November 19, 2007

India's best bet: vannamei shrimp to increase production

India expressed plans to introduce the vannamei shrimp, a native species from South America, to raise the current production rate which has remained sluggish at 150,000 tonnes per year.

Ravi Reddy, president of the Seafood Exporters Association of the Tamil Nadu region, said that India has to look for more alternatives, and the vannamei variety appears to be the "best bet."

India primarily produces black tiger shrimp and processing facilities are running at only 30 percent of their capacity.

Closest Asian rivals such as Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, have already been producing vannamei and have seen production increase.

China produces 650,000 tonnes yearly, Thailand 450,000 tonnes, Indonesia 400,000 tonnes, Vietnam 350,000 tonnes --- 90 percent of their total produce is vannamei shrimp.

Meanwhile, the Indian black tiger shrimp's market prices have dropped by US$1-20 per kilogram in the last two weeks.

G. Mohanty, president of the Orissa region of the Association, said that even if Indian black tiger shrimps are well accepted in international markets, the local aquaculture business remains under pressure.

A shift to vannamei is expected to raise output with low production costs. Vannemei culture, which consists only of small and medium shrimps, has a yield of about 20 tonnes per hectare compared to black tiger's variety which is at 2-3 tonnes per hectare.

A.J. Tharakan, president of the Association, recommended for a selective introduction of the variety in large farms as vannamei may not be suitable to Indian conditions and might put an end to the black tiger variety. Tharakan said that 20 percent of the Indian aqua farms are equipped for the vannamei variety. The rest can go on with the black tiger shrimps.