Two in one
In Cambodia, the cultivation of giant freshwater prawns is an important measure to strengthen rural livelihoods and food production.
The smart fishing cooperation project between China and Cambodia builds on the ecological relationship between rice and aquatic animals, a farming practice that has existed for generations but can be made more productive through scientific management.
Wu Xugan, a professor at the College of Fisheries and Life Science at Shanghai Ocean University who led the project, said the principle behind integrated rice-fish farming is relatively simple.
When fish or prawns are raised in rice paddies, their waste can serve as organic fertilizer for rice plants. Meanwhile, the rice provides shade for the aquatic animals, creating a mutually beneficial environment. "It's a small cycle," Wu said.
The approach is particularly suitable for Cambodia, where many farmers have limited access to irrigation infrastructure and depend on seasonal rice cultivation.
"Normally, one farmer has one hectare of land, but they don't have an irrigation system. They grow rice only in the rainy season. In the dry season, they do nothing," Wu said.
Traditional pond aquaculture often requires farmers to construct ponds and invest in irrigation systems, creating financial and infrastructure barriers for small-scale producers.
Integrated rice-fish farming offers an alternative by making use of existing rice fields, requiring limited additional inputs while allowing farmers to diversify production.
Wu said the model is relevant amid mounting pressure on natural fish stocks from climate change and overfishing. Fish provides more than one-third of Cambodia's protein supply, making aquaculture important both for nutrition and livelihoods, he said.
Rice-fish farming therefore can help farmers produce aquatic products while continuing to cultivate rice, strengthening food security and creating additional income opportunities.
When the project began in Takeo in 2024, there were only four participating farmers. By 2026, the number had grown to 52.
The experience has been extended to other Cambodian provinces and shared with Laos and Myanmar, indicating the potential for agricultural cooperation to reach beyond individual demonstration sites.
