1. Fish-Duck farming: The fish crop is raised using duck dropping released by rearing ducks over the pond. Predetermined numbers of ducks are raised for a stipulated time in perforated floor pens (fixed or movable) over the pond. Duck house wastes directly fall into the water where fish crop is raised without application of any other supplementary feed or fertilizers.
2. Fish Pond: Minimum 2 bighas area (2800 m2), with 2.5- 3.0m depth with capacity of holding at least 1.5 m water depth throughout the year, with proper side slope and strong embankment.
3. Duck pen: The duck house should be spacious and well ventilated. The floor is perforated (4-6 cm2 mesh). About 0.3 -0.5 m2 floor space is required for each bird. In fixed house, the floor should be raised at 1.2m above the highest water level.
4. Fish husbandry: Includes Pond preparation (desilting, bottom raking, lime application).
Fish seed: Fingerlings (10-15cm) of IMC and Chinese carps (Silver carp, Grass carp and Common carp) can be stocked.Stocking rate: 5000-5500 ha-1 with 10% increment on mortality.
Fish Stocking: Best time is March-April.
Water management: Includes monthly liming, supplementary feeding (only for Grass carp), and monitoring and controlling of algal bloom.
Fish health monitoring: Random sampling for any infection.
Feeding: Ducks are given a free range in the pond when they may find their natural food. In addition, the ducks are fed with standard ration at the rate of 100g bird-1day-1.
Egg laying: The duck start laying eggs from the age of 7-8 months. Some straw is kept at the corner of the house for egg laying.
Health care: Birds should be vaccinated against Duck cholera (immunity last for only 2 months) in the duckling stage and against Duck plague at the age of 6 weeks and then annually. Proper hygiene should be strictly maintained.
Harvest: Egg collection is done every day at around 9 am prior to which duck must not be released from pen. Ducks are reared up to 12-18 months after which they are disposed.
Fish : 540 kg/bigha/yr
Egg : 3040-3520 per 400 ducks/yr
Duck : 38-40 kg per 400 ducks/yr (Average of three years).
The variable cost and return function of the system calculated for 0.28 ha is shown in table 3.
The table shows that an investment of Rs.1,60,800.00 assures a return of Rs.2,46,600.00.
The percent return on variable cost is 53.86.
| Head of expenditure | Qty/No | Rate (Rs.) | Cost (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dewatering & desilting | 5000.00 | ||
| Duck house (annual av. expenditure; Life span 5 years) | 2500.00 | ||
| Agricultural lime | 300 kg | 7 kg-1 | 2100.00 |
| Carried over seeds | 1540 nos. | 5 each | 7700.00 |
| Cost of harvesting | |||
| Duckling (4 months old ) | 88 nos. | 50 each | 4400.00 |
| Duck feed | 2000 kg | 25 kg-1 | 50,000.00 |
| Medicine | 500.00 | ||
| Labour wage | 200 / manday | 73,000.00 | |
| Misc. expenditure | 1,000.00 | ||
| Total | 1,46,200.00 | ||
| Interest | 10.0% | 14,620.00 | |
| Total variable cost | 1,60,820.00 |
| Product | Qty/No | Rate (Rs.) | Sale proceed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fish | 1200 kg | 150.00 kg-1 | 1,80,000.00 |
| Eggs | 6700 Nos. | 6 each | 40,200.00 |
| Ducks | 120 kgs | 220.00 kg-1 | 26,400.00 |
| Total return | 2,46,600.00 | ||
| Net income | 85,800.00 | ||
| Percent return on Variable cost | 53.36 | ||
| Percent profit to turn over | 34.79 | ||
| BCR | 1.53 | ||
| N.B.: Cost of fodder is not included |
Jorhat, PIN - 785013 Assam