Post by : Bianca
Haleem
Kolkata, India – In Nandigram, West Bengal, shrimp farmer Buddhadeb Pradhan is taking a significant risk that could determine his financial future. Just weeks after harvesting his first shrimp crop, he has opted to attempt a second cycle, despite the heightened threat of disease associated with consecutive plantings. This gamble stems not from a desire to expand, but from a bleak necessity: plummeting shrimp prices due to recently imposed US tariffs jeopardize his livelihood.
As the world's second-largest exporter of shrimp, trailing just behind Ecuador, India shipped $5 billion in frozen shrimp from April 2024 to March 2025, with almost half directed to the US market. However, the new tariffs have driven down farm prices from 300 rupees ($3.38) to 230 rupees ($2.59) per kilogram, while production costs remain at 275 rupees ($3.10). This disparity is leading to significant financial strain for farmers like Pradhan.
“With the prices in free fall, I'm worried whether I'll be able to recover my investment of 300,000 rupees,” Pradhan expressed. Fellow farmers, including Nardu Das, emphasize that without stabilization in the market, many face genuine financial peril, pushing some to take drastic measures. Shrimp farming is an expensive venture requiring loans, feed, power, and land leases, with the threat of diseases and declining prices pushing many to the edge.
Two primary shrimp types are produced in India: black tiger and Pacific whiteleg, or vannamei. While vannamei allows for two harvest cycles annually – from February to June and July to October – farmers are hesitant about the second cycle due to disease risks. Black tiger shrimp, on the other hand, is harvested once a year, from March to August. Several coastal states including West Bengal, Gujarat, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh contribute significantly to production, employing about 10 million individuals in farming, hatcheries, and processing.
The US tariffs, which include countervailing and anti-dumping duties totaling over 58 percent, pose a serious threat to Indian farmers’ access to their top market. Conversely, Ecuador exports premium vannamei shrimp to the US at much lower tariffs of just 15 percent. In the first three quarters of 2025, Ecuador saw a 14 percent increase in exports to the US, totaling 1,038,208 metric tonnes and valued at $5.51 billion.
The impact of these tariffs extends beyond the farms. India's 550 private shrimp hatcheries, responsible for producing around 80 billion seeds each year, are facing a drastic drop in demand. With half already shuttered, hatchery proprietors are experiencing substantial losses, given that shrimp seeds have a shelf life of only three to four days.
Experts highlight that Indian farmers rely on imported brood stock from the US, but irregular quality sometimes results in disease outbreaks. This, combined with the fall in prices due to tariffs, has led to increasing calls to develop local brood stock to enhance farming stability.
As access to the US market becomes increasingly limited and Ecuador holds the advantage, Indian shrimp farmers are exploring their next steps. While some are considering the largely untapped domestic market, others are preparing for challenging months, balancing financial risk with the need for survival.
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