Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), an Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) organization, has unveiled a genetically improved strain of the giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium Rosenbergii, commonly known as ‘scampi.’ India, once a major producer of this species, experienced a decline in production since 2006 due to poor growth rates, diseases, inbreeding, and competition from high-volume producers like Vannamei shrimp and pangas fish.
Named CIFA-GI Scampi, this genetically enhanced strain has been meticulously developed over 14 generations through a breeding program that involved careful selection of scampi populations from diverse regions across India, including Gujarat, Kerala, and Odisha, spanning from 2008 to 2020.
The breakthrough comes as a response to the challenges faced by fish farmers, who withdrew from scampi aquaculture as the prawn’s size had decreased over time. The officially registered CIFA-GI Scampi promises fast growth, marking a potential resurgence of scampi in the platters of food lovers.
Under the Prime Minister Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), a Central sector scheme, the Department of Fisheries sanctioned a project in 2021 with funding of ₹4 crore to scale up the genetic improvement program. The funding facilitated the enhancement of infrastructure facilities for the production of new generations of CIFA-GI Scampi.
Dr. Bindu R. Pillai, Principal Investigator of the Scampi Project, expressed confidence in the success of CIFA-GI Scampi in inland waters. With a harvest period of only seven months, it is anticipated that CIFA-GI Scampi farming will yield bumper returns.
According to CIFA, the multiplier hatcheries can now produce approximately 400 million seeds, allowing for an additional production area ranging from 12,500 to 25,000 hectares. The increased awareness of the economic benefits of CIFA-GI Scampi among the farming community has contributed to a remarkable 2.5-fold increase in scampi production in the country, rising from 8,303 tonnes to 21,317 tonnes in 2021-22.
In support of rapid expansion, ICAR has designated five scampi hatcheries as multiplier hatcheries responsible for producing CIFA-GI SCAMPI® seeds and supplying them to farmers. Plans are underway to add more hatcheries to the network, with an ambitious target of bringing 25,000 hectares under scampi cultivation by 2026. This breakthrough is poised to reshape the landscape of freshwater aquaculture in India, offering new opportunities for farmers and delighting food enthusiasts with the revival of the beloved scampi.
