Integrated Fish-Pig and Fish-Poultry Farming in East Kalcho, Saiha District of Mizoram, North-East India: An Economic Analysis

An experiment was conducted to evaluate fish production and income generation with integration of pig and poultry during August 2010 to July 2011. Six rain-fed, rectangular farmers’ fish ponds (each approximately 250 m 2 , 1.6 m deep) were selected to integrate the fish varieties, viz . Rohu ( Labeo rohita ), Silver carp ( Hypophthalmichthys molitrix ) and Grass carp ( Ctenopharyngodon idella ) along with piglets (Hampshire variety) and poultry (Broilers). The results showed that fish productivity was better in ponds integrated with pigs than with poultry. A stocking density of 10000 number of fingerlings/ha water body within six months gave rise to 9840 kg ha -1 yr -1 in fish-pig system while the fish-poultry system could produce only 8240 kg ha -1 yr -1 . A water body of 0.025 ha area provides good revenue from fish, besides earning a handsome amount from meat production. Amongst the fish varieties tested, Silver carp exhibited highest growth followed by Grass carp and Rohu. The economic analysis and benefit-cost ratio of practising integrated fish–livestock farming revealed that integrated fish-pig farming could generate maximum profit of Rs. 48023.19 per 0.025 ha yr -1 with B:C value of 2.04 which was higher than integrated fish-poultry farming system (Rs. 33664.06 per 0.025 ha yr -1 with B:C value of 1.09).