Groundwater salinity turns blessing in disguise for Malwa shrimp farmers

Manav Mander
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, August 4
Groundwater salinity and waterlogging has proved a blessing in d0sguise for the farmers of south-west parts of Punjab. Forced to give up farming, they were working as daily wagers a few years ago. But shrimp farming has proved a boon for them.
Shrimp is a sought-after export commodity and India is among the top two shrimp exporters of the world. The inland saline areas of north-west India are being eyed as shrimp hub of the future.
Witnessing the success of shrimp farming, which showcased the potential scope of economic utilisation of salt-affected wastelands, the first state government sponsored shrimp farming demonstration was held at Ratta Khera village of Sri Muktsar Sahib district under the technical guidance of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and Regional Centre of ICAR — Central Institute of Fisheries Education in Haryana. Similar camps were held in other parts of the region. With active efforts of the university and promotional schemes of the Department of Fisheries of Punjab, the area under shrimp farming expanded very fast from 1 acre in 2014 to 1,315 acres in 2023.
Dr Inderjeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, said the underground water salinity and waterlogging in the south-west parts of the state (Fazilka, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Bathinda, Mansa and Faridkot districts), forced the farmers to abandon their saline water laden land. Although saline, but abundance of water was looked upon as a valuable resource for developing aquaculture, which led to fish and shrimp farming in the inland saline water.
The salt-affected waterlogged zero earning waste lands of south-west Punjab are now being potentially utilised for aquaculture with remunerative economic returns, ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh per acre through fish and shrimp farming, respectively, he said.
Dr Meera D Ansal, dean, College of Fisheries, shared that the university tested about 1,500 water and 2,500 shrimp samples of shrimp farmers and trained about 300 stakeholders in shrimp farming in the last five years.
“The university is also promoting entrepreneurship among youth, including young fishery owners and veterinary professionals graduated from the university. The beneficiaries adopted shrimp farming effortlessly and increased their shrimp farming areas from 1 acre to 3-4 acres in two years,” she said.
“Shrimp farming is a highly lucrative enterprise. If all goes well from production to marketing, a net profit up to Rs 10 lakh/ha/crop in four months can be earned. As per regional climate, shrimp can be cultured for seven-eight months from March/April to October/November as low temperature less than 15°C during winters is detrimental for the survival of shrimp,” said a farmer engaged in shrimp farming.