Assesment on techinical and financial efficiency of fish farming on the rice field in U Minh District, Ca Mau Province

Abstract

Technical and financial efficiency of fish farming in the rice field in U Minh district, Ca Mau province was assessed by interviewing 30 rice - fish farming households. Questions related to general household characteristics, activities on production, finance, advantages and difficulties of fish culture in this farming system. Most of farms stocked 2-3 species in polyculture at low stocking density (2.9 ± 0.8 fish/m2 ). Fish yield (115 ± 22.1 kg/ ha) was low. Feed households had higher productivity than the others. The rice - fish farming system obtained low profits (7.1 ± 1.7 million VND/ ha) because of low operating costs (10.7 ± 3.24 million VND/ ha ). The conditions for applying the farming system were suitable for many farming households. The main difficulties of rice - fish farming systems were stolen fish, diseases, alum water and fish loss due to the flood. Fish culture in rice – fish farming system should be stocked high value fish in polyculture, supplied the water as high as posible and supplemented feed to improve production.