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Scampi cultivation holds out hope

R. Balaji

CHENNAI, May 28

FRESHWATER prawn cultivation has increased in the last two years and is set to grow several fold. Known in the trade as scampi, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, has emerged as an additional option to black tiger (Penaeus monodon) cultivation, according to indu stry sources.

The main reasons are that scampi appears to be more durable (less susceptible to diseases than black tiger), commands a stable market price and is in demand in the US, EU and West Asia.

Mr. Ashok Nanjappa of Waterbase Ltd (TWL) is of the opinion that the area under scampi cultivation can grow five-fold over the next two years. A steady increase in demand can be observed. Export prices ranged around Rs. 540-640 for 20-30 counts size, and this is Rs. 60-70 higher than the prices prevailing just six months ago.

Earlier, scampi cultivation was taken up as polyculture (cultivated along with other fish species) but now with the increasing awareness, farmers were going in for monoculture. Compared to black tiger, scampi crop had a longer duration of six to seven mo nths, its returns were lower but more stable, he said.

However, despite the potential to go in for more number of crops in black tiger, this rarely happens. Adverse climatic conditions, disease outbreaks or poor water quality result in just a single cropping season.

According to Mr. Ch. Srikanth, a freshwater shrimp hatchery operator, there is a distinct shift towards scampi cultivation wherever freshwater is available. The area under cultivation has increased in the Nellore, Prakasam and Guntur districts in Andhra Pradesh, and in Karnataka and Kerala.

Based on the demand for prawn seeds, he estimated an increase in area under scampi cultivation at 20-25 per cent per year in the last few years. But with increasing awareness, between last year and this year the area had doubled, he said.

With the cost of production estimated at about Rs. 100 per kg, the farm gate prices were ruling around Rs. 250-275 for 15-20 counts. Price and demand had been relatively steady and farmers' confidence was on the increase, Mr. Srikanth said.

Keeping in tune with the demand, scampi seed hatcheries were also on the increase. Seed prices were ruling around Rs. 0.90-1 compared to 0.50-0.60 paise earlier because of an increase in excise duty and the 300-per-cent increase in the cost of imported s pecialised feed.

Farmers were harvesting about one to two tonnes per hectare depending on the duration of cultivation which ranged from six to 10 months. Apart from exports, the potential in domestic market was yet to be tapped. Even at Rs. 150-200 per kg, scampi could b e marketed at affordable prices to the consumer, and remunerative to the farmer, he said.