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Journalism of Courage
About two years ago, Sunil Kumar decided to discontinue his brick manufacturing business. “The land lease expired, clay became expensive, and labour costs also went up,” says Sunil, 44. The work, he adds, was extremely labour-intensive.
Around the same time, a friend already involved in fish farming suggested that the business offered better returns. Sunil met Pradeep, another friend who was also looking for work after shutting his own brick unit. “Both of us were searching for something new to do. So we decided to try shrimp farming,” Sunil says.
Pradeep is from Punjab Khor in outer Delhi, while Sunil belongs to Kanonda village in Haryana. They began shrimp culture together in the Bhadana village in Sonipat.
Yogesh Sharma, fisheries officer with the Haryana Fisheries Department, recalls meeting the duo during an auction for land meant for shrimp cultivation in 2023. “This land was barren and covered with bushes before they took it on lease. After preparing the pond and installing the necessary systems, they started shrimp culture,” Sharma says.
Several state governments, including those with no traditional fish farming base, are promoting shrimp aquaculture. The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) has enabled increased subsidies, and in Haryana, the Fisheries Department has enhanced support from 20 per cent to 60 per cent for pond excavation, renovation, inputs, and development of waterlogged or saline-affected areas.
These subsidies were a key factor in Pradeep and Sunil’s shift. “Last year, we farmed on 8.5 acres. Our cost of production was around Rs 90 lakh, and our sale value was around Rs 96 lakh. We received a subsidy of about Rs 30 lakh. So overall, we earned Rs 36 lakh,” Pradeep says.
He adds that the subsidy effectively covered their machinery and major capital expenses, which came to around Rs 50 lakh.
Haryana is the first landlocked state in the country to use inland underground saline water for the culture of white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Only white shrimp can be produced due to the saline water conditions.
Good returns, but high input cost
Despite subsidies and growing interest, shrimp farming requires substantial investment.
“For shrimp farming, one needs at least one acre of land and an initial investment of around Rs 8 to 10 lakh,” Sharma explains. The cost includes pond construction and the installation of aerators and tubewells.
Recent tariff changes in the US have added pressure. With an additional 25 per cent tariff, Indian shrimp exporters are now paying nearly 60 per cent in tariffs and duties. The US remains India’s most important shrimp market, accounting for 41 per cent of export volume and 48 per cent of value in FY 2024-25, according to India Ratings and Research.
“Prices are down by about Rs 52 to Rs 55 per kg compared to last year. We cannot store the shrimp for a long time. We have no option but to sell at lower rates,” Pradeep says.
“Last year, shrimp sized at 30 pieces per kg were being exported to the US. This year, those holding stocks of this size have had to wait more than a week because America, the main buyer, is not purchasing much.”
However, Pradeep and Sunil say their produce has not gone to waste, as they sell to buyers from Andhra Pradesh who process and export to other markets.
Sharma says that while shrimp production has increased in Haryana, Sonipat is still developing its scale. Output in the district rose from 71.07 MT in FY 2022-23 to 96.5 MT in FY 2024-25. The area under cultivation expanded from 27.74 hectares to 68.75 hectares in the same period. The number of farmers engaged in shrimp culture increased from eight to sixteen.
Sharma believes that the success of farmers like Pradeep and Sunil, combined with continued support from the Centre and state, will encourage more farmers in Sonipat to explore shrimp aquaculture.
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