FAO implores farmers to embrace rice-fish farming to conserve wetlands

The government of Uganda and its development partners are taking significant strides towards sustainable agriculture and the preservation of wetlands.

However, environmental degradation particularly wetlands continues to occur rampantly. It is majorly common in rice-growing communities across the country. In eastern Uganda, the vice is common, especially in Teso, Busoga and Butaleja district.

Lately, the severity of the wetland degradation phenomenon compelled President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to direct the people in swampy areas to evacuate.

In a collaborative effort between the agriculture ministry and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Government has embarked on its efforts to introduce and popularise rice-fish farming technology as a mechanism that will encourage farmers to protect the wetland and the ecosystem.

Model farmers who have been trained by FAO in Butaleja to embrace rice-fish farming initiative. Photo By Leonard Mukooli

As part of the ‘FAO-CHINA-UGANDA SOUTH-SOUTH CHINA CO-OPERATION’, this initiative, aims to transform agricultural practices and improve farm yields in the 39 districts across the country with 10 of these districts across northern and eastern parts of the country, where local communities heavily depend on wetlands for rice farming, have been considered pilots of ‘fish-rice’ farming.

Among these are Lira in the Lango region, Serere, Amuria, Soroti in the Teso sub-region, Palisa, Butaleja, Kibuku, Budaka in the Bukedi sub-region,  Namutumba, and Bugweri in Busoga region.

Dr Charles Owach, the deputy country representative of FAO in charge of programmes, underscores the timeliness and necessity of this initiative in Uganda explaining that rice-fish farming, a method that integrates fish cultivation within rice paddies and has been a proven success in Asian countries for over two decades.

“Given the global climate change trends, the introduction of rice-fish farming in Uganda is long overdue,” Owach says.

“This integrative farming method will boost yields and ensure sustainable environmental practices. Fish droppings serve as natural manure for rice, while fish feed on pests that threaten rice crops.”

Adding that “this harmonious relationship between rice and fish is a significant change for farmers,”

Owach further explains that the fish provide essential nutrients to the rice, enhancing its growth, while the rice paddies offer a habitat for the fish, protecting them from predators and harsh environmental conditions. This symbiotic relationship results in higher yields of both rice and fish, providing a dual income source for farmers.

Environmental and economic benefits

In Uganda, traditional rice farming has often been associated with wetland degradation due to excessive water usage and chemical runoff. However, rice-fish farming mitigates these effects by utilizing fish ponds on the peripheries of wetlands rather than within them.

“This method aligns with the government’s policy of sustainable wetland use, allowing farmers to gain economically from higher yields of both rice and fish simultaneously,” Owach explains.

The economic benefits for farmers are significant. Not only does this method enhance productivity, but it also diversifies income sources, making farmers more resilient to market fluctuations and environmental shocks.

Implementation and sustainability of the project

Yusuf Kasi, a senior fisheries officer at the ministry, acknowledges the initial costs involved but emphasises the government’s commitment to supporting farmers.

He explains that the project’s success hinges on comprehensive training and the will of the communities to support the government's goal of extensive, productive, and sustainable farming.

“Our projects are demand-driven. Once farmers show interest, we will ensure they receive the necessary resources to succeed,” Kasi notes.

To ensure the distribution of knowledge and skills to expand the technology, the Chinese government, a partner in this initiative, has provided experts who are collaborating with local specialists at ministries and districts to establish demonstration farms that will serve as training centres where farmers from pilot districts can learn the intricacies of rice-fish farming.

“As part of the project, we are emphasising the component of skilling farmers and retooling fisheries officers to ensure they have the right skills to support the expansion of the project beyond demonstration farms,” Owach states.

He adds, “We recommend that local governments consider funding some components within this project to drive the practice deeper into communities.”

Yusuf Mwami, the fisheries officer for Butaleja district, notes that there is great potential for the implementation of the technology in the sense that his area of operation (the district) is made up of 45% wetlands, so it will be easy for the locals to adjust.

“Given our geographical landscape and the traditional reliance on single-crop farming, introducing fish into our systems is expected to elevate our community out of poverty and mitigate losses from floods,” Mwami states.

Adding in anticipation that “since our people are not willing to abandon rice growing, adding fish will complement their earnings, thus they will accept the technology easily,”

Responses from locals

Patrick Guloba, a fish-rice farmer from Busolwe Town Council, appreciates the initiative’s potential to diversify and improve livelihoods.

“We have been depending solely on rice, but adding fish to our farms will not only increase our income but also improve our health and reduce domestic violence driven by economic stress,” Guloba says.

This sentiment is also echoed by Mohamad Banje, Local Council Chairperson III of Nabiganda Town Council, who emphasises the need for mindset change and robust training of the local population.

“For this to succeed, we need to show our people the benefits, train them, and empower them to adopt and sustain this environmentally friendly practice,” Banje asserts.

Overcoming Challenges

Despite the promising prospects, challenges remain. The initial investment for establishing rice-fish farms can be prohibitive for low-income farmers; thus, to overcome the fear of initial investment in the technology, farmers are being supported with fish fries and feeds that will last them over six months.

Kasi notes that the government and development partners are addressing this by providing financial and technical support. “Most of our projects are demand-driven, and once people show us they are willing to implement and expand their fish farms, we shall identify resources to support them.”

Additionally, Owach emphasized the importance of local government involvement in funding and supporting these initiatives to ensure their sustainability.

“The project aims to build a robust support system for farmers. The establishment of demonstration farms is a critical step in this direction. These farms not only serve as training grounds but also as models of best practices that other farmers can emulate.”

As Uganda embarks on this journey, the rice-fish farming initiative represents a visionary approach to sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation in Uganda.

By integrating rice and fish farming, the project will address multiple challenges simultaneously by improving food security, increasing farmers’ incomes, and preserving vital wetland ecosystems.