Indigenous shrimp feed to help farmers save 20% cost

Chennai: An indigenously and scientifically formulated feed for shrimps made from locally available ingredients is likely to become an alternative option for small scale shrimp farmers in the country, who shell out more to buy other commercial feed.

Scientists at ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture have developed 'Vannamei Plus', a feed for vannamei shrimp species that forms a major chunk of the shrimp exports in India. Through this, CIBA is also promoting small scale feed mills, where small farmers in that area can source it.This, scientists said, would result in reducing the cost of shrimp production by 20%.

Four entrepreneur from Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Gujarat have already begun commercial production with CIBA's technology. The feed will be available in the market from August.

In 2014-2015, India exported more than 3.57 lakh metric tonnes worth USD 3,709.76million. About 90% of vannamei produced in India is exported while rest is sold in the domestic market particularly in Kerala.

Principal scientist K Ambasankar said that they have used a combination of marine protein sources like fish meal, plant protein sources like soya, gingelly oil cake, ground nut cake, corn gluten, and alternative carbohydrate sources available in that area as per the requirement.

While shrimps need about 34-36% protein and 6% lipid, their varying levels in the feed were decided based on laboratory studies conducted at CIBA.

"The nutritional content varies with different shrimp species. We have already developed such indigenous feed for our indigenous species," the scientist said.

There are close to eight big feed mills in the country each producing about 30,000 to one lakh tonnes of feed annually. There are also about 25 small feed manufacturers in India who make feed with whatever ingredients available, but the formulation is not scientifically validated.

Though similar ingredients are used in the feed currently available in the market, CIBA scientists have suggested alternative protein sources of marine and plant origin. The feed underwent various levels of trials from labs to farmer's ponds.

To make the feed, scientists have also custom designed the feed mill machineries apart from helping manufacturers to set up quality control lab. The machine can produce about one to three tonnes an hour. With the indigenous feed, scientists said, that a farming cluster of about 500 hectares can be taken care by establishing a feed mill with a capacity of 1-2tonne per hour.