CIBA scientists create cost-effective feed to boost shrimp industry

Dr K Ambasankar, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CIBA, said Vannamei Plus offered similar results as existing commercial feeds manufactured in India using imported technology and imported feeds, at a lower cost. “Our team of scientists have worked on this cost-effective indigenous feed technology for the Pacific White Shrimp (L. vannamei) for five years. We have tested this feed in our laboratory and demonstrated in the farmers’ ponds. The results of the harvested shrimp after using our feed technology were the same, in terms of quantity, quality and health of the shrimps, when compared to those reared on commercial feeds,” he said. 

Dr Ambasankar said, “We use easily available, local substitutes as ingredients and formulate the feed to provide nutrients for the shrimps, which helps cut down costs. If the other feeds are priced at Rs 80-85 approximate per kg, CIBA-developed feed will be around Rs. 65. For example, if a farmer has three tonnes of shrimp production per hectare, he will require five tonnes of feed. If he can save Rs 15-20 per kg on the feed, it will drastically bring down the cost of production and increase the profit margin by 15-20%.” 

CIBA helps entrepreneurs and farmer cooperatives set up feed production units to meet the demand of the shrimp farmers. “An investment of Rs. 1.2-1.3 crore towards machinery is needed to set up an automated feed-production unit of 1-2 tonnes per hour. CIBA will provide the details of machinery, ingredients and explain where it can be procured. We also show how to use the ingredients to prepare the quality feed – this is known as formulation. Since CIBA is involved, we insist on quality check at all levels. Currently, six MOUs with farmers in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, West Bengal and Orissa have been signed to set up such production units. Because the production units are situated locally, marketing and transport costs are cut,” he said. 

Dr Ambasankar added that CIBA hopes to establish a small feed mill in a pocket of 100 hectares of shrimp farming area so that the farmers can source the feed directly from the feed mill. “Currently, the feed mills being established using ICAR-CIBA technology would produce about 8,000 to 10,000 tonnes of feed per year. We want to scale up the production into many folds through establishment of more number of such small feed mills,” he said. 

With India’s seafood export industry projected to reach USD 10 billion by 2020, Dr S Kandan, Deputy director, MPEDA Vijayawada, said, “For one-hectare shrimp farm maintenance, five persons are being employed. After the IT industry, aquaculture will be the next field to provide a high number of job opportunities,” he concluded.