ASMP contributes to save the foreign exchange through the Sri Lankan Shrimp Industry

A new hope on local Shrimp Industry

How to develop the Shrimp Industry 

Industry decline in the 1990s

The Sri Lankan Shrimp industry started in the 1980s and grew rapidly during the period between 1992 – 1996 due to its lucrative earnings. The production reached its peak from 8,000 – 9,000 kg/ha/yr. as a result of these new developments, small-scale operations around 0.5-1.0 ha established itself on encroaching lagoons, reservations and other ecologically sensitive areas without having proper licenses. The total area under farming reached around 4,500 ha by 1998. However, due to gaps in policy framework and its implementation, poor environmental planning and poor bio securing measures, the rapid development culminated to 47% of shrimp farms being illegal establishments operating without proper licenses. Thus, the industry collapsed recording a 100% mortality with white spot disease effecting more than 90% of the farms. Hence, the industry was characterized by volatile boom-and-busts, with unsure conditions caused by multiple disease outbreaks. However, since 2010, this industry in Sri Lanka has slowly been developing in a positive direction with the initiatives taken by NAQDA (National Aquaculture Development Authority of Sri Lanka) and NARA (The National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency). 

The Sri Lanka Aquaculture Development Alliance (SLADA), made a request for a grant from the Agriculture Sector Modernization Project (ASMP), Value Chain Development Program to develop the industry together with the relevant private and government stakeholders, ASMP formulated a model to adopt Best Management Practices (BMP) for a sustainable shrimp farming industry. 

-Areas-

Puttalam and Batticaloa Districts

The main areas focused by ASMP to support the Shrimp industry. 

•    To address common sector issues for sustainable shrimp culture.

•    To establish bio security measures of farms and hatcheries.-To upgrade shrimp hatcheries to B+ grade (hatchery grading standards introduced by NAQDA) to produce high quality post larvae (PLs).

•    To resume production after disease (White Spot Syndrome Virus – WSSV)-To introduce Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) shrimp variety, “Penaeus monodon”, (the giant tiger prawn) which prevent vertical transmission of the virus.

•    To strengthen technology transformation-(SPF brooders, HDPE lining, Nursery ponds, High density farming, A new shrimp species “Vannamei”, was introduced along with high density farming technology.) 

•    To create linkages among small shrimp farmers, processors and exporters. 

•    To align with national strategies of NAQDA (nauplii centers and nurseries).

•    To increase foreign exchange

How ASMP provided support to the industry 

-Shrimp Cluster program- 

Small scale farmers who had the same requirements, but who were not in a position to make large investments due to the debts they had acquired previously were included under this program. Thus, these farmers were able develop their farms according to the basic bio security requirements such as using nets, fences, water storage for pretreatment of water, uninterrupted electricity supply and use of High-Density Poly Ethylene (HDPE) as pond lining to minimize horizontal spreading of diseases and maintain water quality for high density farming whilst minimize seepage losses. Furthermore, sufficient aeration is encouraged by using paddle wheels to prevent the shrimps from being stressed.   

Large scale Shrimp farm projects

High density and super high-density SPF nauplii centers were developed under largescale projects. ASMP sharing the risks in investing for large-scale projects with higher returns by encouraging investments between Rs. 100 Mn to Rs. 400 Mn.

First ever, Nauplii center in Sri Lanka was established with polychaeta production with ASMP support which boosted the investments and enabled the companies to invest in large scale projects in shrimp hatcheries which could not have been possible for another 10 years. This facility can produce 10 Mn nauplii per day. 
Parallelly, hatcheries were developed to grow the SPF Nauplii brood stock. Poly kit feed was also developed thus, the shrimp sector value chain primary needs were holistically addressed with the ASMP grant scheme. 

Furthermore, to ensure the continuous supply of Shrimps for the international market, a shrimp processing factory was built as part of the grant scheme, which has the capacity to process 20 MT per day. This high-end facility also caters to the storing and blast freezing of shrimps for the export market.