October 14, 2024

Indian aquaculture institute develops advanced shrimp farming system

The Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA), based in Chennai, India, has introduced a cutting-edge shrimp production system capable of yielding 100 to 120 tonnes per hectare across three crop cycles annually, The Hindu reported.

This development comes at a critical time when rising production costs and climate changes are impacting the profitability of shrimp farming.

George Kurian, India's Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and Minority Affairs, attended the 8th consecutive harvest of this system at CIBA's Muttukadu Experimental Station. The system operates under the Super Intensive Precision and Natural Shrimp Farming (SIPNSF) model.

Kuldeep K Lal, Director of CIBA, highlighted the need for innovation in shrimp farming, citing the challenges of disease outbreaks, increased production costs, and stagnant farm gate prices over the last 15 years. Additionally, extreme weather conditions, such as temperature fluctuations, irregular rainfall, floods, and cyclones, have further strained the sector.

KP Kumaraguru Vasagam, the principal scientist behind the technology, explained that the system uses high-density polyethylene (HDPE) circular tanks with an integrated wastewater management system. Farmers can adjust their crop cycles to align with market demands in terms of shrimp size and volume. This new method, he noted, could spark a "revolution" in the shrimp farming industry.

Minister Kurian urged the Indian shrimp farming industry to adopt and scale up this innovative system, which holds the potential to enhance the sector's productivity and sustainability.

-      The Hindu