Introduction

This symposium on rice-fish farming in China brought together 55 experts and scholars from the Academia Sinica, the Departments of Agriculture and Hydraulics, the Institutes of Aquacultural Research and Education, and the Administration Bureaus. In addition, there were representatives from the International Development Research Centre, Canada, the Network for Aquaculture Centres in Asia (NACA), Thailand, the Freshwater Aquaculture Center, Central Luzon State University, Philippines, and the International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management.

China has had a long history of rice-fish farming. As rural areas have been industrialized in recent years, rice-fish farming has gained attention because it is an organic method that combines rice and fish production while maximizing labour and ricefield resources. The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the Chinese Aquacultural Research Institute organized this symposium, with financial assistance from the International Development Research Centre, to synthesize the rich experiences and skills of Chinese farmers and to improve rice-fish farming as a way to increase food production in Southeast Asia and in other parts of the world.

Rice has always been the number one grain crop in China in terms of both area and yield. During the 1950s, the tradition of rice-fish farming developed substantially but the benefits were not significant. Fish harvests were poor because the method was based only on traditional experiences and technical difficulties were encountered. However, rice-fish farming developed rapidly and by 1988, 800 000 ha were being harvested with a average yield of 133 kg/ha. In some areas, yields exceeded 3750 kg/ha and many farmers harvested 15 000 kg of rice and 1500 kg of fish per hectare. The incomes of these farmers increased considerably. The techniques of rice-fish farming improved markedly as additional skill and experience were acquired.

In 1972, Ni Dashu, of Academia Sinica’s Institute of Hydrobiology, initiated experiments to increase fish production from rice-fish culture. These experiments established the theory for rice-fish integration, which guided the research work of Chinese scientists during the 1980s. Research was focused on the common needs of fish and rice for water, light, and nutrition under local conditions. Many new techniques were developed to suit various locations: ridge and ditch systems; semidry land; ditch manure pits; ditches with floating water; and rice-duckweed-fish systems. These new methods enriched and further developed the theory of rice-fish integration.

In 1984, the State Economic Commission arranged a project for the extension of these new techniques. The Fisheries Bureau, under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, ordered a technical coordination group to carry out the work in Sichuan and 17 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions. After 3 years, the new techniques were widely adopted and produced economic, social, and ecological benefits that contributed to the large-scale adoption of rice-fish farming in China.

Rice-fish farming is no longer limited to the household economy and to production for personal or family consumption. It is now part of farmland improvement, soil improvement, and environmental protection. Rice-fish farming has increased the productivity of ricefields and is fast becoming an important part of the commodity economy. It has also played a significant role in reforming the structure of rural industries.

Wang Hongxi
Deputy Director
Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences