Shrimp farming in South Gujarat: how our network atOlpad, Maroli, Navsari and Valsad works

The coast south of Surat, through Navsari and down to Valsad, is shrimp farming country. Every season, farmers along this belt ask the same questions: where to buy good seed, how to keep the pond healthy through the crop, and who will buy the harvest at a fair rate.

Olpad Aqua Limited was incorporated in 2019 at Olpad in Surat district to answer those questions in one place.

Four outlets along the coast

We run four coastal outlets, at Olpad, Maroli, Navsari and Valsad. Together they supply more than 300 farmers. Each outlet stocks what a shrimp farm needs through the crop:

• certified seed from more than 10 hatcheries approved by the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA)
• more than 30 types of medicine, supplied with guidance on when and how to use them
• more than 20 categories of chemicals and minerals for pond preparation and water quality
• aerators from six manufacturers
• more than 64 types of farm equipment

Having these at an outlet close to the farm saves a long trip to town in the middle of a crop. It also means our team knows what went into each pond, which matters later when the harvest is tested.

Support through the crop

Supplying inputs is only part of the work. Our aquaculture team visits ponds through the crop cycle to check growth, water quality and shrimp health, and to advise on feeding and on what to do when something changes.

That support starts before stocking. We help farmers choose the seed for the season and for the pond, and we guide pond preparation. A good crop is decided early. Seed quality, pond preparation and the treatment decisions made in the first weeks show up at harvest as size, survival and test results.

Weather is a big part of the job on this coast. Heavy rain during the monsoon can shift pond pH and salinity quickly, and hot dry spells push up salinity and lower dissolved oxygen. Our field officers help farmers read those changes and respond before the shrimp are stressed.

Harvest and buy back

When the crop is ready, we buy it back from the farms we support at market rates. Before any pond is harvested, our QC supervisors run pre harvest testing and grading at the pond. No pond is harvested before it passes.

The harvest itself follows our BL SOP harvest protocol, which is built for size uniformity and zero stress handling. Our team handles the timing and the chilling, and the shrimp moves in our temperature controlled trucks to our partnered certified facility at Taloja for processing and export.

For the farmer, the buyer already knows the history of the pond, and the test result is in hand before the nets go in.

Registration every export farm needs

Shrimp sold for export has to be traceable to a registered farm. Two registrations come up most often.

Coastal aquaculture farms need registration with the Coastal Aquaculture Authority, which regulates shrimp farming in coastal areas.

MPEDA enrolment is required for all export oriented farms, whatever other registrations they hold. MPEDA field officers verify the farm on site, record its location by GPS, its water surface area, ownership or lease documents and the farmer’s details, and issue an enrolment certificate. Enrolled farms keep records of inputs, production and sales. The farm ID from enrolment is also needed to request MPEDA’s pre harvest test.

Farmers who want to go further can look at SHAPHARI, MPEDA’s voluntary certification for farms that follow good aquaculture practices and avoid banned antibiotics.

Our outlet teams can explain what each registration involves and how it links to selling for export.

Starting or expanding a shrimp farm in South Gujarat

If you are new to shrimp farming or adding ponds, these are the steps we usually walk farmers through:

1. Check the site, the water source and the soil, and complete the registrations above.
2. Prepare the pond before stocking, with the right lime, minerals and water conditioning.
3. Choose certified seed from a CAA approved hatchery that suits your pond and season.
4. Plan aeration, feeding and water quality checks for the full crop.
5. Agree how the harvest will be sold and tested before you stock, so there are no surprises at the end.

Work with us

If you farm shrimp between Olpad and Valsad, visit the nearest Olpad Aqua outlet or contact our team to talk about seed, inputs, crop support and buy back

We also hire aquaculture field officers, procurement executives and quality supervisors at our outlets, for people who want a career in aquaculture without leaving the coastal belt.