economy

The agricultural sector is making active efforts to introduce fish farming in paddy fields which is highly profitable and promising.

The Agricultural Commission organized a national demonstration and technical workshop on paddy field fish farming on an unprecedentedly large scale at the Samjigang Farm in Jaeryong County and dealt in detail with the selection of the right places, the creation of substructure, the methods of rational use of assorted and natural feeds, the management of rice-paddy irrigation, the measures to drain rice fields in rainy season, such catfish-breeding methods as prevention of fish diseases, the provision of conditions for seed fish production and other issues. It has intensified discussion of the issues arising in expanding and introducing Korean-style green cultivation and fish farming methods, including the setting of model units and generalization of experience in cities and counties.

Not only farms in the flat areas but also those in the intermediary mountainous areas of South Phyongan Province are pushing ahead with the work to introduce fish farming in paddies. The province is working to secure lots of seed fish and provide conditions for hatching young catfish needed for paddy fish breeding from next year.

South Hwanghae Province is choosing right places for paddy fish farming in consideration of water resources and quality and irrigation and drainage conditions, which paying attention to lowering the feed unit by properly fixing the mixing ratio of fish meal and grain and non-grain feeds. It is also working to lay foundations for sufficiently producing protein feeds including Hermetia illucens at farms in the province. Many units are stepping up the introduction of the organic farming based on fish breeding, including the Samjigang Farm in Jaeryong County, the township farms in Samchon and Sinchon counties and the Sinsaeng Farm in Chongdan County which already launched paddy fish farming.

North Hwanghae, South Hamgyong, Kangwon and other provinces across the country are also channelling positive efforts into this farming.

As a result of introduction of this method, the economic effectiveness remarkably increased as compared to the time when rice was cultivated alone and the quality of rice also improved.

Fish breeding in paddies is also beneficial to environmental protection.

“The introduction of paddy fish farming helps reduce environmental damage and enrich biodiversity as we do not need to use a large quantity of agricultural chemicals since fish feed on harmful insects and weeds,” said Han Hyong Sin, department director of the Ministry of Fisheries.

Research findings show that the introduction of the method can reduce the emissions of methane and other greenhouse gases.