The use of rice and fish polyculture in rice fields to improve rice yields hence food security in Bunyala - Kenya

Rice is an important food crop in Kenya’s drive to attain food security. However, its productivity remains low against an overall increase in national demand due to overdependence on rice monoculture leading to decline in soil fertility resulting from continuous cultivation, nutrient extraction through crop harvest and inadequate nutrient replacement. This can be mitigated by modern technologies that increase soil fertility such as integrated rice-fish (RFC) farming. Despite the potential of RFC, no attempts have been made yet in Bunyala irrigation scheme. In the scheme, paddy fields remain flooded for 3-4 months of a growing season during which, growth of fish is possible. RFC can give a net profit-cost ratio 4% higher than rice monoculture due to increased rice yields, saving on labour and material inputs and the net profits from fish production (Osiyo, 2010).