The Situation of giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii de Man) entrepreneurs in Kalasin Province

Abstract

Giant freshwater prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii de Man) are the largest freshwater prawns and are commonly found in natural water sources and farmers' ponds, including those in Kalasin Province, Thailand. This study aimed to assess the status of prawn farming operations in seven districts of Kalasin Province: Yang Talat, Mueang Kalasin, Huai Mek, Nong Kung Si, Kamalasai, Kham Muang, and Khao Wong. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews with 430 farmers, sampled from a population of 1,141 farmers. The results showed that most farmers were male (50.24 %) and over 50 years old (62.79 %). Most had completed primary education (52.79 %), had over 10 years of farming experience (70 %), and managed farming areas of 1–10 rai per farm (85.11 %). Most farmers sourced juvenile prawns from Chachoengsao Province (61.39 %), Suphanburi Province (24.41 %), and Phetchaburi Province (14.18 %) at a cost of 0.30 baht per prawn (96.97 %). Farmers reported purchasing juvenile prawns from these provinces because of their strength and high survival rates. Most prawn farms used semi-intensive farming methods (57.67 %) with a stocking density of 10,000–20,000 prawns per rai (45.58 %). All farmers used artificial feed (100 %) and relied on irrigation canals for water (72.79 %). For marketing, middlemen typically purchased prawns at the farm at prices ranging from 200 to 250 baht per kilogram (99 %). The prawns sold were primarily sized at 21–25 prawns per kilogram (55.34 %), and the farming cycle lasted 4–5 months. Water shortages were a significant issue for most farmers (52.32 %), particularly during the dry season or when irrigation canals were closed. These shortages affected the farmers’ ability to maintain water levels and conduct water changes, posing challenges to prawn farming operations.