Pravash Pradhan
If the lockdown imbroglio continues, the Gujarat shrimp industry will witness a decline in production by approximately 35-40% in the current year, according to industry veterans and farmers in the State. By the end of May this year, there is 50 % stocking as compared to 70-80 % during the same period last year (2019). AQUAPOST spoke to a number of progressive farmers and industry experts to find the current scenario of shrimp farming in the State by the end of May 2020.
The nationwide lockdown coincided with the stocking period in the State. Flight operations were completely suspended. Movement of vehicles and workers were banned for the initial 10-12 days starting from the Janata curfew on March 22. It was too late by the time fisheries and aquaculture activities were exempted from the lockdown.
However, Spice Jet resumed the cargo service to Surat during the first week of April. With the effort of the Gujarat Aqua Feed Dealers Association (GAFDA) and some of the major shrimp farmers in Gujarat, bulk seed to the tune of 30-40 flights was supplied.
“Out of total 12000 ponds in Gujarat, about 5000 ponds have been stocked till May end. About 60% ponds are not stocked due to mainly unavailability of seeds. It is certainly a huge blow to the shrimp industry in the State,” said Dr. Manoj M Sharma, President, GAFDA.
Dr. Sharma further added, “Thanks to Golden Marine, Vaishakhi Bio-Marine, and other hatcheries. They supplied seed during the lockdown period. If normalcy is restored, then stocking may go up to 60 % by the end of July. It means the total production will come down by approximately 16000-18000 tons this year. It will accrue a loss to the tune of nearly 700 crores rupees to the shrimp industry in the State.”
Mr. Saji Chacko, Vice President, Society of Aquaculture Professionals (SAP) who is also the CEO of Onaway Industries Ltd, foresees a slump in the production in 2020. In his case, he himself has stocked 50% of the normal till the last week of May. He expects about 350 to 400 tons of production this year as compared to 800 tons last year.
Expressing his concern over the delayed stocking, Chacko said, “Stocking takes place majorly till May end in Gujarat. We have 40 % of the stocking this time. Another 10 to 15 % may be added during June-July. People usually do not go for stocking after the monsoon in the state.”
“The farmers worry about the uncertain export market”, said Chacko, adding further, “The demand is expected to go up after September-October. We have already missed 2020. We hope for a better 2021.”
The rise in seed and feed prices will swell the production cost of shrimps this year. The nationwide lockdown has already disrupted the labor market.
Jignesh Contractor, Proprietor, Vaishnavi Aquatech said, “We face serious difficulty in finding quality seed. The seed price has increased. Feed price has also gone up. Among others, the unavailability of labor is a major problem. Due to lockdown, the majority of workers have left for their native place. Thus, the cost of production will rise this time. Also, we are not sure about the export market as the tensions are brewing between India and China. The Coronavirus has already hit the USA market. ”
Gujarat is the fourth largest shrimp producer in India with a total production of about 45000 tons in 2019. South Gujarat comprising of Surat, Navsari, Valsad, and Bharuch districts produce about 90 % of total shrimps whereas the Saurashtra region including Junagadh and Bhavnagar produces 10 % in the State.
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