Introduction of Macrobrachium rosenbergii A Freshwater Prawn Culture in Koraput Odisha A Sustainable Approach

Abstract

Aquaculture is presently the fastest growing food producing sector all over the world and in India. Inland aquaculture has emerged as a fast-growing enterprise taking a major role in both domestic and export values for contributing National GDP in agriculture sector. The use of organic feeds or formulated feeds by gradually replacing the farm-made or commercial feeds continues to gain wide acceptance in the present aquaculture era in order to boost up the quality of the cultured products. The use of organic feed results in substantial reduction in the overall variable cost of an operation through improved animal performance and better hydrological condition of the culture medium by reducing the amount of nutrients and solids (fecal matter and uneaten feedstuffs) up to a minimal level. The culture of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii in India as protein source and source of income for small-scale farmers has taken a lead role as the species is disease resistive and fetches a high market value. With rapid growth of commercial aquaculture, feed industries have grown up simultaneously but still only 5 to 10 % of commercial feed reaches to small scale farmers in remote areas. In addition, the lack of information on prawn culture technology and cost-effective feed to farmers has lead to poor production and profitability. Moreover, freshwater prawn culture in the hilly terrains of India using spring waters is totally unknown and not practicable.