Is Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) farming in India is technically efficient? - A comprehensive study

Technical efficiency (TE) measures the ability of the farmer to obtain maximum outputs from a given combination of inputs. Stochastic frontier production function analysis (SFA) was employed to assess the technical efficiencies of Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei) farming in India. The findings of this comprehensive study shown that the mean technical efficiency of P. vannamei farms in the country was 0.9013, indicating that the farms achieved 90% of the maximum possible output from a given set of inputs. Maximum likelihood estimates of production function indicated that shrimp stocking density, feed quantity and its management, access to technical consultancy, adoption of zero water exchange, cropping intensity and duration of the culture were the major determinants of TE. The ANOVA and student 't' analyses have shown significant differences in the TE of P. vannamei farming across salinity of culture systems (p < 0.05), geographical distribution of farms (p < 0.01), sources of rearing water (p < 0.05), nature of pond bottom (lined and earthen ponds) (p < 0.01), stocking methods (p < 0.01) and cropping intensity (p < 0.01). It is suggested that the aquaculture extension agencies need to educate the farmers on selection of quality seed, adopting suitable stocking densities, optimization of inputs, energy use and better management practices to sustain the technical efficiencies. It is important to refine the farming practices of P. vannamei farming in tune with the scale and systems of operation being adopted. Ensuring disease free seed supply, cost effective feed and provision of electricity to aquaculture farms in the rates applicable to agriculture farms and promoting energy efficient automatic feed dispensers, aerators, generators, and popularising HDPE (high-density polyethylene) lining of ponds bottom would aid in sustaining the efficiencies of production systems and sustainability of P. vannamei farming in India. Statement of relevance: Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) has been farmed extensively in the coastal states of India. It is imperative to optimize usage of critical inputs and technology in P. vannamei shrimp farming to enhance the efficiency and profitability of production systems. Assessing the technical efficiency (TE) of the production systems points out the aspects to be paid attention by the farmers to optimize the inputs usage and enhance the profitability and sustainability of shrimp farming. Therefore, this study is timely and would aid in providing technical and policy inputs for the aquaculture researchers and planners for sustaining the shrimp farming in India. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.