Practical check list for having your own shrimp farm
Everyone wants their own sustainable shrimp farm; it has become a booming interest among entrepreneurs and investors. It is very tempting, to build your own “golden egg”, close to a big city, with huge demand for fresh and healthy shrimp. It has never looked so easy, especially when there are companies that provides a turn key technology solution and all you need is a small land and funding. But not everyone qualifies to successfully handle the challenge.
Closed systems have the potential to allow the production of almost any species anywhere, provided the market price can pay for the capital and energy requirements of the system. Aquaculture can be profitable if the farmer has the right natural resources, good management abilities and sufficient capital available for investment in the enterprise.
If you are interested to have your own shrimp farm. Ask yourself the following 8 questions and only if you answer more than 4 with a confident “yes”, you can consider your next venture in RAS shrimp farming:
- Can I raise a capital of at least $2M?
- Can I locate land of at least 4000 sqm, with an economical energy source (natural gas, solar panels…), and water resource?
- Is the average market (end consumer) price per kg over $20 per kg for whole shrimp? (HOSO)
- Does my market import more than 10,000 tons of shrimp every year?
- Can I import /produce PLs and feed?
- Do I have good management capabilities?
- Do I have the needed marketing capabilities? Do I know the right channels? Can I transport live or processed shrimp directly to the market?
- Can I receive governmental support? Are there regulatory/ tax benefits to encourage sustainable aquaculture ventures?
If you passed the questions and reached this part, we can start preparing your business plan, but calm your enthusiasm with a recommendation to start small, lets say, around 100 tones per year.
Yes, the markets are eager and waiting for local fresh shrimp, but it still requires some market education and time to adopt the new product. Remember that as a local producer, you will have to be more creative than the traditional producers and large importers. Your best option will be to start with a niche high-end market for your excellent, premium shrimp product and expand from there.
