The rice (Oryza sativa L.)-fish integrated farming system model developed by the Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, was tested at the Regional Rainfed Lowland Rice Research Station, Gerua, Assam, during 2002 for revalidation and refinement of the technology. Of the total 0.5 ha of a lowland rice field, 60% was allocated for field, 17% for trench and pond refuge, and the remaining 23% for construction of dyke around the farm for growing vegetables, fruits, ornamental plants and agroforestry components. A total of 3 831 kg rice grain (12.8 tonnes/ha) was harvested from rice-rice-rice cropping system in the field area of 3000m(2). Net returns from rice crop were Rs 8281. Tillage operation was not done for rainy (sali) and winter season (boro) rice cultivation and chemical fertilizer was not applied for rainy-season rice. Besides rice grain, 0.199 tonne fish (Labeo rohita Hamil., Cirrhinus mrigala Hamil.-Buchan an, Labeo bata Hamil.-Buchanan, Cyprinus carpio communis L., Hypophthalmichthys molitrix Val. and Puntius gonionotus Bleeker) worth Rs 9 130 were harvested and another 0.193 tonne of under-size fish (Catla catla Hamil., Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus mrigala, Labeo bata, Cyprinus carpio communis, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and Puntius gonionotus) worth Rs 6 000 were left for further rearing. Net returns from fishery component were Rs 8 530, being similar to 3 rice crops grown in a sequence. Net returns from vegetables and ornamental crops were Rs 425.
