Assessing the potential of paddy-fish integration in Tripura: analysis of productivity and economics

Abstract

This study evaluated the potential of paddy-fish integration in Tripura, focusing on three districts: South Tripura, West Tripura, and Gomati. Using a comparative design with control (rice monoculture, n = 30) and treatment (paddy-fish integration, n = 30) plots, we collected data from 60 farms over a 3-year period (2020-2022) through stratified random sampling. Farm surveys, field measurements, and soil analysis were employed to assess productivity, yields, economic viability, and soil quality impacts. The size of paddy plots ranged from 500 to 2000 m², with farmers cultivating air-breathing fish and small indigenous species. Statistical analysis revealed that paddy-fish integration significantly increased paddy yields by 14.3% and produced an additional 350±75 kg ha-1 of fish, resulting in a 69.5% to 107.2% higher benefit-cost ratio (2.27±0.32 vs. 1.20±0.05) compared to rice monoculture. Both rotational and concurrent farming systems showed economic viability, with the rotational system demonstrating slightly higher individual yields. Soil fertility parameters, including organic carbon, available NPK, and pH, improved significantly in integrated systems (p<0.05). This research confirms that paddy-fish integration is an economically viable and environmentally sustainable farming system for Tripura, offering significant productivity gains and improved farmer incomes while enhancing soil health for long-term agricultural sustainability.