ICAR-CIBA’s New Shrimp Farming Technology Aims to Increase Production in 2026

ICAR-CIBA’s Super-Intensive Precision and Natural Shrimp Farming technology is gaining attention as a new approach to improving shrimp production while using water, feed and other resources more efficiently.

Aqua Culture Guide – Key Takeaway

SIPNSF represents an emerging approach to intensive shrimp farming in India, combining precision management, improved aeration, smart feeding and resource-efficient practices. Continued field demonstrations will be important to understand how the technology performs under different farming conditions and whether it can be practically adopted by more farmers.

Shrimp farming is an important part of India’s aquaculture industry. However, farmers continue to face challenges such as high input costs, disease risks, water-quality problems and changing environmental conditions.

To address some of these challenges, the ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIBA), Chennai, has developed a technology called Super-Intensive Precision and Natural Shrimp Farming (SIPNSF).

What is SIPNSF?

SIPNSF is a high-density shrimp farming system designed to produce more shrimp from a smaller area while carefully managing important farming parameters.

The system focuses on areas such as:

Smart feeding

Efficient aeration

Water-quality management

Biosecurity

Better resource utilisation

Reduced water exchange

Natural and sustainable farming practices

The technology aims to help farmers improve production while reducing unnecessary use of resources.

Fishmeal-Free Shrimp Feed Also Tested

In an earlier demonstration, ICAR-CIBA tested a fishmeal-free shrimp diet under the SIPNSF system.

During a 98-day trial, shrimp fed with the zero-fishmeal diet produced 2.30 tonnes, compared with 2.44 tonnes using conventional feed. ICAR reported that the results showed comparable production performance under the tested conditions.

The SIPNSF system achieved productivity of around 4.5–5.0 kg per cubic metre, equivalent to approximately 45–50 tonnes per hectare per crop, during a 90–100-day culture period in the reported demonstration.

Recent Demonstration in Tamil Nadu

On September 22, 2026, an on-farm interaction and shrimp harvest was conducted at a SIPNSF demonstration facility at the RGCA Hatchery Complex in Thoduvai, Sirkali, Tamil Nadu.

The facility was established with support from the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) to demonstrate the technology to the shrimp farming community.

What Could This Mean for Shrimp Farmers?

The technology could provide farmers with another option for intensive shrimp production, particularly where land and water resources are limited.

However, high-density shrimp farming requires careful monitoring of water quality, dissolved oxygen, feeding and biosecurity. Farmers considering such systems need appropriate technical knowledge, infrastructure and reliable power and aeration systems.

The technology is therefore not simply about increasing stocking density. Proper management is essential for achieving the expected results.