White Shrimp Farming (Litopenaeus Vannamei) in Narathiwat, Southern Thailand

KN Farm is a family owned small company involved in shrimp farming. It has been around as early as 1998. Its involvement is in Songkhla, Thailand. Believing in the prospect, the company is trying to expand into the southern part of Thailand which is now operating in Ai Manao, Narathiwat. Ai Manao beach was once had attracted tourists and locals but the spot has been taken by the nearby Narathat beach. The company has recently rented 22 hectares of land and has dug out 3 ponds. One of the ponds is now operating and the other two are still pending due to the lack of capital. Even though there are instability and insurgence in this part of the region, but not all the provinces face such problems especially in Ai Manao. The area is being excluded from the locals. Safety assurance from the local interference was given by the headman. Furthermore, the road link to the farm is owned by him whom the company leased for 5 years. Since this southern tip of Thailand face scarce industrialization, the water is less polluted compare to other parts of the kingdom. This important source helps to improve the size and quality of the shrimps. The percentage of survival may exceed to 95%. All the necessary steps to ensure the shrimps health and growth have been taken. The life span of shrimps in the pond is estimate between 90 120 days ranging from 75 to 35 shrimps per kg. The 2-hectare sized pond can accommodate roughly 600,000 shrimps. Minimum volume for each harvest is 5 metric tons (5000 kg). The price varies from time to time depending on the worlds market. There is still no government controlling over the price but the companies buying the products are not much differ as though it is being standardized. Refer - http://www.pattanishrimp.com In such a short returns (90-120 days), the farmers do not struggle for the market. There are lots of companies willing to buy the whole lot. Everything is 1

taking care of from beginning until the end of the sale. In fact, the demand is still far reaching the quota.

To begin with, a pond needs to be dug approximately 3 metres deep. For a 2-hectare pond, the excavator takes around 1 month to complete the work for 8 hours of working each day except weekend.

Meanwhile, the equipments needed should be ready. One of the equipments is a generator. This generator is acted as turbine used to propel the fan blades that will supply oxygen to the shrimps. With failure, the shrimps will not survive. Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) is used as power supply. This can cut cost of operation. The fans are then stuck to long pipes. Hard

polystyrene is used to float the pipe and the blades.

The pond then will be neutralized using calcium hydroxide and left for 15 days. Then the water will be pumped into the pond. The best way is to pump from a specially made reservoir, to maintain the salinity (the saltiness or dissolved salt content) ranging from 5 to 10 psu (practical salinity unit).

However, there are few inhabitants such as mud crab, scorpion crab, mud skipper and other small fish. They must be eliminated using saponin bio pesticide. So, the water which is pumped into the pond contains this bio pesticide and should be left for about 15 days.

Finally, the shrimps (post larvae) are released into the pond.

automatic feeder so evenly and frequently small amount of

Feeding the small shrimp is done by hand. By using a small sampan, the nutrient is spread along the banks. As the shrimp get older, the nutrient grade is increased. After 30 days, the feeding can still be done manually. But it is recommended to use that the nutrient is spread (24 hours feeding but in a nutrient per second).

To avoid the water from becoming acidic, pH test must be done every morning and afternoon. A pH less than 7 is acidic. By using pH indicator solution, the measurement must be in the range of 7.7 7.9. It is advisable to weigh the shrimp every 10 days to ensure the growth is met with the standard.

Magnesium chloride is used to help stabilizing the correct combination of calcium, alkalinity, and pH values. Severely low values of magnesium (900 mg/L or below) can cause low pH values and an inability to maintain proper alkalinity and calcium values. If levels of magnesium become too low, shrimp growth ceases; decline of shrimp health follows. Carbonates and calcium are essential for the shrimp growth. Maintaining the correct magnesium values is very important and is indirectly responsible for algae growth that can be fed by the shrimp.

Another chemical used is activated zeolite. This chemical can absorb toxic gases, heavy metals, stabilize pH of water and increase dissolving oxygen. It also purifies water. 4

Calcium chloride flake is used to remove toxic substances from the food chain by microorganisms, as a pH buffer and to adjust the calcium hardness of the water.

Feeding Table Program

Age (Day) 1 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 Body Weight (g) 0.02 0.30 1.00 2.98 5.39 8.02 10.33 12.87 15.44 18.05 19.97 21.95 23.9 Size (Pieces/kg) 1,000 335.57 185.53 124.69 96.81 77.70 64.77 55.40 50.08 45.56 41.68 5 Feed per day (kg) 2.00 5.00 8.00 14.90 20.48 28.87 33.06 36.04 38.60 43.32 45.93 48.29 50.19

Formulas
1. Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) - converting feed mass into increased body mass Mass of Food Eaten Body Mass Gain

2. Average Daily Gain (ADG) assessing growth rate Current weight (First Weight (g/day) Number of Days

3. Size Total (piece/kg) Weight 4. Average Weight Random Weight (kg) x 1,000 (g) Total 5. Survival Rate Sale Weight x Size (piece/kg) x 100 First Weight

Roughly, each pond operates at a minimal cost of 1.8 million baht (RM180, 000). The farmers will gradually get full benefit after a couple of harvesting season. This cost includes the equipments, machinery, the nutrient, labour wages, electricity usage, LPG, maintenance and other unforeseen costs. The return is worthwhile and quite handsomely.