BLACK IS STILL BEAUTIFUL

Dr.ManojM. Sharma, U.S. Sethi and Amit Palaskar

Mayank Aquaculture Pvt. Ltd.,

204-205 Suryadarshan Complex, Jahingirpura, Rander Road, Surat, Gujarat State, India.

E-mail:

Introduction:

In India shrimp farming was traditionally practiced as an age-old in brackish water areas like bheries (manmade impoundments in coastal wetlands) in West Bengal and pokali (salt resistant deepwater paddy) fields in Kerala. Later on the importance of shrimp culture was recognized after the initiation of All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in the earlier 1970s. In contiguity to this,studies on commercial aspects of shrimp aquaculture were initiated by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) in early 1970s. Followed by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) catalyzed the development by establishing Orissa Shrimp Seed Production and Research Center (OSSPARC) in Orissa and the Andhra Pradesh Shrimp Seed Production and Research Center (TASSPARC) in Andhra Pradesh with American technologies during 1988. However, shrimp farming activity gained pace in between year 1990-1994 with production increase 40,000 ton to 1,43,000 ton mostly in east coast of India. Followed by in the west coast of India this was gained roots in late 1990s. The major cultured species was black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon. This boomed brackish water commercial shrimp farming was initially affected by out break of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in year1995 and production was drastically reduced in the late 1990s. Despite with viral out break, this shrimp industry started reviving by serious approach including low stocking densities, judicious management practices with proper biosecurity, adoption of farmers club/association, end user assurance, traceability etc. towards its sustainability. However, after seeing the tremendous production of American white leg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, it was introduced in India on trial basis in year 2003 and after through cohabitation studies made officially in year 2009. This exotic species has started showing immense attraction to existing shrimp farmers for diversification from black tiger, the lead attraction of white leg shrimp is SPF seed and high production capacity. More so ever the sustainability for longer term farming has to be properly envisaged. In spite of fact that, shrimp farmers of Surat in Gujarat (India) still believe that the culture of black tiger shrimp, P. monodonwith bigger size is more economical that followed toward its sustainability for food and safety.

Current status of shrimp farming in India:

In spite of fact that, presently world is producing 21% of black tiger shrimp compared to other species (in year 2008; source: FAO March 2010), whose contribution was near to 70% during mid 1990s showing the present interest towards exotic white shrimp. However, India is still one of the major black tiger producing country. The production was peak in year 2006/07 i.e. near to145 000 tonnes. The present developed infrastructures available for shrimp culture in India are given below:

Total developed area for culture:154 600 ha (13% from total coastal aquaculture resources)

Total numbers of shrimp hatcheries: 336 nos.

Total numbers of feed mills: 33 nos.

Processing plants: 426 nos.

Aquaculture labs with PCR facilities : 87 nos.

Pharmaceuticals: 100 nos.

Registered exporters : 859 nos.

Presently, the country is producing 100 000 tonnes of cultured shrimp from brackish water ponds with average count 35 and average production near to 1 tone/ha/year. In contiguity to this,the state of Gujarat (India) is contributing only 4.5% of the country’s production but with more standard and biosecured culture practice with average count grade of 26/30 and production of 1,840 Kg/ha (year 2008-09) with international reputeadhering to better management practices (BMP) with all food safety protocols. However, M/S Mayank Aquaculture Pvt. Ltd. which is one of the pioneering private sector aquaculture companies in Gujarat (India) that operating 100 ha of brackish water shrimp farms and mainly producing black tiger shrimp withoptimum stocking density and bigger size. The average production from the company is 3 000 kg/ha/crop with an average count 26-27. It is quite obvious that farmed shrimp has a size limit and mostly farmers target 20/30 and 30/40 grade. This leaves open a bigger segment for big size farm shrimp mostly 10/20 grade. By virtue of food safety there is a big demand to replace big size sea caught shrimp. To explore this super niche segment M/S Mayank Aquaculture Pvt. Ltd. has done a farm trial to study feasibility and economics of bigger size shrimp in five ponds with 0.8-0.9 ha water spread area each at Surat and produced 16/20 counts of black tiger shrimp with stocking density 9-10 pieces/mt2. Results of the five ponds werehighly encouraging with excellent economics compared to the regular production. This enlighten result can be a role model for the world shrimp farmers for future practice and to restore back their faith in black tiger shrimp farming specially in India. The detail farm trial report along with economics of this experiment is given below.

BIGGER IS BETTER - Detail farm trial report and economics of 16/20 size grade of black tiger shrimp from 5 culture ponds:

Five experimental ponds were stocked in two phases. During first phase post larvae were procured from local hatchery named Evergreen Shrimp Hatchery from Kodinar, Gujarat and stocked in three ponds on dated 12/03/2010, where as during second phase post larvae were procured from other state hatchery named Vaisakhi Bio-Resources (P) Ltd., Vizag, Andhra Pradesh and stocked in other two ponds on dated 19/04/2010. In both the phases the ages of post larvae were PL14 and selected with proper visual, microscopically and stress test along with viral analysis by PCR method from two different laboratories. Stocking was done with proper acclimatization in farm with tank system prior to stocking inside the ponds for optimum survival rate.During entire period of culture, BMP of shrimp farming was followed under strong biosecurity without using any antibiotics. The important major water quality parameters of these five experimental culture ponds are given in table no.1. Growing shrimp health index were regularly monitored by daily check tray observation and weekly sampling by cast net. Harvesting of first experimental culture pond was done on dated 25/09/2010, where as last one on dated 28/10/2010 as per the projected size grade of shrimp. The production was 3.75-4.63 (avg. 4.22) tonnes/ha with F.C.R. of 1.68-1.83 (avg. 1.76) during culture periods of 185-200 (avg. 194) DOC. The survival rate after harvesting was calculated as 75.94% to 89.06% with average 83.32%. However, the details of each pond are given in table no.2.

Table no.1: Important major water quality parameters of experimental culture ponds.

Water quality parameters / Range
Temperature / 27-33oC
Salinity / 7-15 ‰
pH / 7.8-8.4
Dissolved Oxygen / 3.5-6.0 ppm
Alkalinity / 124-170
Total hardness / 1 300-1 700 ppm
Unionized NH3 / Maximum 0.1 ppm

Table no.2: Harvesting details of five experimental culture ponds in farm of Mayank Aquaculture Private Limited.

Pond No. / Stocking / Date of / Date of / DOC / ABW / S.R. / Biomass / Cum. Feed / FCR / WSA / Prod./ha.
PL (no) / Stocking / Harvesting / (gm) / (%) / (kg) / (kg) / (Ha.) / (Kg)
A1 / 90000 / 19/04/2010 / 21/10/2010 / 185 / 48.8 / 84.61 / 3716 / 6818 / 1.83 / 0.9 / 4129
A2 / 90000 / 19/04/2010 / 28/10/2010 / 192 / 51 / 86.56 / 3973 / 6845 / 1.72 / 0.9 / 4414
A3 / 80000 / 12/03/2010 / 28/09/2010 / 200 / 52 / 79.76 / 3318 / 5972 / 1.80 / 0.8 / 4148
A4 / 80000 / 12/03/2010 / 26/09/2010 / 198 / 52 / 89.06 / 3705 / 6246 / 1.68 / 0.8 / 4631
A5 / 76000 / 12/03/2010 / 25/09/2010 / 197 / 52 / 75.94 / 3001 / 5264 / 1.75 / 0.8 / 3751
AVERAGE / 194 / 51.1 / 83.32 / 1.76 / 4217
TOTAL / 416000 / 17713 / 31145 / 4.20
Abbreviation:
DOC : Days of culture / S.R. : Survival rate
ABW : Average body weight / WSA: Water spread area
F.C.R.: Feed conversion ratio

Some selected photos from these experimental ponds along with harvested shrimp are given below.

Figure 1: Mayank Aquaculture Pvt. Ltd. (MAPL-1) shrimp farm, where experiment was done.

Figure 2: Pond preparation before stocking. Figure 3: Experimental ponds after stocking

Figure 4:Good aeration in experimentalpond. Figure 5: Crab fencing to prevent crab

Figure 6: Foot wash before entering to farm Figure 7: Hand wash before entering to farm

Figure 8: MAPL team show the harvested shrimp Figure 9: Fresh harvested shrimp from

experimental pond.

Figure 10: Fresh harvested shrimp from Figure 11: Fresh harvested shrimp from

experimental pondexperimental pond

The costs of production per Kg of shrimp in these experimental ponds were varied from Rs. 220 to Rs. 230, where as the selling farm gate prices per Kg of shrimps were Rs. 470 to Rs. 475. The average of cost of production from these experimental ponds is given in table no. 3. Average net profit obtained from these five ponds was Rs. 220, where as the average pond profit was close to Rs. 7.8 lacs. Results of the five ponds were highly encouraging with excellent economics compared to the regular production. This enlighten result can be a role model for the world shrimp farmers for future practice and to restore back their faith in black tiger shrimp farming specially in India.

Table no.3: Average cost of production from experimental culture ponds.

Particulars / Cost of production per kg of shrimp (in Rupees)
Initial pond preparation / 5.00
Post larvae / 11.74
Pellet feed / 112.53
Manures and chemical during pond preparation / 4.90
Water disinfectants / 3.00
Water & gut probiotics / 12.70
Feed additives / 4.50
Fuel and electricity / 21.00
Repair and maintenance / 4.80
Harvesting expenses / 3.00
Labor expenses during pond preparation / 2.26
Staff salary / 19.90
Farm lease amount / 5.00
Office and miscellaneous expenses / 14.50
TOTAL / 224.83

Conclusion:

The above work of MAPL team is to encourage and motivate the present farmers doing black tiger shrimp farming in our country and other parts of the world. This encouraging result should be enough for them to understand that we don’t have to run away from the failures and problems of shrimp farming especially black tiger, rather we should come up with power pack strategies and improved farm culture practices to bounce back into the same business and revive. This is the hope of the team that black tiger shrimp farming still has a great future as the main candidate species of shrimp farming for “FOOD AND PROFIT”. That is why we all believe “Black is still beautiful”.