Kings Infra creates world record by harvesting 80 gm L Vannamei shrimps; Stock hits record high

17 Jan 2022 , 09:25 AM

Kings Infra Venture Ltd, a technology-driven sustainable aquaculture company, has set a world record in the growth of pond-based aquaculture of L. Vannamei shrimps by harvesting shrimps weighing 80 gms (210 mm). L Vannamei commonly known as the whiteleg shrimp are native to the eastern Pacific Ocean, from the Mexican state of Sonora to as far south as northern Peru.

At around 9.30 am, Kings Infra Ventures Ltd was trading at fresh 52-week high of Rs42 per share up by Rs7 or 20% from its previous closing of Rs35 per share on the BSE.

The maximum size which the species can grow in the natural ocean habitat at an age of 12-14 months as per the FAO, as well as other research organizations, is a maximum of 230 mm, with a maximum Carpice Length of 9 cm. To achieve similar growth in a pond-based aquaculture system in a period of 100-130 days is an incredible feat according to experts.

The average size of harvested shrimps is 18-20 gm in the normal aqua farms. The record-breaking growth was achieved in normal earthen ponds by applying SISTA360 protocols developed by the R&D wing of the Kings Infra.

“The information available with us shows that there is no record of L. Vannamei shrimps weighing 80 gm per piece have been grown in an aquafarm anywhere in the world. The SISTA360 protocol farming practice, a proprietary system developed by our R & D team, has enabled us to achieve such a record”, said Shaji Baby John Chairman and Managing Director Kings Infra.

“The average weight of the shrimps in our farm during this crop has been in the range of 30 to 50 gm but we were surprised to find certain shrimps have grown to 75-80 grams during the final harvesting,” he added.

Major spurt likely in Kings Infra topline growth

The successful harvesting of jumbo-sized shrimp is expected to bring a major positive impact on topline and bottomline growth of Kings Infra in the next year. As against the average farm gate price of USD 5 per kg for farmed shrimp the present initiative would help in realising USD 15 per kg from the same pond. This will totally change the economics of Shrimp farming as these Jumbo Sized shrimps will be a rare delicacy in the International as well as domestic markets and can fetch a premium price by providing sustainability and traceability certifications. 

A listed company in BSE, Kings Infra has leveraged its rich experience and expertise and has entered into an agreement with NEC Japan to develop a Proof of Concept for Indoor Precision aquaculture utilising AI and IoT. The POC-2 is progressing satisfactorily and will be completed by mid-March.

The company also has a collaborative project with Dr. J Jayalalithaa Fisheries University for developing an open pond-based RAS system and the first trial pond harvest has also been completed successfully with the shrimps have grown to reach 43 gms size in 110 days.

SISTA360 in all ponds:

The company is adopting SISTA360 protocols in all the ponds under cultivation in the new crop starting from the end of January. The idea is to achieve the production of jumbo-sized shrimps on a consistent basis. A SISTA360 shrimp nursery and seed bank with 100 million seeds per year is nearing completion close to the project site. The completion of these projects would ensure an uninterrupted supply of juveniles and the company would be in a position to harvest three crops instead of two crops at present. The increase in the number of crops would ensure that the topline would double in the next 12 months while the bottomline by 200 percent. The company is in the final stage of completing plans for the national level rollout of the SISTA360 in a phased manner.