Stories
Bihar farmers earn multi-fold profits by integrating fish, duck, and chicken farming
- •Fish farmer Vikas Kumar from Jehanabad is successfully using his one-and-a-half bigha pond for integrated farming.
- •He is rearing 60 ducks and dozens of native chickens alongside fish without requiring any extra land or high expenses.
- •Ducks help keep the pond clean while significantly reducing fish feed costs by consuming insects and pond mud.
- •Ducks start laying eggs daily after 4 months and mature ducks sell for up to 400 rupees each, generating massive profits.
- •Integrated farming minimizes losses and provides multiple revenue streams from eggs, meat, and fish.
Key Questions Answered
Farmers in Bihar are developing their fish ponds as integrated farms to earn multiple streams of income from the same land and pond without requiring extra space or heavy expenses. By combining fish cultivation with livestock like ducks and native chickens, farmers can reduce feed costs, keep ponds clean, and maximize profitability.
Ducks help reduce fish feed costs as they feed on insects and mud from the pond while keeping it clean. They start laying eggs after four months with a capacity of up to 300 eggs, and older ducks can also be sold for up to 400 rupees each, providing substantial additional income.
Vikas Kumar, a fish farmer from Bharthu village in Jehanabad district, is running an integrated farm on a one-and-a-half bigha pond. Alongside fish rearing, he maintains 60 ducks and more than two dozen native chickens.
