Introduction

Shrimp farming has become one of the most promising sectors in aquaculture, generating significant livelihood opportunities and export earnings across many countries, particularly in India. However, shrimp farming has also become increasingly challenging due to fluctuating market prices, disease outbreaks, rising feed costs, labour shortages, and increasing operational expenses. In recent years, while shrimp selling prices have often shown instability, the cost of production has continued to rise steadily, creating pressure on farm profitability. Sustainable shrimp farming is not merely about achieving higher production but producing shrimp economically while maintaining pond health and long-term farm sustainability. Based on practical farm experience and field observations, cost optimization in shrimp farming begins with prevention, planning, and management. From selecting quality post larvae (PL) to efficient feed utilization, disease prevention, water quality management, and nursery practices, every stage of farming plays an important role in reducing production costs and increasing profitability.

Understanding the cost of production in shrimp farming

Before discussing cost optimization, it is important to understand where production expenses arise in shrimp farming. A standard cost evaluation of commercial shrimp farming shows that feed contributes the highest proportion of the total production cost. Typically, feed accounts for nearly 50–60% of the total cost of shrimp production, making it the most critical factor influencing profitability. Based on field-level observations and operational data, the approximate production cost distribution includes feed (52.62%), chemicals and minerals (12.78%), shrimp seed (10.21%), electricity and diesel (9.88%), salaries and manpower (6.70%), and miscellaneous expenses such as land lease, maintenance, and repairs (7.81%). Since farmers have very little control over market prices, the most practical and sustainable approach is to optimize internal production costs. Even small improvements in feed conversion ratio (FCR), disease prevention, survival percentage, or pond management can substantially improve farm profitability.

 Major factors affecting shrimp farm profitability

Shrimp farming profitability is highly influenced by biological and environmental risks, with diseases being the most serious challenge. Shrimp diseases not only affect production but significantly increase operational costs through additional feed consumption, medicine usage, electricity requirements, and prolonged culture periods.

Among diseases, White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) remains one of the most devastating viral diseases due to its rapid spread and ability to cause mass mortality within a short period. Farmers are often forced to perform distress harvesting, resulting in severe financial losses. Similarly, Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) primarily affects shrimp growth performance. Though EHP may not directly cause mortality, it significantly reduces growth rates and creates size variation within the population, ultimately reducing harvest efficiency and market value. Poor growth also increases the culture duration, leading to higher electricity, feed, and pond management cost. White Faecal Disease (WFD), frequently associated with Vibrio infection and poor pond conditions, further affects feed intake, gut health, and survival. Such diseases often result in poor feed conversion ratio, low average body weight (ABW), and increased production cost. Therefore, disease prevention and proper farm management should be viewed not as expense but as investment in profitability.

Selection of quality post larvae (PL): The foundation of success

Successful shrimp farming begins with stocking high-quality post larvae. Poor-quality seed can negatively affect survival, growth, FCR, disease resistance, and ultimately profitability. In practical shrimp farming, post larvae quality assessment should involve the following six major components.

1. Grossexamination
2. Microscopicexamination
3. Stresstesting
4. Physicalmeasurement
5. Vibriotesting
6. PCRscreening

While many farmers primarily focus on PCR testing, field experience suggests that Vibrio testing should receive equal importance before final seed selection. A healthy PL with low bacterial load generally performs better under farm conditions. TCBS plate count analysis provides valuable information regarding bacterial contamination. Ideally, green Vibrio colonies should remain below 1 × 10² CFU/g, while yellow colonies should remain below 1 × 10³ CFU/g. Once Vibrio status is confirmed, PCR screening for diseases such as WSSV and EHP can be performed, followed by microscopy and stress testing.

Investing slightly more time during PL selection often saves farmers from significant losses later in the crop cycle. Poor seed quality almost always results in higher hidden costs through mortality, weak growth, or disease vulnerability.