May Bigas Na! May Ulam Na! May Ganansya Na! Maka Kalikasan Pa! Enhancing Organic Rice and Duck Industry though Integrated Rice Duck Farming System (IRDFS)
Integrated Rice-Duck Farming System (IRDFS) is a method of growing rice and ducks together in an irrigated field. It benefits organic rice production in several ways. The movement of the ducks in the rice field helps it to produce more grains. The duck manure can be used as fertilizer eliminating the need for chemical fertilizers. Ducks serve as natural pest control; they eat harmful insects and weeds like the golden snail. The meat and egg from ducks enhances the country’s food security; it can be a source of additional income for farmers.
The IRDFS reduces production cost by as much as 30 percent. It also impacts health and the environment. According to studies, ducks in rice fields reduces greenhouse gas emissions from methane as it eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, and herbicides. Furthermore, ducks eat schisto-carrying snails that bring schistosomiasis, a disease affecting farmers and their families that occur in select areas of the country.
