Ducks enable organic rice cultivation
A method of growing rice based on insects and weeds was discovered a few years ago. The Aigamo method of rice cultivation was developed in 1989 by Takao Furuno, a farmer in Fukuoka prefecture, and enables the production of healthy and tasty rice, requiring less work than previous methods. From its beginnings in Japan, it has found its way to rice growing countries as South Korea, China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand and even distant Iran. Rice cultivated with this method is more resistant to typhoons and other problems, and some who started it has called it a 'gift from God'.
Organic riceThe Aigamo is a cross between wild and domestic ducks. The Aigamo method for rice cultivation involves the release of Aigamo ducklings into a paddy field about one or two weeks after planting the seedlings. Between 15 and 20 of these birds are needed on 1,000 square meters of farmland. Also necessary is a shelter where the ducks can rest and protect themselves from the rain. To protect them from dogs, cats, weasels and crows, the field should be surrounded by an electric fence and protected from above by a fishing line.
The ducklings help the rice seedlings to grow by eating both insects and weeds that stand in their way. The farmer can then grow the rice without using pesticides or herbicides. He or she is also free of the ruthless work of bending down to pull weeds by hand. The dung of the ducklings becomes an important source of natural fertilizer. In addition, they stir up the soil in the rice field with their feet and beaks, which increases the oxygen content of the soil and makes it more nutritious for the seedlings. And when it's time to harvest the rice in the fall, the ducks got fat and can be sold for meat. By allowing farmers to grow grain organically and also to grow ducks to sell as meat,
Financial reliefIn countries across Asia, where people are thinking about overusing chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the Aigamo method of growing healthy and tasty rice is attracting attention and many farmers have begun to use it. This method is advantageous in terms of cost, as well as no longer have to buy expensive chemical fertilizers or pesticides. And the fact that extra money can be made.
The Aigamo is a cross between the Kamo (wild duck) and the Ahiru (domestic duck). BecauseKamo are migratory, it would have been better that Ahiru would be better for agriculture. However, Aigamo are used because they produce a lot of tasty meat and are better than Ahiru.
Furuno, the pioneer of the Aigamo rice cultivation method, has visited Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam to introduce the method. New technologies and new ideas are being tested in various areas, and Japan has started to receive feedback from farmers themselves.
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