Major Shrimp Farmer Gives Up, Sells Undersized Catch
A major Trang shrimp farmer has shut down 21 of 22 ponds after suffering over one million baht in losses across consecutive batches, forced to harvest undersized stock at a fraction of market prices. He's calling for government intervention
Trang — Major shrimp farmer Suchart Kongwatnanont has inspected his 22 shrimp ponds in Susoe Subdistrict, Pla Phraya District, Trang Province, ranging from 3-7 rai each. Over the past 2-3 months, he has progressively closed 21 ponds after harvesting and left all equipment abandoned and rusting. His final pond of 3 rai, harvested today, yielded shrimp at only 150 per kilogram—undersized stock raised for just 70 days—which he sold at 87 baht per kilogram for approximately 8-9 tons total. Even at this price, he faces losses exceeding 100,000 baht on this pond alone.
Continuing to raise the shrimp for another two months to reach market-preferred size (45-50 per kilogram) would only deepen losses, as current prices for larger shrimp stand at just 130-140 baht per kilogram. Suchart stated that all 22 consecutive batches have resulted in losses totaling over one million baht—unprecedented in his 20-year career. He previously sold only larger sizes (30-50 per kilogram) and has never harvested at this small size before.
While halting production, Suchart must continue supporting 10 worker families at roughly 10,000 baht per family monthly. "Farmers are too afraid to stock new shrimp now," he explained. "We're waiting to see what clear action the government will take." He criticized a proposed 20-baht-per-kilogram subsidy as inadequate, arguing the state should instead reduce core production costs—feed, chemicals, energy—which account for 18-20 baht per kilogram in losses. Without urgent government intervention, he warned, all farmers will collapse as capital dries up.
