk from duck & fish sales.
- Farm Profitability: Yearly net profit after the first year of operation is expected to rise to 1.2 million taka
What are the advantages of mixed farming involving ducks and fish?
- Increase efficiency: by reducing labor costs on controlling aquatic weeds because they also act as feed for ducks which is a major cost in rearing them.
- Nutrient recycling: duck manure used as fish feed enriches the pond, promoting fish growth, which results in low feeding costs.
- Market Demand: High demand for fresh poultry and fish products in local or regional markets or worldwide.
- Sustainability: Reduced dependence on the use of chemicals for fertilizers and pesticides.
What are the difficulties facing a farmer who combines ducks with fish?
- Market fluctuations: The profitability of duck and fish products depends on varying prices.
- Disease management: It is important to monitor possible transmission between species.
- Water management: Quality maintenance is essential because it prevents fish mortality.
Conclusion
Integrated farming of duck and fish proves to be a feasible and sustainable approach. This method has been identified as one that can increase productivity, reduce costs, and contribute to environmental conservation through resource optimization as well as leveraging natural processes. An exercise in careful planning, ongoing management, and market analysis is crucial if benefits are to be maximized thus ensuring long-term success.
Md Arif Shariare Sagar
Roll No: 172703
Reg. No. 1727777