Rice with fish culture in the semi-deep waters of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam: a socio-economical survey |
| |
| Authors: | A J Rothuis D K Nhan C JJ Richter F Ollevier |
| |
| Affiliation: | Laboratory of Ecology and Aquaculture, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium;Mekong Delta Farming Systems Research and Development Institute, University of Can Tho, Can Tho, Vietnam;Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, Agricultural University, Department of Fish Culture and Fisheries, Wageningen, The Netherlands |
| |
| Abstract: | The results of a socio-economical survey of farming systems practising rice culture with introduced fish, rice culture with indigenous fish and rice monoculture in the semi-deep waters of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, are presented. Rice and fish yields, inputs, and cost-benefits were computed to evaluate the agricultural effects of rice with fish culture. Household size, labour availability and educational level were not significantly different among the three farming systems. Rice-fish farming systems differed mainly from rice monoculture by a higher fertilizer/ water requirement and less pesticide use. The total farm cash and net return did not differ among the farming systems. The main beneficial effects of rice-fish culture are thought to be related to environmental sustainability, system biodiversity, farm diversification and household nutrition. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
