The Indonesian government reported to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Council Meeting here the results of its rice-fish farming and fresh-water prawn-rice systems which were able to increase rice yield by 10-20 per cent to around 6 to 7.5 tonnes per hectare and an additional production of 1.2 tonnes-1.5 tonnes of fish.
Indonesia’s Director General of the Food Security Agency Achmad Suryana told the five-day Council Meeting, which is to end in Rome on Friday, that the rice-fish farming initiative, which is part of a one million-ha program, also succeeded in raising farmers’ income to the equivalent of US$4,800-7,800/ha per harvest.
FAO Director for Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources Indroyono Soesilo commended the achievements of the program, pointing out that by combining the aquatic biodiversity in rice, it would enhance multiple production and foster more productive and regenerative form of farming.
Indonesia’s one million-ha rice fish program which was launched in 2011 and is scheduled to be completed in 2015 is part of three FAO’s Regional Rice-Fish Initiative (RRI) programs. The other two projects are implemented in the Philippines and Laos.
Indroyono explained in a statement from Rome that rice-fish mixed farming gains mutual benefits because fish provides nutrients and pest control for rice, while rice fields provide shelter and natural feed for fish.
He reiterated that rice is the main staple and the primary commodity for food security in Indonesia while fish is one of the affordable sources of protein supply for the people.
