Socioeconomics of the Integrated Rice-fish Farmer System in Teluk

Intan, Perak, Malaysia

Bambang Surya Adji Syahputra

Faculty of Science & Technology, Agrotechnology Department,Panca Budi University, Medan, North

Sumatera,Indonesia

Keywords: Socioeconomics, rural area, integrated, rice-fish system

Abstract: The research aims to analyze the characteristics and socioeconomics of farmers in rural area at TelukIntan,

Perak, Malaysia especially their roles in integrated rice-fish system. Data were gathered from farmers

having roles in integrated rice-fish farming system (30 samples) using interviews with questioners about

socioeconomic background, both past and present. Data related to their roles in rice-fish farming system and

their related functions in the development of the rural area and economic welfare were presented. All

farmers in this study area were Malaysian Muslims. The average age of farmers in this study was 55.43

years and almost 33.33% of the farmers were above the age of 60 years. Most farmers in the research

location faced problems of limited resources, low output prices, insufficient irrigation, pests, insufficient

capital, and weedy rice. As weedy rice is the most serious problem in the rice fields, most farmers hope

assistance from appropriate agencies to solve this problem. Basically, rice-fish system changes the

operational cost from buying pesticides to buying fingerlings and equipments for rice-fish culture. The

system also reduces the dependency of rice fields on pesticides.

1 INTRODUCTION

Fish (both marine and freshwater) is an important

source of protein in Malaysia. Most of the

freshwater fish such as catfish, snakehead and

snakehead gourami are obtained from rice fields,

especially from the Kerian-Sungai ManikIrigation

Area of northwest Perak (Ali, 1988a). Malaysians’

annual per capita consumption averages around 45

to 50 kg, and rapidly increasing with the growing

population. It is also projected that Malaysians’

demand for aquaculture production will exceed 15

million metric tons by the year 2010 (CheRohaniet

al, 2002).

Certainly, there is a considerable potential for

further expansion and development of rice-fish

farming systems in Malaysia, both in term of

available resources and supporting infrastructure and

services (Kechik, 1995). Aquaculture (including

rice-fish farming systems) is being in recognition by

the government and has been identified as one of the

thrust areas for development under the New

Agricultural Policy 3 (1991-2010). By the year

2010, aquaculture production is projected to reach

about 200,000 tones and contribute about 15% of the

annual total fish production (CheRohaniet al., 2002).

Fish provides additional income especially to

tenant farmers, who account for 60% of the rice

farmers in Peninsular Malaysia (Tan et al., 1973 and

Syahputra, 2016). Malaysia, with over 350,000 ha of

rice fields is available for potential rice-fish farming,

having a prospect in the increase of fish production

using the system and this remains good (Ali, 1992;

Sinniah et al., 2012 and Syahputra et al., 2013). In

spite of the intensive use of herbicides and

pesticides, rice-fish farming is still the most

important source of freshwater fish in the country.

Currently, there are real man-power constraints for

development of rice-fish farming. To increase the

production of fish, small-scale farmers are

encouraged to take up integrated rice-fish

production.

A potential development strategy for rice-fish

farming system would be to conduct research and

establish a pilot prototype farm in the target area in

order to demonstrate firsthand new methods and

management techniques to the farmers. This

approach should also be supplemented with a

network of extension officers helping to quickly

112

Adji Syahputra, B.

Socioeconomics of the Integrated Rice-ﬁsh Farmer System in Teluk Intan, Perak, Malaysia.

DOI: 10.5220/0008882701120117

In Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2018) - , pages 112-117

ISBN: 978-989-758-437-4

disseminate new information obtained (Ali, 1992).

Indeed new culture methods and management

techniques are needed to invigorate the system.

Efforts to increase yields should also involve

upgrading and modifying the existing systems rather

than introducing new and untested techniques, since

rice-fish culture is essential as symbiotic form of

relationship that has taken hundreds of years to

evolve (Ruddle, 1982). In Malaysia, rice-fish

farming system is important not only to produce

freshwater fish, but also to act as a genetic reservoir

for important aquaculture species such as catfish and

snakeheads (Ali, 1992).

Although rice-fish farming has great potential in

Malaysia, no research is currently being conducted

to improve the prevailing culture and management

techniques. Most studies were carried out in the

1940s and 1950s by Soong (1947, 1948, 1949, 1950,

1951, 1955) and by several researchers later in the

early 1970’s during the transition period from single

to double rice cropping system (Tan, 1971; Yunus

and Lim, 1971; Moulton, 1973; Tan, 1973; Tan et

al., 1973 and Syahputra et al., 2016). Currently,

research on the basic ecology of rice-fish farming is

being conducted primarily by Ali (1987a, 1987b,

1988, 1990) in order to formulate and design more

effective culture techniques and management

strategies that will counteract the declining fish

harvest (Ali, 1992).

The development of aquaculture especially

freshwater fish culture in Malaysia is relatively

recent. Freshwater ponds spearheaded the

production of freshwater cultural systems, with

71.40% (35,678.70 tons) of the total freshwater

production. In terms of value, it recorded a decrease

of 5.5 percent from RM 185.75 million to RM

175.53 million (Annual Fisheries Statistics, 2003).

The oldest irrigation scheme in Malaysia is the

Kerian Area of Northwest Perak. Located

approximately 60 km south of Penang, the area

covers 25,000 ha of rice fields (Tan et al., 1973). In

the early 1970’s, double cropping of rice was

implemented using water from the Bukit Merah

Reservoir and the Kerian River (Tan et al., 1973).

The area was well known for rice field fish and high

freshwater fish production even though yields have

declined following the introduction of double

cropping of rice (Ali, 1998).

Rice-fish farming system in Malaysia is

essentially a capture system, whereby wild fish are

trapped in the rice fields and subsequently grown,

and harvested at the end of the rice season (Tan et

al, 1973; Ali, 1988a). A sump pond, dug at the

lowest section of the fields, provides shelter for fish

during the periods of low water level and high water

temperature and also acts as harvesting basin (Tan et

al., 1973). No effort to improve the farming of fish

such as contraction of perimeter trenches or

repairing of dikes to retain fish is carried out (Khoo

and Tan, 1980). Mannering to enhance plankton

production, stocking or restocking, and feeding of

fish are also not conducted (Ali, 1988a) and

primarily water fertility depends on fertilization.

As pointed out earlier, the introduction of the

double cropping system of rice, has been reported

declined in fish yields (Tan 1973, Tan et al., 1973).

Intensive cultivation of rice using high yielding

varieties, greater use of pesticides and herbicides,

and shorter growing seasons, resulted in low fish

harvests (Moulton, 1973).

2 METHODOLOGY

The study was initiated to investigate socioeconomic

analyses of integrated rice-fish farming system on

small holders’ in Teluk Intan, Perak, Malaysia.

Iinterview with questioner equipment were also

conducted.The random sampling procedure was

used to select sample for the socioeconomic survey.

Data were gathered from farmers who have roles in

integrated rice-fish farming system (30 samples).

Questionnaires were distributed to smallholders

around Sungai Manik and Labu Kubong in

TelukIntan. Some of farmers were included in this

study. The variables in the analysis of rice-fish

farmingsystem include farm characteristics, land

used, cultural techniques, input and output, and

source of capital. Farm characteristics indicated

whether farm was used for subsistence or

commercial gain. Cultural techniques are mainly

influential in increasing farm production and

income. Cultural techniques are indicated by

production equipment, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides

and labor. In term of labor, it includes both family

members and hired workers. Meanwhile, inputs

constitute those factors that accelerate or increase

rice-fish yield levels. Data were gathered from

respondents using in-depth interviews, covering

their life and socioeconomic background, both past

and present. Data related to their roles in agriculture

and their related functions in the development of the

rural area and economic welfare were gathered.

Socioeconomics of the Integrated Rice-ﬁsh Farmer System in Teluk Intan, Perak, Malaysia

113

3 RESULTS

All farmers in Sungai Manik and LabuKubong

irrigation area were Malay Muslims. The average

age of farmers in this study was 55.43 years.

However, almost one quarter (33.33%) of the

farmers was above the age of 60 years; only 16.67%

were below 40 years of age (Table 1). About 73.3%

of the farmers had primary education for 6 years and

13.3% had education in higher school level (PMR &

SPM) while 13.3% had some education that was

below the primary level (Table 2).

Table 1: Age distribution of farmers in Sungai Manik-

Labu Kubong irrigation area.

Age No %

Less than 30

30 - 39

40 - 49

50 - 59

60 - 69

70 and

above

6.67

10.00

33.33

30.00

13.33

Total 30 100

Most farmers (66.7%) reported that they

generally worked only in their own farms, A few

stated that they had also some non-agricultural

occupation such as running a small retail business

(16.7%), fishery (3.3%), government retirees and

40.0% with other multiple occupations and work

outside their own farms (labor, catch fish in the

rivers, lorry driving, member of local volunteer

corps, village headman, petty trading, etc) (Table

4.29). The average size of the farm families was 7.4

persons. About 46.67% of the sampled households

had 8 persons and more, while 3.33% had only 1

person (Table 3).

Table 2: Education distribution of farmers in Sungai

Manik-LabuKubong irrigation area.

Education No %

SRK

SPM

73.33

26.66

Total 30 100

Many farmers lived within a short distance from

their rice field and this is particularly true for

farmers in LabuKubong and Sungai Manik. Almost

all farmers had a separate storage shed of very

simple nature for equipment, fertilizer, pesticide and

some farmers had tractor and save in this store, a

small “pen” or fish pond for their poultry (chickens

or ducks) and livestock. All of farm dwelling houses

in this study have electricity and domestic water

piped supply.

Table 3: Employment distribution of farmers in Sungai

Manik-LabuKubong irrigation area.

Employment No %

Fisheries

Small business

Retired

Farmers

Others

3.33

16.67

10.00

30.00

40.00

Total 30 100

Farmers receive agricultural information from a

variety of sources including the Agricultural

Department, Farmers’ Associations, Farmers’ Area

Association, Department of Information, friends,

village leaders, shopkeepers, NGO, etc. Eighty

percents of farmers reported that they received

information from the Agricultural Department on

seeds, fertilizers, pest control or new cultivation

techniques. Some of the farmers read agricultural

leaflets distributed by the Department and although

they found them useful; however most of themread

very infrequently, often twice or three times a year.

The main sources of information continue to be from

the agricultural extension and word of mouth from

friends. Field trip undertaken to improve farming

techniques seemed to be very popular among

farmers. As they always had been out of their village

to study new ways of improving farm production.

Most of these trips were just going to other villages

or districts, but some farmers reported going to

another State on study trips. In rural institutions,

most farmers were members of the Farmers’ Area

Associations (FAA), only a few did not join as the

reason for not becoming a member of FAA is (a) not

fully aware of the existence and role of the FAA and

(b) skeptical of the success of the associations.

ICMR 2018 - International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research

114

Table 4: Families distribution of farmers in Sungai Manik-

LabuKubong irrigation area.

No. of person No. of sampled

households

% sampled

household

2-3

4-5

6-7

≥8

3.33

6.67

36.67

46.67

Total 30 100

Integrated rice-fish farming system does not only

involve culturing fish in ricefield but also

diversifying the previous system with the same

financial capital and operational cost to increase per

square hectare. Basically, this system changes the

operational cost from buying pesticides to buying

fingerlings and equipments for fish culture. The

system also reduces the dependency of rice fields on

pesticides. Other studiesconducted in the same area

had shown that the residual of herbicides and

insecticides was analyzed and proved that none of

the organphosphorous and carbamates pesticides

exceeded the 0.5 mg/kg limit, and the fisheswere

thus, safe for consumption (Yunus and Lim, 1971).

4 ANALYSIS (Problem, hopes, and

aspiration of the farmers)

Most farmers in Sungai Manik and LabuKubong

irrigation scheme faced problems of limited

resources, low output prices, insufficient irrigation,

pests, insufficient capital, and weedy rice or local

name “padiangin” (early grain mature all dropped

easily before harvest). Indeed, the most serious

problem in this location is about the weedy rice.

Some farmers have tried other technology such as

water seeding to reduce weedy rice but, at the same

time encounter other problem such as destruction of

the germinating seed by the snail pest, Pomaceae

spp. Farmers expressed great anxiety over reasons as

to why their land was not as productive as it could

be. Problem of water irrigation, insufficient flow of

water for rice field, water discharge in Sungai Manik

and LabuKubong not only caused problem of rate of

water flow but also water management to the

farmers.

Others problems include not adhering to the

specific date set by the Government for land

preparation, planting and other field practices in

spite of publicity given to the timing of these field

activities. Because of this non-uniformity, planting

and harvesting had to be extended over 3 to 4

months instead of one month and for the main

season farmers had to forego a crop so as to enable

them to start on the scheduled planting dates. The

non-uniformity of planting and harvesting makes it

difficult for the Drainage and Irrigation Department

to control the water supply in the rice fields. In some

localities, the rice field must be flooded to enable

transplanting but there may be some others farmers

within the same area who are just beginning to

prepare for seeding. Yields are considerably reduced

if farmers do not follow the gazetteof planting dates.

Only a few farmers applied for credit from the

“Bank Pertanian”. Farmers Area Association

(FAA) or Co-operatives could be the main reason

for the small quantities of fertilizers, pesticides and

others equipments that are needed and used by

farmers. The new high yielding varieties, if they are

to be fully exploited, require large quantities of

fertilizers, pesticides, spraying equipments, and

tractor service for plowing. In order to purchase

these inputs and services, farmers need to be

provided with timely credit. Farmers need to be

made fully aware of the importance of fertilizers to

produce maximum income through better extension

service. Institutional credit through FAA has been

established and comprehensively facilitates farmers

in terms of the equipment requirement. During

harvest period, farmers must sell the yield to FAA.

5 CONCLUSIONS

Farmers would use the extra profit to improve farm

resources, such as purchasing extra rice field, buying

more equipment and repairing the house. Farmers

also spend their extra income for their children’s and

their own welfare. Thus, these farmers are not only

trying to improve the present situation but also think

of their future. Some farmers even use the extra

income to perform the Haj. Currently, most of these

farmers’ children migrate to the big cities to look for

job opportunities to change their fortune and

livelihood. Most of these farmers only have school-

going children living with them at home. Thus, this

explains why there is a shortage of labor in the rice

fields in the study area. Farmers were also asked the

kind of infrastructure, improvement and repair that

they require for their areas. Improving, repairing and

accessing to irrigation were by far the most

important not only to make it easier for the water to

flow into rice fields but also to increase yield and to

reduce operational cost by water pumping into the

field. As weedy rice is the most serious problem in

Socioeconomics of the Integrated Rice-ﬁsh Farmer System in Teluk Intan, Perak, Malaysia

115

the rice fields, most farmers hope assistance from

appropriate agencies to solve this problem.

6 RECOMMENDATION

Farmers must consider cultural fishing in rice fields,

especiallyabout the type of fish that contribute the

highest amount of returns and are easily cultivated.

Giving the fishes food with additional supplements

of commercial food at the rate 3 to 4% of

bodyweight is good for fishes as all the nutrients

promote growth and to the rice fields as they act as

additional fertilizers (inorganic and

organic).Furthermore, farmers could also look into

the methods and means to control the disappearance

of fishes and loss due to predators. Preferably, future

research could investigate the natural methods of

preventing predators into rice fields.In addition,

farmers also look into comparing the concurrent

integrated rice-fish farming system with others

farming systems, namely sequential and rotational

systems, which have continuous flow of irrigation

water throughout the year. This research could

actually recommend the most ideal farming system

that provides the highest income and profits to

farmers.

ACKNOWLEGMENTS

I wish to thank,Prof. Dr. JambariHj. Ali, Dr.

MisriKusnan, and Dr. Hishamuddin Omar in our

research’s team for this programme, and to thank the

School of Graduate Studies of Universiti Putra

Malaysia for granting through the IRPA project No:

01-02-04-0040 EA 001 (Ministry of Science,

Technology and Environment Malaysia) for

financing our experiment.

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