CHENNAI: The indigenous brand of formulated shrimp feed for vannamei (Pacific white shrimp) developed by Chennai-based Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture’s (CIBA), is proving to be an instant hit with large-scale farmers and entrepreneurs in several aquaculture States like Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Kerala, including Tamil Nadu.
With the brand name Vannamei Plus, the CIBA-made feed is highly cost-effective and also matches the output of international brands. Recently, Prathipati Pulla Rao, Minister for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Government of Andhra Pradesh, has commercially launched the CIBA Vannamei Plus feed under National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA).
In shrimp aquaculture the feed constitutes 60 per cent of cost of production. In the last five years, shrimp-feed prices have more than doubled. The current market price is Rs 88 per kg, while the actual input cost is under Rs 50. Vannamei plus, which is made using indigenous ingredients, is being sold at a price tag of Rs 55-65 per kg. In order to bring down the feed cost and to increase the profitability to shrimp farmers the technology has been transferred to leading shrimp farmers M Karuna Raju and Krishnam Raju of Sai Aqua Feeds in Bapatla in Guntur in Andhra Pradesh on a public-private-partnership mode .
JK Jena, Deputy Director General (Fisheries), said the farmers should take advantage of this highly cost-effective shrimp-feed to ensure the sector remains sustainable.