Impact of integrated duck cum fish farming system for sustainable rural livelihood security in purulia-i block of Purulia District

Integrated farming is a sustainable and effective tool for improving rural economy due to its cumulative cost effectiveness, low investment and higher profitability. It optimizes the farm productivity per unit area through incorporation of recycling wastes and residues from one farming system to the other with due environmental consideration. With increase in population in Purulia, Integrated fish farming remained a key player in agricultural enterprises due it sustainability and focuses on diversified agricultural production with emphasis on fish. Integrated fish farming has potentials of Job creation particularly the unemployed youth in Purulia and can improve the standard of living among women. The system components fishery and animal Husbandry (Duckery) are complementary in which duck droppings act as nutrient source for Fish culture. This study is based on primary data and conducted during the months of October 2016 to November 2016. To study the socio-economic status of the rural integrated duck cum farmers, a sample of 20 respondents was carved out randomly from the four villages in Purulia-I Block of district Purulia in West Bengal. The generated data were computed and analyzed through statistical tools and overall economic return in terms of productivity of the fishery and duckery practices, their gross return, net return and ultimate B:C ratio. It was observed that better production and sustainable economic return can be achieved through crossbred duckery and fish culture in pond based integrated farming practices.