Shrimp feed prices continue to increase, farmers find ways to cope

Since the beginning of 2023, shrimp feed prices have been adjusted up twice. Photo: CSCC

From the beginning of 2023 until now,shrimp feed priceThere have been two price increases, ranging from 1,000 - 2,000 VND/kg. Specifically, Nutreco International Co., Ltd. (Vietnam) adjusted the selling price of shrimp feed products by 1,500 VND/kg; GROWMAX Aquatic Feed Co., Ltd. applied a new selling price for shrimp feed of 1,500 VND/kg and an increase of 800 VND/kg for Specific products; Uni-President Vietnam Co., Ltd. also adjusted the increase of 1,200 VND/kg for shrimp feed products; Grobest adjusted the increase of 1,000 VND/kg of feed; Thang Long Biotechnology Co., Ltd. adjusted the selling price of shrimp feed products to 1,200 VND/kg compared to before.

Explaining the reason for the price increase, businesses said that the input materials for shrimp feed production have increased, such as: soybean meal, lecithin (additive), freshwater fish oil, chicken meal, cassava chips, whole rice bran, etc.; increased logistics costs have affected the price of aquatic feed. The price of shrimp feed has increased simultaneously and continuously, causing shrimp farmers to face many difficulties.

Feed prices account for 50-60% of the cost of commercial shrimp. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Mr. Tran Anh Trang's family in Hong Phong village, An Hoa commune,Quynh Luu districtThere are 6 shrimp ponds with an area of ​​over 1 hectare. However, from the beginning of the farming season until now, due to erratic weather and the continuous increase in shrimp feed prices, Mr. Trang's family has only stocked 3/6 ponds, the remaining area is being left empty.

Not only Mr. Trang's family but also most shrimp farming households in An Hoa commune are renovating ponds, drying, and removing weeds, waiting for stable weather to release shrimp. However, what worries people now is that the price of shrimp seeds and feed is increasing sharply, which will push up production costs, significantly affecting the profits of farming households.

Biological products for shrimp farming have also increased in price, causing difficulties for shrimp farmers. Photo: Thanh Phuc

“With the current increase in feed prices, the cost of producing this shrimp crop will increase by at least 10-15%. Meanwhile, the price of finished shrimp is still unknown, so we are very hesitant in releasing the seeds,” said Mr. Tran Anh Trang.

According to Mr. Trang's analysis, from the beginning of 2023 until now, the price of shrimp feed has increased twice, the highest increase being 2,000 VND/kg, which means an increase of 40,000 - 50,000 VND/25 kg bag. Currently, the average feed price is at 45,000 VND/kg, the cheapest type is also priced at 33,000 VND/kg. Each farming season lasts from 100 - 110 days for the shrimp to reach the weight and size for sale.

Shrimp farmers are facing a difficult farming season. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Under normal conditions, with well-controlled diseases and good shrimp breeds, it will cost 1.2-1.5 kg of feed to produce 1 kg of commercial shrimp, which means that the cost of feed is 60,000 - 65,000 VND/kg. In the case of diseased shrimp, slow growth, consuming a larger amount of feed (about 2 kg of feed/ 1 kg of commercial shrimp), the average cost of feed will be up to 85,000 - 90,000 VND/1 kg of commercial shrimp. Therefore, if the shrimp grow well, are not affected by diseases, and the selling price increases, farmers can hope to make a profit in the context of continuously increasing shrimp feed prices.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang - a shrimp farmer in Quynh Loc commune (Hoang Mai town) said: "My family has 4.5 hectares/12 ponds, but so far we have only released 2/12 ponds. The main reason is that this year, there are 2 leap months of February, so the weather is erratic, we have to wait for stability before releasing more. In addition, the price of feed is increasing, so we have to recalculate the density and spread out the batches to avoid losses."

High-tech shrimp farming will limit many risks and ensure profitable farming, but the investment cost is too high. Photo: Thanh Phuc

According to experts, to limit risks in shrimp farming today, it is necessary to invest in high technology to control diseases well, avoid environmental pollution and raise in many stages to save costs. “With the current high prices of seeds and feed, even if traditional farmers suffer losses or have no profit, high-tech shrimp farming models still have good profits.

However, the investment capital for high-tech shrimp farming is too large, up to billions of VND/ha, so people do not have the funds to convert," said Mr. Tran Anh Trang, a person with nearly 25 years of experience in shrimp farming.

Currently, people are still mainly raising shrimp in earthen ponds and tarpaulin-lined earthen ponds, so they still face many risks. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Therefore, in the current situation, to limit losses and ensure profits when investing in shrimp farming, farmers need to proactively apply disease control measures, especially selecting quality breeds; carefully preparing ponds, thoroughly treating pathogens in the environment before planting.

In addition, people need to develop cooperative business models, linking small and scattered production facilities into cooperative groups, cooperatives, and professional associations to create large, concentrated raw material production areas, acting as a focal point for linking with enterprises supplying input materials at the source and consuming products according to the value chain, reducing intermediaries, ensuring profitable shrimp farming.