Rice and duck
The rice-duck farming system, which has been proven successful in Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam and China, is not only effective in eliminating insects and weeds but also enables poor farmers to obtain not only rice but also subsidiary products (duck meat and eggs) from the same piece of land. Furthermore, the ducklings' natural movement aerates the soil and strengthens rice stalks and the duck manure serves as natural fertilizer as it provides all essential nutrients to the soil and paddy, leaving the farmer with considerable time to invest in other income-producing activities. In overall, this type of integrated farming method ultimately eliminates the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, thus protect human health and environment, while helps farmer to increase income.
Growing traditional rice varieties anew
Rice farmers in the Sekeduk district in Sarawak, Malaysia, were not only able to save traditional rice varieties but also increase the rice yield and spatial planting thanks to the introduction of ducks in paddy fields as “they acted as herbicide, pesticide and fertilizer.”
Read full article: http://www.undp.org.my/uploads/archives/March1804.pdf
Duck power and a tale of success: From six acres to an ecosystem
"I'm not just raising ducks, I'm raising rice and ducks at the same time in the same field," explained Furuno. "By combining two completely different things you can come up with wonderful results. Ducks and rice are just one example."
Read full article: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/pubs/nwl/2002/2002-1-leoletter/furuno.htm
Integrated Rice/Duck Farming Part I & II
I was turned on to the idea of integrating ducks into rice farming by a unique book called, "The Power of Duck" by Takao Furuno. Mr. Furuno is a rice farmer in Japan who had been struggling with his fight against weeds in his organic fields. Recognizing his problem as an opportunity, he started thinking of the weeds, bugs and snails in his fields as duck food, turning his problems into tasty duck meat.
Read more at: http://massaorganics.blogspot.com/2009/09/integrated-riceduck-farming-part-i.html
http://massaorganics.blogspot.com/2009/10/integrated-riceduck-farming-part-ii.html
Duck-Rice
Duck-rice is not a result of looking toward 21st century science and technology through genetic engineering; it emerges from a thoughtful integration of tools long existing in the natural world.
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/006568.html
DAR promotes rice-duck farming system
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has bared its plan to promote the “rice-duck farming system” in the province of Agusan del Sur.
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=584907&publicationSubCategoryId=75
Book: The Power of Duck
The Power of Duck: Integrated Rice and Duck Farming, by Takao Furuno, was published in 2001 by Tagari Publications of the Permaculture Institute, Tasmania, Australia. It is available in the United States (in English) from the Rodale Institute Bookstore in Pennsylvania, (800) 832-6285, www.rodaleinstitute.org/bookstore; or Seeds of Change in New Mexico, (888) 762-7333, http://www.seedsofchange.com. Cost is $24.95.
