This Man’s Shrimp Farming Biz, Started In 2005 Generates Rs 100 Cr Turnover; Helps & Motivates Fishermen & Youth To Become Entrepreneurs

The Indian shrimp market size has reached close to 6 billion USD by value.

Back in 2005, someone had recognised the potential of shrimp not just for its nutritional value but also for employment and livelihood generation.

Dr Manoj Sharma, a veteran in the shrimp farming industry of India, has been leading the growth of this market in Gujarat and advising farmers and industry professionals in India for more than 30 years now.

“When I had shifted to Gujarat, it was solely to look for a livelihood opportunity as a fresh aquaculture graduate and a small-time technician. I strongly feel that I got this opportunity to establish the shrimp industry in Gujarat as a blessing,” Dr Manoj Sharma, founder of Mayank Aquaculture Private Limited, tells Startup Pedia in an exclusive interview.

Founded in 2005 and based in Surat, Gujarat, MAPL is a shrimp farming company operating on 200 hectares of owned land, with an additional 200 hectares under contract farming.

Through Dr Manoj Sharma’s affiliated group of companies engaged in hatchery, feed, seed, healthcare, and aquaculture input distribution, MAPL produces 1,000 tonnes of shrimp as annual output.

HOW IT ALL STARTED

Hailing from Nanded in Maharashtra, Dr Manoj Sharma, an academically bright adult, completed his Master’s degree in fisheries science from the Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai. Additionally, he earned a PhD in shrimp farming.

“In 1994, I started my journey as a small-time struggler in Gujarat by successfully demonstrating the Giant Freshwater Prawn Culture. This was the beginning of my efforts in the aquaculture realm,” Dr Manoj shares.

JOURNEY AND CHALLENGES

By leveraging his technical understanding of shrimp farming and using practical approaches, Dr Manoj Sharma demonstrated a successful prawn culture in a freshwater reservoir in Gujarat.

Farmers were immediately convinced that this could be an employment opportunity for them, and they began cultivating and producing the freshwater prawn under Dr Manoj’s guidance.

“A direct benefit was that the fishermen's community began looking at aquaculture as a sustainable source of income. Earlier, they would just catch fish and sell it. Now, they were well on their way to becoming entrepreneurs,” Dr Manoj tells Startup Pedia.

Next, Dr Manoj started cultivating black tiger shrimp in the salt-affected wastelands in Dandi village. In 1996-97, he successfully cultivated Black tiger shrimp culture in four ponds of Dandi village. 

This success became the ideal concept model for the villagers because before this demonstration, the coastal salt-affected lands were untapped and considered to be unsuitable for any kind of agricultural activity.

Dr Manoj’s efforts, however, brought new hope to the villagers, who took up shrimp farming and uplifted their income and standard of living. His work promoted reverse migration, where the coastal rural people who searched for a livelihood in the cities came back to their respective villages to start shrimp farming.

From 1994 to 1997, on a personal level, Dr Manoj would work as a technician at farms, help farmers, and also sell the shrimps door to door and on the street for his livelihood and survival.

“But I didn’t have much to complain about. I had set foot in Gujarat with just Rs 500 in my pocket and wanted a job. After seeing the untapped potential of the salt-affected wastelands of Gujarat, I took it as God’s blessing. I decided to develop a shrimp farming ecosystem with a community-oriented standpoint. Seeing regular fishermen become full-time aquaculture entrepreneurs motivated me and also sustained my livelihood,” he shares.

By 1997, Dr Manoj became a technical advisor to Olpad-based shrimp farmers and developed efficient shrimp farming ponds for them. He would get a certain percentage of the total production as a fee.

“I started saving that money, and by 2005, I had an amount of roughly Rs 5 lakh to 10 lakh,” Dr Manoj tells Startup Pedia.

Utilising his savings, he established Mayank Aquaculture Private Limited (MAPL) in 2005 on just 10 hectares of land.

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MAYANK AQUACULTURE PRIVATE LIMITED

While steadily expanding the shrimp production in Gujarat, Dr Manoj brought a satellite concept model where all the farmers were brought under one umbrella to carry out shrimp farming. They were supplied with seed, feed, medicine, and other aquaculture inputs and technical know-how. These efforts culminated in the launch of SAFA: Surat Aquaculture Farmers Association.

“I realized that instead of a fragmented approach, it would be more feasible to form an entire community and bring shrimp farmers under one roof,” he explains

By benefiting farmers and increasing their livelihoods in Olpad, the satellite concept soon spread to the coastal fishermen communities of the districts of Valsad, Navsari, and Bharuch.

Ultimately, all of these shrimp farming districts were clubbed together to form the GAA: Gujarat Aquaculture Association.

Through Dr Manoj and the organisation’s dedicated efforts, the state of Gujarat has witnessed its own Blue Revolution. Thousands of local and coastal rural individuals transformed from part-time fishermen to full-time shrimp-farming entrepreneurs.

“In totality, we helped generate livelihoods for more than 1.5 lakh people. To date, I always tell people that just one hectare of salt-affected wasteland can indirectly or directly give employment to 10 individuals across various aspects of the shrimp industry value chain. That’s exactly how powerful shrimp farming is. Add to that the nutrition that you’re providing to the end consumer…and it’s a lovely picture overall,” Dr Manoj Sharma affirms.

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DR MANOJ SHARMA’S ACHIEVEMENTS

It’s been more than 30 years since the aquaculture entrepreneur has continually contributed to the shrimp farming realm of India and helped farmers generate a consistent stream of income through his presentations, articles and conferences.

The entire shrimp farming community, brought together under the Gujarat Aquaculture Association and advised by Dr Manoj Sharma, operates on 12,000 hectares of land and produces 50,000 tonnes of shrimp worth Rs 2,500 crore yearly.

Today, MAPL and its group of companies operate on 200 hectares of owned land, with an additional 200 hectares under contract farming. Through Dr Manoj Sharma’s affiliated group of companies engaged in hatchery, feed, seed, healthcare, and aquaculture input distribution, MAPL produces 1,000 tonnes of shrimp as annual output.

Currently, Dr Manoj Sharma’s MAPL sells one kg of shrimp for an average price of INR 450. 

The farmers under GAA, including MAPL, sell the high-quality, premium shrimp to the exporters. Dr Manoj adds that Gujarat is

famous for producing premium, large-sized shrimps. Additionally, they also sell shrimp to wholesale and retail partners in the domestic market.

In 2010, Dr Manoj Sharma appeared on India’s reality show, Kaun Banega Crorepati, and promoted shrimp farming aquaculture on the stage. He even won an amount of Rs 50 lakh. 

As a recognized veteran in the shrimp farming realm, Dr Manoj Sharma has been awarded numerous awards, including

• The World Aquaculture Society Global Industry Impact Award

• Best Technology Innovation and Infusion Award in 2021 for his multiphase nursery concept by the National Fisheries Development Board, Government of India

• Best Shrimp Farmer Award in 2018 by National Fisheries Development Board, Government of India

• Agrivision Award in 2020 by Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad

Dr Manoj Sharma, as an aquaculture entrepreneur, has also developed his healthcare segment called VIVALINE. It provides world-class bioremediation and healthcare products for shrimp farming entrepreneurs and farmers. This directly makes them more sustainable and successful in their ventures.

In FY24, MAPL and its affiliated group of companies generated an annual turnover of approximately 100 crore.

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LOOKING AHEAD

To avoid excessive reliance on exports, Dr Manoj Sharma and his team are currently working towards accelerating the domestic shrimp market in India.

“I believe that even if the non-vegetarian population of the country starts consuming shrimp on special occasions and festivities, it can provide a lot of support to the domestic market of shrimp. This support will be enough to safeguard our farmers from the uncertainty of international dynamics of exports, supply, and demand,” the aquaculture entrepreneur explains.

Dr Manoj has started the concept of “Zhingalala”. It is the “From our Pond to your Plate” concept. The aim is to promote and sell farm-raised fresh shrimp locally, provide a rich culinary experience, and motivate the non-vegetarian eating Indian consumer to start eating shrimp and avail the multitude of health benefits associated with consuming it.

“I have given thirty years of my life to the shrimp farming industry of India and contributed worldwide with my knowledge and experience. Now, I will focus on developing the shrimp domestic market for safeguarding the farmers’ produce and ensuring a strong foundation for the future generation. I am always ready to contribute and do anything that is related to farmers and the shrimp industry’s betterment,” Dr Manoj Sharma signs off.

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