Shrimp farms are one of the most profitable forms of aquacultural production today. However, any individual can make $6,000-$10,000 per year from their own small-scale shrimp farm today.
What makes this business so unique is that it doesn’t require any kind of university degree.
Nonetheless, you need to be able to manage a farm well. You also need to dedicate yourself to the business and keep checking up on its progress regularly.
Read: Highly Profitable Cash Crops for Small Farms
It is important to be successful. Therefore, you need to get the necessary skills for this kind of business. You need to know about equipment, larvae, feeds, medicines, supplies, and feeders. Your business has huge export potential.
Shrimps give more profit to the owner than fresh ones for the domestic market. Find out how to start a small-scale shrimping business here.
Things To Consider Before Starting Shrimp Farming
If you’re serious about raising shrimp for commercial purposes, you’ll want to ask yourself some important questions.
- There are many kinds of shrimp. What kind should I raise?
- What costs do you need to consider when starting up?
- What kind of foods do shrimp eat?
- What do you feed growing shrimps?
- Shrimps don’t have any enemies or predators.
- How big an aquarium do you need for raising shrimps?
- Do you need any permits or licenses before starting?
- There may be some groups related to shrimp farming and aquaculture where you can get help.
- What methods exist for testing pond waters? And which types of pond water require maintenance.
7 Steps to Start a Shrimp Farming Business
1. Understand the Local Demand
You need to know everything there is to know about the local shrimp industry before starting a shrimp farm. Research the local shrimp farms and see if they’re profitable enough to invest in.
2. Get Registration & License
Before starting your own shrimp farm, consider contacting the local authorities. Make sure you know what permits are needed before setting up your operation. You may also need to apply for a license according to your state’s regulations. Finally, make sure you comply with any laws regarding your business.
If you’re from the U.S., you can apply for a USDA organic certification.
3. Site Selection
Freshwater shrimp farming requires a lot of attention and care. A good quality fish tank should be used as your breeding area. You can also buy frozen eggs from a local supplier. If you are planning to raise shrimp yourself then you must ensure that the water temperature is between 70°F and 90°F.
The best time to start raising shrimp is during springtime. Before starting any type of shrimp farm, make sure that you know how to properly maintain the tanks.
4. Establishing The Shrimp Farm
There are several ways to set up a shrimping operation. One method involves establishing a natural pool, which produces the highest yield.
Besides, you will also need to arrange a good supply of fresh drinking/waste water in the pond. For testing the pH level, you must dig up some samples from the bottom of the pond. But having a pH level of 6.5 would be the best suitable for raising shrimps.
To keep shrimp healthy, use only natural organic fertilizers.
5. Stocking The Juvenile Shrimp
Before stocking, check that there aren’t any harmful organisms. If you find them, remove them using an organic method. Make sure that they don’t pose a threat to other fish.
In addition, a temperate within 6 degrees Fahrenheit is the best suited for juvenile shrimps. You can tick shrimps at the rate of 12 thousand -16 thousand per acre. Lower stocking densities increase the size of the shrimps. However, it reduces the total weight of output.
One of the most important aspects of starting a shrimping operation is choosing and buying the right type of juvenile farm.
6. Feeding
Shrimp feed should be fed twice daily. Start by providing them with an appropriate diet during the growing phase. When they reach about five grams (g) or larger, begin supplementing their diets with commercial shrimp food. High-grade shrimp foods can also be used.
7. Harvesting
You can start harvesting shrimp after 2 months of the stock. However, you must ensure that the shrimps were harvested as they reach market size. There are various methods of harvesting shrimp such as cull harvesting and draining. Depending on your availability of resources, you can choose the best method.
It is important to consider the following factors when starting a shrimp farming business:1) Production level2) Marketing strategy3) Storage facilities4) Information gathering
For serious individuals who want to start their own shrimp farming operation, this is an invaluable resource.
Frequently Asked Questions on Shrimp Farming Business
What costs do I need to incur to get started with a shrimp farm?
A shrimp/poultry farm of an acre of land requires approximately $10,000 for its initial setup.
How much can you earn from shrimp farming?
Shrimp farmers can expect to earn an average of 35 percent gross profits from their operations.
Currently, shrimp farming is a $ 1 billion dollar industry. Anyone can start this small-scale operation from scratch without any special skills.
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