AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF Litopenaeus vannamei SHRIMP FARMING IN NAGAPATTINAM DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU

Title : An Economic Analysis of Litopenaeus vannamei Shrimp Farming in Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu Name of the student : P.RAJARAJAN Degree : M.F. Sc Chairman : Dr. R. Senthiladeban Department : Fisheries Economics School : Fisheries information and social sciences College : Fisheries College and Research Institute Year and University : 2017, Tamil Nadu Fisheries University The present study was taken up to carry out the economic analysis of the shrimp farming practices in Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu during the period 2016-17. The specific objectives of the study were to study the present status of L.vannamei farming practices and the socio-economic characteristics of the selected shrimp farmers, to estimate the costs and returns of L.vannamei shrimp farming, to analyze the various risks involved in shrimp farming and suggest policy measures for the overall development of L.vannamei farming in Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu. Nagapattinam district was chosen as the study area in view of abundant L.vannamei shrimp farming activities in the district. The total sample size was fixed as 100 for the present study which was equally distributed among the five coastal taluks namely, Sirkazhi, Tharangambadi, Nagapattinam, Kilvelur and Vedaranyam of the Nagapattinam district. The above stated samples were divided into small, medium and large L.vannamei shrimp farmers based on shrimp culture area. The above stated shrimp farmers were selected randomly for data collection in the present study. The shrimp farmers stocked at a density of 40-60 numbers/m in their ponds. The average culture period was 90 – 120 days and the average survival rate of the stocked shrimp seeds was 70% – 80%. The predominant age group of the shrimp farmers (50%) were aged between 36 and 45 years. Most of the shrimp farmers were educated up to middle school and they had own ponds for shrimp farming. For the small, medium and large shrimp farmers, the mean total cost per ha per crop was estimated as ₹22,65,304, ₹22,10,022 and ₹21,82,933 respectively. The mean total gross returns was calculated as ₹25,58,725, ₹25,66,905 and ₹26,40,621 respectively and the mean total net returns per ha per crop was ₹2,93,420, ₹3,56,882 and ₹4,57,687 respectively. Among the shrimp farmers, the BCR on TVC basis was 1.24, 1.27 and 1.31 for the small, medium and large farmers respectively. Similarly on TC basis, it was 1.13, 1.16 and 1.21 respectively and the rate of returns on capital investment on TVC basis ranged 96.5% to 182.6% for small, medium and large shrimp farmers and the rate of returns on capital investment on TC basis ranged between 57% and 135% for small, medium and large shrimp farmers. The average production cost per kg was calculated ₹270, ₹263 and ₹260 for the small, medium and large shrimp farmers. The net returns per kg was calculated as ₹34.92, ₹42.51 and ₹54.42 for the small, medium and large shrimp farmers. Factors determining the total shrimp production was estimated by linear regression model. The explanatory variables used were supplementary feed, fertilizer, chemicals and drugs, stocking density, survival rate, electricity, labours and fuel. The partial regression co-efficient of supplementary feed, fertilizer, stocking density and survival rate were positive and significant at p = 0.05 in the shrimp farming. The co-efficient of multiple determination (R) in the estimated function was found to be 0.859 implying that 85.90% of the variation in the total shrimp yield was explained by the eight independent variables included in the functional analysis. The production risks were expressed as the foremost risks among the various types of risks in shrimp farming by the selected shrimp farmer respondents. The major constraints comes under the various types of risks in shrimp farming were the lack of good quality shrimp seeds, inadequate institutional financial assistance, shrimp price fluctuations, inadequate consultation & meeting with Govt. officials, floods and direct discharge of waste water into the open sea. The socio economic status of the shrimp farmers had substantially improved and hence the present study recommends the farming of L.vannamei with good management practices in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu. CONTENTS Chapter No. Title Page No.