which will create additional employment opportunities to the rural workforce. Effective arrangements are to be made for the surveillance and control of plant various agricultural research institutions and krishibhavans functioning in this area. The wetland ecological system of Kuttanad is conducive for inland fish culture. It is found that at present after the summer crop 81 percent of padasekharams in this region are kept fallow for eight months. If a system of rice- fish rotation in which culture fishes and prawns are reared in paddy fields after the puncha crop is adopted, paddy fields become more fertile and productivity can be increased by 30 to 40 percent. Costs on weeding can be substantially reduced and ploughing costs can be avoided as the culture fishes feed of weeds and keep the soil loose. An experiences shows that the farmers can get an additional income of 10000 to 25000 rupees if the integrated method is adopted. In addition to generating 70 to 100 working days per acre the method ensures the ecological sustainability of the region by avoiding the excess application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. As pointed out by the Shyamasundaran Nair Committee, the integration of aquaculture with traditional rice farming can be developed as a safe strategy to sustain rice production, increase profits and maintain ecological balance. Once paddy farming
