The mixed cultivation mode improves the qualities of both rice and fish, as well as the economic benefits. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

As agricultural science and technology has developed in recent years, many places have explored new modes of combining planting and breeding to enhance the output rate of farming land.

In 2019, Haifu town in Qidong, a county-level city in Nantong, focused on food safety and vigorously promoted an integrated cultivation mode for rice fields. Taohong village was selected as a pilot for a mixed cultivation mode for rice and fish.

"The new mixed cultivation mode combines rice planting and aquaculture, and can increase the efficiency of land utilization," said Chen Hui, secretary of the Party general branch of Taohong village.

After visiting its surrounding areas and learning about their experiences of mixed cultivation, members of the cooperative in Taohong village filled 28 ditches in the fields and left the rest four ditches for drainage. After land integration, the area for rice planting reached 18.6 hectares.

After the completion of preparatory work in the preliminary stage, rice was planted in the field in June, and in early July, about 17,000 baby tilapias were put into the field.

"Silver carp and black carp have high requirements for water quality, while tilapia do not require oxygenation," according to Xu Penghao, a technician from the cooperative.

Xu added that the fish in the rice fields eat insects and microorganisms, so there is no need for artificial feed, and the use of pesticide is greatly reduced. The quality of teh fish and rice is improved, as are the economic benefits.