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The technology-driven sustainable aquaculture company Kings Infra Venture Limited has set a world record in the growth of pond-based aquaculture of L Vannamei by harvesting shrimps weighing 80 gm (210 mm). This species is commonly known as the whiteleg shrimp are native of the eastern Pacific Ocean. The maximun size which can grow in the natural ocean habitat at an age of 12-14 month is a maximun of 230 mm, with a maximum Carpice Length of 9 cm.
“The information available with us shows that there is no record of L. Vannamei shrimps weighing 80 gm per piece have been grown in an aquafarm anywhere in the world. The SISTA360 protocol farming practice, a proprietary system developed by our R&D team, has enabled us to achieve such a record,” said Shaji Baby John, Chairman and Managing Director Kings Infra to ANI News Agency.
To achieve similar growth in a pond-based aquaculture system in a period of 100-130 days is an incredible feat, according to experts. The average size of harvested shrimps is 18-20 gm in the normal aqua farms. The record-breaking growth was achieved in normal earthen ponds by applying SISTA360 protocols developed by the R&D wing of the Kings Infra.
“The average weight of the shrimps in our farm during this crop has been in the range of 30 to 50 gm but we were surprised to find certain shrimps have grown to 75-80 grams during the final harvesting,” added Baby John.
Methods of aquaculture and adapted to Indian conditions
The credit for this belongs to the SISTA360 farming protocols developed by our R&D team, he assured. “This is an integrated system based on symbiotic technology using principles adopted from BIOFLOC, Aquamimicry, and IMTA methods of aquaculture and adapted to Indian conditions.
The achievement gains further significance as the farm used only antibiotic-free feed, probiotics, and natural supplements, Ingredients such as curd, jaggery, turmeric, moringa leaves, garlic, tamarind, and other ingredients were used regularly under this protocol to improve immunity and disease resistance as well as improve growth rates,” he told.
“The successful harvesting is a milestone in our R&D efforts to develop an eco-friendly and economically sustainable aquaculture practice that could be replicated by small and marginal farmers,” said Shaji Baby John. The success is noteworthy as our team had achieved the same in a 90-130 day harvest cycle despite facing several critical issues including adverse weather conditions.
USD 15 per kg from the same pond
The successful harvesting of jumbo sized shrimp is expected to bring major positive impact on topline and bottomline growth of Kings Infra in the next one year. As against the average farm gate price of USD 5 per kg for farmed shrimp the present initiative would help in realising USD 15 per kg from the same pond.
This will totally change the economics of Shrimp farming as these Jumbo Sized shrimps will be a rare delicacy in the International as well as domestic markets and can fetch a premium price by providing sustainability and traceability certifications.
“The success would go a long way in showing the importance of the new technology for doubling export earnings from fisheries sector to Rs. 100,000 cr ($13.82 billion) as envisaged under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY),” Mr. Shaji Baby John said. “The new technology would be a catalyst in doubling farmers’ income, another key objective of the government,” he added.
“A listed company in BSE, Kings Infra has leveraged its rich experience and expertise and has entered into an agreement with NEC Japan to develop a Proof of Concept for Indoor Precision aquaculture utilising AI and IoT. The POC-2 is progressing satisfactorily and will be completed by mid-March.“
The company also has a collaborative project with J Jayalalitha Fisheries University for developing an open pond-based RAS system and the first trial pond harvest has also been completed successfully with the shrimps have grown to reach 43 gms size in 110 days.
Production of jumbo sized shrimps on a consistent basis
In the other hand, Kings Infra is adopting SISTA360 protocols in all the ponds under cultivation in the new crop starting from the end of January. The idea is to achieve the production of jumbo sized shrimps on a consistent basis.
A SISTA360 shrimp nursery and seed bank with 100 million seeds per year is nearing completion close to the project site. The completion of these projects would ensure uninterrupted supply of juveniles and the company would be in a position to harvest three crops instead of two crops at present.
The increase in the number of crops would ensure that the topline would double in the next 12 months while the bottom-line by 200 percent.
