Integrated agriculture-cum-fish farming has been practised profitably for ages in the Chinese small-scale farming system. There is a great potential for this system by utilizing the vast Nigerian flood plains (approx. 515,000 ha). Dogongari Bay in Lake Kainji Basin was identified as a suitable site for this system after some extensive fish culture trials. Polyculture of Clarias spp., Heterotis niloticus and Tilapia was proposed for integration with layers in the poultry house, 2-ha upland rain-fed rice farming and indirect cattle rearing in the 5-ha enclosure site. Cost benefit analysis showed that the system will consistently record profit as from the second year of operation. Various complex factors were identified to affect profitability of this mixed farming system. Concerted research approach is needed to fully understand the interrelationships of the various components of this integrated system. Generous funding of research activities is very crucial in this situatio

Otubusin, S.O.

English

Aquatic Commons

A PROPOSED INTEGRATED LIVESTOCK-RICE-POULTRY-
CUM-FISH CULTURE IN ENCLOSURE SYSTEM
by
SAMUEL OLU. OTUBUSIN
Kainji Lake Research Institute,
P. M. B. 6006, New Busa,
Kwara State, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
Integrated agriculture-cum-fish farming has been practised
profitably for ages in the Chinese small scale farming
sy stem. There is a great potential for this system by
utilizing the vast Nigerian flood plains (approx. 515,000ha).
Dogongari Bay in Lake Kainji Basin was identified as a
suitable site f6r this system after some extensive fish
culture trials. Polyculture of Clarias spp. Heterotis
niloticus and Tilapia was proposed for integration with
layers in the poultry house, 2-ha upland rain-fed rice farming
and indirect cattle rearing in the 5-ha enclosure site. Cost
Benefit Analysis showed that the system will consistently
record profit as from the second year of operation. Various
complex factors were identified to affect profitability of
this mixed farming system. Concerted research approach is
needed to fully understand the interrelationships of the
various components of this integrated system. Generous
funding' of research activities is very crucial in this
situation.
INTRODUCTION
Agriculture-cum-fish farming is a workable system of
integration as exemplified by the well-known,Chinese small-
scale farming system. Even in Nigeria, it is common for a
fisherman to have such livestock as a fewheads of cattle or
goats; a small flock of chickens or guinea fowls or ducks
and at the same time to engage in agriculture cultivating
crops like maize, millet, groundnuts and tub ers etc.
Through this practice the fisherman (or farmer) obtains a
variety of products (sources of energy and protein) to meet
the needs of his family and financial obligations. According
to Lee (1971), integrated farming generally results in the
optimal utilization of resources such as capital, labour and
farm land and thus leads to higher returns, higher
productivity and a more equitable distribution of farm
labour.
319
The vast undeveloped and underut.ilized Nigerian flood
plains (515,000ha) have great poteintials for use in
integrated agriculture-cum-aquaculture system. An example
of this type of flood plain is Dogongari Bay located to the
west of Lake Kainji and a few kilometers from the Kainji
Dam (Fig. 1). Since several ideal sites like this exist
along the Lake and in many parts of Nigeria, it i5
intended in this paper to propose the mode of operation
of such an integrated system so as to serVe as a guideline
fox the operation of other similar systems in the country.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Otubusin (1983) proposed an experimental approach to the
integration-Of guinea fowl with fish culture considering
the greater efficiency in resource utilization exemplified
by this farming system in Asian countries. An aspect of
this proposal is already operational within the Kainji Lake
Research Institute Housing Estate where a poultry house iS
built on top of the fish reservOir (Ita et al. 1986).
Dogongari Fish Enclosure Site
Figure 2 shows the concepts of this proposed mixed farming
system. The cleared part of the enclosure is approximately
5ha. The enclosure had earlier been used for an extensive
culture of wild stock of fish that came into the enclosure
with the flood. Results and experience obtained from these
trials metamorphosed into the modifications advanced for an
efficient utilization of this flood plain (Otubusin and
Opeloye, 1984). Some aspects of these modifications were
implemented and promising results were recorded (Otubusin
and Opeloye, 1985). This proposal therefore is the most
recent approach to an efficient utilization of resources in
this enclosure. ThiS mixed farming system proposal was
motivated by the fact that:
wild fish stock enclosed within the site were
observed to have strevived and grown appreciably
even under extensive culture method (Otubusin
and Oueloye, 1985)
during the dry season, Fulani herdsmen regularly
brought their herd to 'drink from the enclosure
before the enclosure fish culture trials
cemmenced on the site, the Agriculture
Division of the Institute used te grow
upland (rainy season) rice within part of
the enclosure site
tipper loads of chicken manure (in addition
to cowdung) obtained from a local poultry
farm was used in fertilizing the enclosure
water for good growth of natural food.
3.2,11
Facilities Proposed for the Site
The enclosure will be bunded as shown such that a 2-metre
gate is located along the original flood channel for water
management within the enclosure. The water canal about 2
metres wide connects the gate with the fish reservoir on
which the poultry house will be built.
The poultry house (15m x 5m) will be built on stilts such
that its floor is at least 2 metres above-the highest water
level within the enclosure. Adequate flooring of the
poultry house will be done to prevent humidity or any other
physico-chemical factors from affecting the performance of
the birds. The floor of the poultry house will be
intersperced with 1sq. in battery cage wire on which the
birds -will lay eggs and through which the poultry waste
will drop into the water (fish reservoir). Hanging feeders
and water containers will be vised in dispensing the feeds
and water.
About 2 ha of the enclosure near the bund will be used for
rice (upland) cultivation during the rainy season only.
Animals/Crop inputs
Livestock
The direct integration of livestock in this mixed system
shall be optional. But herds of cattle, goats, sheep will
be allowed in to drink at the enclosure. The area
surrounding the enclosure can therefore serve as a range-
land for the herds.
Fish
Three fish species viz: Oreochromis (= Tilapia) niloticus,
Heterotis niloticus and Clarias sp. will be stocked in the
enclosure at a ratio of 5 : 3 : 2 respectively.
Pöultry
2,000 layers will be stocked in the poultry house. Layers
mash will be dispensed using haaging feeders. Standard
poultry management routine will be strictly followed.
Rice
The rice variety best suited for this environment and
season will be planted under rainfed agriculture. The rice
will however be fenced off to prevent the animals (cattle
etc.) from browsing on it.
Management of the Integrated System
Relevant physico-chemical parameters (e.g. Dissolved
oxygen, temperature, relative humidity etc.) of the
culture media will be monitored regularly in order to
forestall any hazard.
The rice will be given a top dressing of 30 kg N/ha a ter
a basal dressing of 30 kg each of P and K per hectare
(Ogo et. al., 1985).
The Wildlife/Range Division of the Institute will be fully
involved with proper management of the poultry aspect of
this system.
Tight security will be maintained on the farm to prevent
poaching or infiltration by marauders.
Harvesting
The fish will be harvested by beach seining and the total
yield per species will be recorded.
Eggs will be picked up everyday in the poultry house
while old layers will be sold off every two years.
The rice will be harvested on maturity and processed.
INVESTMENT PROSPECTS
Table 1 shows the input-output analysis of operating a mixed
farming system incorporating rice farming with poultry and
fish production. In this analysis the integration of
livestock will be considered as indirect because a larger
space is required for a direct intensive livestock (cattle)
integration.
A loss of N40,260 will be incurred in the first year of
operation because only half of the year, will be used for
actual culture or farming-while the first half iS used for
farm preparation and construction of farm facilities and
infrastructure. Profits will consistently be recorded as
from the second year of operation onwards. Since several
complex factors can affect profitability of this mixed
farming system, no strict economic analysis is done in order'
not to further complicate the'complex system. However, it
is certain that the mixed farming system gives a higher
return on investment than a mono-farming system. Particularly
the poultry-fish combination constitutes on the average more
than 90% of the total annual returns from the whole system
(Table 1). Hopkins (1982) also opined that chicken-fish
systems can yield returns more than 90%. Likewise the
poultry cost of production especially feed cost looks
prohibitive. This may therefore be a major constraint to
.322,
integrate.livestock-fish farming systems for poor farmers.
Invariably, Kaewpaitoon (1982) observed that farms with
larger numbers of livestock had a greater tendency to
integrate livestock production with aquaculture. These
wealthy farmers therefore are able to confine their
livestock on or near a fish pond to enable the manure to
fertilize the water. These livestock must be fed with
relatively expensive, supplementary feed.
In spite of the constraints in this culture system, there
are several benefits:
no inorganic fertilization or supplementary
feeds are given to the fish at any stage of
this mixed system
there is maximum and efficient utilization of
space and resources
thetwo major human food items (starch from rice
and Protein from fish,eggs and birds) are
derivable all at once from the farming system.
Milk can also be got from the cattle.
The case of Dogongari enclosure or any other similar
enclosure is interesting in that the enclosure is linked
directly into the lake and therefore can be regularly
flushed. The enclosure can be used all the year round:
the excavated fish reservoir (Fig. 1) is supplied with
water during the rains and by the black flood during the
dry season.
Since this system of farming is still in the experimental
stage in Nigeria, concerted efforts towards more research
approach is needed in order to understand the interrelation-
ships of the several components of these integrated systems
and to formulate management guidelines. The ban on
importation of rice into thp country coupled with the
serious economic recession should give an impetus to
,g.enerously funding research activities in this farming
system.. When this system is perfected the end users will
include fishing/fish farming companies, fishermen
co-operatives and other well organised institutions/
enterpreneurs.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The assistance of the following staffers of Kainji Lake
Research Institute are acknowledged for their contributions
towards this paper: Messrs R.C. Ogo, K.L. Ayorinde and
S.A. Falayi.
Q
REFERENCES
HOPKINS, K.D. (1982) Outstanding yields and profits from
Livestock Tilapia integ.rated farming. In: ICLARM
Newsletter Vol. 5, No. 3: p. 13.
IT, E.O., K.L. AYORINDE, AND F.C. OKOYE (1986) Investment
Prospects in Integrated Fish and Poultry Farming Project:
The Kainji Lake Research institute Integrated Fish and
Poultry Farm Model. Paper presented at the 5th Annual
Conference of the Fisheries Society of Nigeria.
University of florin. 22nd - 25th September, 1986.
KAEWPAITOON, K. (1982) Integrated fish farming in
Thailand, In:-ICLARM Newsletter. Vol. 5 No. 3: 3-4,
LEE, C.Y. (1971) Analysis of Marketing Problems of
Government-Run Commercial concern: Two Case Studies in
Nepal-Economic Analysis and Planning Division. Ministry
of Food and Agriculture, HMG. Kathmandu, 60p,
OGO, R.C., E.C. ERINNE, J.A. KOLAWOLE, AND P. OCHIMANA
(1985) Production studies on rice I. Seasonal effects on
the performance on 12 Rice Varieties in the Kainji Lake
Basin of Nigeria. Kainji Lake Research Institute Annual
Report 1985 141-146,
OTUBUSIN, S.O. (1983) A proposed integrated guinea-towl-
cum-fish culture in Lake Kainji. In: The Helmet Guinea
fowl (Numida meleagris láleata Pallas) in Nigeria. Ed,
J.S.O. Ayeni pp. 66 - 71.
OTUBUSIN, S.O. AND OPELOYE, G. (1984) Enclosure fish
culture in an unstocked seasonally flooded bay :Pf Lake
Kainji at Dogongari, New Bussa. Kainji Lake Research
institute Annual Report 1984. 198-202.
OTUBUSIN, S.O. AND OPELOYE, G. (1985) Extensive fish
culture in partially bunded-net-enclosure system at
Dogongari Bay, Kainji Lake. Kainji Lake Research
Institute Annual Report 1985. 88-90.
324
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A proposed integrated livestock-rice-poultry-cum-fish culture in enclosure system

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