Jamalpur - sustainable food production schemes

Where is jamalpur

Northern Bangladesh

How much of their income is from agriculture

57%

Mainly rice, jute and wheat

What charity is helping Jamalpur with their agriculture and how

Practical Action

Using rice-fish culture

What is a rice-fish culture

Fish are introduced to paddy fields to grow rice

They're protected from predators

They're natural pesticides for the rice

They're natural fertilisers for the rice

Oxygen is circulated around the rice

What is the advantage of rice-field cultures

Increase in crop yield by 10 percent

Helps economy and income

Farmers have supplies of fish

How are rice-fish cultures constructed

1. A suitable site is found (less likely to be flooded)

2. A dyke is built (raised bank)

3. A ditch is dug for the fish to live during dry season

4. Rice planted in rows

5. 50 percent of the ditch is filled with water

6. Add the fish to the ditch

7. Raise the water levels as both the rice and fish grow