Indian Farmers Prep for Vannamei Introduction

Indian shrimp farmers are gearing up to raise Pacific white shrimp after the government cleared the way for the species' introduction into the country about a week ago.

Indian farmers are expected to begin raising vannamei in a few months after the regulations are sorted out, P. Brahamanadam, managing director of Devi Seafoods Ltd., told Mint, an Indian business newspaper.

The shrimp-farming industry has long been demanding introduction of vannamei, a plea that gained momentum due to rising production costs of black tiger shrimp. Indian farmers raise about 150,000 metric tons of black tigers annually.

Production costs for vannamei are roughly half that of black tigers, said K.S. Chowdhry, director of Apex Exports Ltd. Also, the per-hectare yield for vannamei is more than three times that of black tigers, which have an average yield of 8 metric tons per hectare, and vannamei can be harvested at 60 to 90 days, compared with 90 to 120 days for black tigers.

The Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture in Chennai is likely to be authorized to import vannamei broodstock and keep it in quarantine before distributing it to hatcheries and farmers, said Vishnu Bhat, director of Marine Products Export Development Authority.

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