Shrimp comes to rescue of farmers in saline areas

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 20

Over 600 acres of inland salt-affected wastelands in Punjab have been converted into aqua farms in the past four years.

Farmers in salt-affected areas have adopted shrimp farming. Experts say farmers can earn a net profit of Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 per acre per year and Rs 3 lakh to 4 lakh per acre per crop of 100-120 days, respectively.

Recently, 19 farmers adopted shrimp farming in 37.5 acres of salt-affected lands with financial help from the state government. These farmers produced 121.85 tonnes of shrimp having a market value of Rs 4 crore, according to Dr Meera D Ansal, Head, Department of Aquaculture, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU).

The university is working intensively since 2010 to develop aquaculture in zero-earning salt-affected lands of south-west districts (Ferozepur, Fazilka, Muktsar, Bathinda, Faridkot and Mansa) of Punjab. The university has standardised/demonstrated technologies for freshwater carp culture in low-saline areas and brackish water shrimp (Vannamaei) in high-saline areas.

The university has started a series of awareness camps to sensitise the farmers of south-west districts with respect to various aquaculture practices that can be adopted in their zero-earning lands and help them improve their socio-economic status, besides producing quality protein-rich fish/shellfish for additional food security in the state.

The farmers are being sensitised about the Best Management Practices (BMPs) for sustainable development of shrimp farming in the region.

Members of the Innovative Fish Farmers’ Association, Punjab, participated in the camp. Association president Ranjodh Singh has urged the farmers to take up scientific fish/shrimp farming under the expert guidance of scientists. The College of Fisheries organises training programmes on shrimp farming to acquaint the farmers with technical details of the venture.

Profitable venture 

• Farmers in salt-affected areas have adopted shrimp farming. Experts say farmers can earn a net profit of Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 per acre per year and Rs 3 lakh to 4 lakh per acre per crop of 100-120 days, respectively.
• Recently, 19 farmers adopted shrimp farming in 37.5 acres of salt-affected lands with financial help from the state government. These farmers produced 121.85 tonnes of shrimp having a market value of Rs 4 crore, according to Dr Meera D Ansal, Head, Department of Aquaculture, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU).
• The university is working intensively since 2010 to develop aquaculture in zero-earning salt-affected lands of south-west districts (Ferozepur, Fazilka, Muktsar, Bathinda, Faridkot and Mansa) of Punjab.