Integrating fish into irrigation infrastructure projects in Myanmar: rice-fish what if…?
Mark J. Dubois A I , Michael Akester A , Kimio Leemans A , Shwu Jiau Teoh B , Alex Stuart C , Aung Myo Thant D , Su Su San D , Nilar Shein E , Mansoor Leh F , Palal Moet Moet G and Ando M. Radanielson H
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A International Center for Living Aquatic Resources – WorldFish Myanmar, Department of Fisheries Bayint Naung Road, West Gyogone, Insein Township, Yangon, 11011, Myanmar.
B International Center for Living Aquatic Resources – WorldFish Headquarters, Jalan Batu Maung, Batu Maung, 11960 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.
C International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) – Indonesia Office, ICFORD Building, Jalan Merdeka 147, Bogor 16111, Indonesia.
D IRRI, Seed Division Compound, Department of Agriculture, Gyogone, Insein Road, Yangon, 11011, Myanmar.
E Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Bayint Naung Road, West Gyogone, Insein Township, Yangon, 11011, Myanmar.
F The International Water Management Institute, IWMI South East Asia Office, c/o National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI), PO Box 4199, Ban Nongviengkham, Xaythany District, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
G International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Irrigation Head Office, Hnin Si Road, Yankin, Yangon, 11081, Myanmar.
H Universitry of Southern Queensland, Institute for Life Sciences and Environment, Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Systems, West Street, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.
I Corresponding author. Email: m.dubois@cgiar.org
Marine and Freshwater Research 70(9) 1229-1240 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF19182
Submitted: 17 May 2019 Accepted: 23 June 2019 Published: 5 August 2019
Abstract
With rapidly increasing investment in water control infrastructure (WCI) and a recently ratified agriculture development strategy that promotes integrated farming of high-value products such as fish, agricultural production, already fundamental to Myanmar’s economy, will be central to driving the countries’ socioeconomic transformation. Water planners and managers have a unique opportunity to design and manage WCI to incorporate fish and, in so doing, reduce conflicts and optimise the benefits to both people and the ecosystem services upon which they depend. Results from rice–fish culture experimental trials in Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady Delta are providing an evidence base for the importance of integrating fish into WCI, highlighting a range of both environmental and social benefits. By using less than 13% of paddy land area and through best management practices, existing rice productivity is sustained, alongside a 25% increase in economic returns for the same land area from fish. In addition, there are considerably more protein and micronutrients available from the fish produced in the system. Should these farming system innovations be adopted at scale, Myanmar stands to benefit from increased employment, incomes and nutritional value of farm plots (alongside associated reductions in pesticide pollution) and water use benefits.1
Additional keywords: landscape approach, rice–fish systems, sustainable development, water managers.
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