May 20, 2004

 

 

Upward Trend In Thai White Shrimp Culture

 

In that year, Thailand's Department of Fisheries temporarily authorised the import of specific pathogen free (SPF) brood stock. Thailand then went on to produce 20,000 tonnes of white shrimp. Production jumped up to 150,000 tonnes in 2003. This volume was second to China, the current world leader in white shrimp production. Industry players in Thailand have predicted a production of up to 245,000 tonnes in 2004.

 

White shrimp is the solution. Pinyo Kietpinyo was the first person to start farming this shrimp.

 

"We have been doing the same thing for more than 20 years with the black tiger without any innovations. We also destroyed the natural resources on a daily basis. So, the white shrimp can be the solution," said Mr Pinyo.

 

It all started 16 years ago when Mr Pinyo, an engineer, developed an interest in shrimp farming. His family started a black tiger shrimp farm in Chanthaburi province in the eastern part of Thailand. Then, three years ago, they moved to Nakorn Prathom province and started a white shrimp farm, Camaron Blanco Thai.

 

This was when the government forbade farmers from culturing black tiger shrimp in the low saline areas in the Central region. At present he owns hatcheries and 2 5 shrimp ponds of various sizes from two to 10 rai (3200-16,000m2).

 

It was Mr Pinyo who established the White Shrimp Producers Club. He is the President, a post he has held since its foundation. Presently, the club has about 100 members. However, before he gained the trust from the shrimp farmers, he had to prove to them that white shrimp production is more profitable than the culture of the black tiger shrimp.

 

"While the brood stock of the black tiger comes from the sea, we have shown that we can domesticate the white shrimp for more than 20 generations already. Importantly, it can be raised in less saline water," he said.

 

According to Mr Pinyo, more farmers have shifted to white shrimp culture because they can save on feed costs as this shrimp require lower levels of crude protein in the diets, compared to the black tiger. Thus, while the farmers pay 32 baht/kg of feed for the black tiger shrimp, they pay only 21 baht/kg for white shrimp feed. He said that farmers can save over two billion baht in feed costs if they raise 150,000 tonnes of white shrimp compared.

 

Today, farms have mushroomed especially in the central and upper southern provinces operated by thousands of farmers attracted by this multi-billion baht industry. There are about 800 hatcheries and nurseries in the area that sell postlarvae to farmers.

 

Black tiger and white shrimp now share the same proportion (50:50) in Thailand's shrimp output totalling 280,000 tonnes in 2003 from the 80:20 in 2002.

 

Mr Pinyo strongly believes that the upward trend in white shrimp culture will continue. This is because Thai farmers are very capable. They were the ones who were successful in raising the black tiger shrimp. They are well qualified and very experienced.

 

However, to prevent any future damage from an oversupply of white shrimp, he suggested that the government map out a strategy specifically for the shrimp industry to prevent this. He also proposed that the Internal Trade Department provide more distribution outlets in Bangkok.

 

Yields of the white shrimp are much higher on a per hectare basis and mortality rates are lower than for the black tiger shrimp. Whites are also far less vulnerable to diseases when compared to the black tigers.

 

Working closely with other business groups and the government is also the key to the survival of this industry.

 

"We have worked closely with the Thai Frozen Shrimp Association to have better marketing. We are part of the production cycle because we provide raw material. We have to work as a cluster because we cannot produce without the market," he added.

 

As Thailand is not the only country involved in shrimp farming, it is important to differentiate the product in order to maximise profits.

 

Mr Pinyo said that the black tiger should be sold in the niche market and has to move toward being antibiotic or chemical free so it can be marketed as a premium product.

 

"We need to produce a larger size to add value to our product. And I'm talking about both black tiger and white shrimp. While we have to develop the black tiger, we also should move forward to develop the white shrimp to respond with the needs of the global markets," he said.

 

Mr Pinyo will also start a project to produce locally acclimatised SPF (Specific Pathogen Free) white shrimp by working with the government and universities.

 

"Our farmers just demand the fast growing shrimp because they do not understand very well the benefit of the SPF shrimp which needs to be raised in the biosecurity system. However, we have to do this project for the future growth of the industry. We cannot stop developing," he said.