Among the different shrimp species cultured in India, Tiger shrimp,udPeneaus monodon is the most popular and commands considerableuddemand all over India, including Maharashtra. In India, there exists about 1.2udmillion hectare of potential area suitable for shrimp farming. It has beenudestimated that about 1.45 lakh tonnes of shrimp were produced during theudyear 2006. Shrimp farming has helped to generate employment opportunitiesuddue to increase production, better transport facilities, improved processing,udmarketing techniques and export trade. However, the industry sufferedudvarious shocks including white spot disease, price fluctuation at internationaludlevel and threat of antidumping by USA, which resulted in greater risk inudproduction and marketing. All these issues have direct bearing on theudprofitability and economics of shrimp farming operations. The present studyudis based on economic analysis of shrimp farming in the coastal Maharashtraudviz.. Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg. The data on shrimp farmingudwas collected from a total sample size of 110 farmers, using a pretestedudquestionnaire. The technical efficiency was estimated using ’Cobb DouglasudProduction Function'. The results revealed that the water spread area,udstocking density per hectare, and fertilizer used were the most importantudfactors for determining the production of shrimp in the Slate of f^aharashtra.udThe cost of seed, quantity of feed, and culture period were the most pertinentudfactors for determining the production of shrimp in Thane District. The cultureudperiod and quantity of feed were the most important factors for determiningudthe production of shrimp in Raigad District. Stocking density, cost ofudmedicines and feed required were the most important factors for determiningudthe production of shrimp in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg Districts. The studyudsuggests the need for the concerted efforts in developing a diseaseudmanagement plan and evolving a viable marketing strategy for augmentingudthe production and realising a higher unit value for shrimp production.
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