Aquaculture production in India during 2010-11 increased significantly over the previous year, with a 40 per cent rise in output, to 145,600 tonnes, valued at Rs 3,585 crore (a rise of 40 per cent).
A rise in acreage and improved prices are both responsible for the rise. The area under aquaculture rose to 50,000 hectares (ha) by the end of 2010-11, a rise of 10,000 ha over the previous year. The average farm gate price rose to Rs 246 a kg from Rs 200. Of the total exports of marine products of 813,091 tonnes in 2010-11, aquaculture items contributed 18.4 per cent. Last year, this was around 15 per cent. Of the total export value realisation of Rs 12,901 crore, aquaculture contributed 27.5 per cent. This was 20 per cent in 2009-10.
Andhra Pradesh led in aquaculture farming, with a total output of 66,631 tonnes (45 per cent of the total), followed by West Bengal with 42,983 tonnes (30 per cent). A remarkable increase in productivity was noted in Gujarat, from 1.9 tonnes/ha in 2009-10 to 2.9 t/ha.
Compared to the previous year’s output of 95,919 tonnes, shrimp production (of the Black Tiger variety) rose 23.6 per cent, with an additional 11,592 ha brought under cultivation. Andhra led with 49,030 tonnes from 42,055 ha, followed by West Bengal with 40,725 tonnes from 47,588 ha. The exports rose to Rs 3,080 crore from Rs 2,398 crore in 2009-10, a growth of 28.4 per cent.
Vannamei shrimp production began for the first time in 2009. This increased to 18,247 tonnes, almost entirely from Andhra. Of the total, 10,000 tonnes were exported, with a value realisation of Rs 365 crore. Scampi production also rose in 2010-11, compared to 2009-10, though the area under scampi farming had reduced. The reduction is attributed mainly to lack of good quality seed for farming and the difficulty in marketing small quantities.
Compared to the previous year’s production of 6,567 tonnes, production during 2010-11 was 8,778 tonnes, higher by 33.6 per cent. The total value realisation was Rs 140 crore, an increase of 33 per cent over the previous year. These three varieties and that of tiger shrimp (output of 118,000 tonnes) make for almost the entire aquaculture production in India.