Shrimp farming by private enterprise- A case study

In view of the encouraging results shown by the research organisations of India and other countries in prawn culture on scientific methods, a commercial research and development project on prawn culture was established by the TATA Oil Mills Co. Ltd., at Pulicat. Experiments were conducted in aarthern ponds of size ranging from 0.4 to 1.25 ha- Stocking rates ranging from 6.5 to 15 prawns/mz were attempted and production to the tune of 0.5 to 1.0 tonne/ha/crop was achieved. Survival rate over 80% could be maintained in all the crops. An artificial feed formulated with shrimp meal, trash fish and vitamin mineral mix along with other usual ingredients, with a protein content of 40%, proved to be better than the other conventional feed. Effect of design of a pond, aging of pond, stocking density, stocking size and various hydrobioiogical parameters viz. salinity, dissolved oxygen and pH were also studied. The intensive stocking rate, the successful feed formula and the effective water managements adopted were the important reasons for the successful production of shrimps in this farm. The cost of production of 1 kg of shrimps considering the variable cost, varied from Ks 20.00 to 34.00 and thus a net revenue of Rg. 8000.00 to 20,000.00/ha/crop was achieved