Hani women at their rice paddy carrying ducks, Lao Bo Village, Yunnan Province, China. Ducks play an important role in the long developed Hani rice-farming system. They are taken out to the paddy to clean it up from weed and pests. In return, their manure serves as good quality fertiliser to nourish the rice. Ducks are quite effective paddy "guards" as about one dozen of them are already able to maintain several acres of paddy field. In addition, to slaughter the ducks before they are mature and sell them allows the farmers to earn an extra income.