If you think that the images that you see below are from Thailand, then you are mistaken. This is in our own backyard, Shangpung.
You must have seen fish cum paddy culture on your Facebook feed being practiced in South Asian countries. Last year during one of the meetings I had mentioned this in passing. Now the reality is already before us. 32 agricultural fields in Shangpung area have been covered under pilot project of fish cum paddy culture. The brain behind this wonderful and first such initiative in the state of Meghalaya is Labiang Trevor Tariang, our Block Development Officer. Interestingly this is done in convergence with MGNREGA and fishery department with lot of effort from the people themselves. There are thousands of fish already there. Next week or so 55000 fish fingerlings will be released in the water.
Technique is simple. You make a one metre wide and one metre deep trench around the agricultural field. The field will be inundated with water from April to November. When the water level comes down in November, the paddy is harvested. But the trench will have water all round the year. So fish can be harvested anytime of the year. Fish will get natural food and feeds on the insects. Artificial feed also can be given. Paddy will get manure from the fish. During its growth stage water level will be high, so the fish can swim the entire field. Larger the water body, higher is the growth of fish.
One more remarkable thing is the organic cultivation. Even the minutest quantities of insecticide, pesticide, weedicide and fungicide, are highly toxic to aquatic life. Hence Shangpung rice is completely organic. We are on our way to become Sikkim one day.
Our gratitude to Shri Ram Singh the Director of Fisheries for early sanction of funds, the energetic Headman of Shangpung Khlieh Mushut, Shri Nidayoo Papang and all the progressive farmers and villagers. Next year we are targeting at least 4-5 lakh fingerlings. We plan to take the farmers to Arunachal Pradesh for an exposure trip where it is being practiced in large scale. I urge all the farmers in the district to follow Shangpung model.
