October 16, 2006

 

India to cultutivate Vannamei shrimp

 

 

India's shrimp industry is considering the culturing of the Vannamei shrimp variety to avoid being left in the dust by its other more nimble Asian competitors.

 

India's culture shrimp production of 150,000 tonnes a year is dwarfed by Chinese production of 650,000 tonnes, Thailand's 450,000 tonnes and Indonesia's 400,000 tonnes.

 

Even Vietnam, a country several times smaller than India, has double the shrimp production in India.

 

As India's shrimp production continues to stagnate at 150,000 tonnes a year, there has been talk in the industry to replace the Black Tiger variety with Vannamei, a species grown in nine out of ten aquaculture operations.

 

Although Vannamei is smaller than the Black Tiger, it costs less to produce and can resist disease better. Its high stocking densities and higher output compared to other shrimp species also makes it an attractive replacement. 

 

Unlike Black Tiger, Vannamei would have a premium thanks to its reputation.

 

Seafood Exporters Assoiciation of India national president AJ Tharakan said the Centre was holding a meeting later this month to examine the issue.

 

He said there are worries about the breed's adaptability to Indian conditions and whether farmers could make the transition.

 

Two large firms had already introduced this variety in their farms on an experimental basis, and the results were said to be encouraging.

 

Experts feel that Vannamei could only be introduced in large, capital-intensive farms and estimate that around 20 percent of Indian aquafarms are equipped to undertake Vannamei culture.  The rest would have to continue with the Black Tiger, maintaining the variety in Indian shrimp culture.