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Pudukkottai Farmer Earns Rs. 8 Lakh Annually with Paddy-Fish Farming Innovation!
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News18•20-09-2026, 10:10
Pudukkottai Farmer Earns Rs. 8 Lakh Annually with Paddy-Fish Farming Innovation!
- •Ponnaiya, a farmer from Pudukkottai, integrates fish farming with paddy cultivation on his 12 acres of land.
- •He constructed a farm pond in 2007 and now alternates between paddy and fish farming on 8 acres.
- •After planting paddy, he introduces algae and 50-100 gram fishlings into half a foot of water in the fields.
- •Fish grow by feeding on algae, are harvested at one kilogram, and then paddy cultivation resumes after draining water.
- •This method reduces costs for artificial feed and chemical fertilizers, with fish waste providing nutrients for paddy, yielding an annual income of Rs. 7-8 lakh.
Key Questions Answered
Ponnaiya alternates paddy cultivation with fish farming on 8 acres of his land, producing about one ton of fish per acre for an annual income of Rs. 7 lakh to Rs. 8 lakh. The fish feed on algae, and their waste acts as a natural nutrient for the paddy crop while reducing expenses on artificial feed and chemical fertilizers.
While traditional fish farming requires 3 to 4 feet of water, Ponnaiya uses only 1 to 2 feet of water. After planting paddy and storing half a foot of water in the field, he introduces lake algae and releases fishlings weighing 50 to 100 grams.
Ponnaiya constructed a farm pond in 2007 through the Water and Land Management scheme, allowing him to successfully integrate fish farming with paddy cultivation.
