Tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) grown in sea/brackish water is considered globally as the best marine shrimp in terms of growth , meat quality and market demand. Tiger shrimp farming is limited to coastal states in India sits culture is practiced only in brackish water. CIFE, Mumbai however has demonstrated that this shrimp can be commercially farmed in inland saline lands using underlying saline water. This has opened new avenues for utilization of waste saline lands and ground saline water for a profitable venture.

Tiger shrimp do not survive in inland saline water due to difference in the chemistry of water with that of seawater. The cause of mortality was assessed through bioassay trials and it was found that poor concentration of potassium in saline water is mainly responsible for mortality. Based on indoor experiments, field trials were carried out at high saline Baniyani Farm (CIFE Regional Centre, Rohtak) during the year 2008 in two non-drainable ponds of size 0.25 ha. each lined with polyethene sheets to prevent seepage and placed with 0.30 m thick layer of soil. These ponds were fed ground saline water of salinity 12 ppt from a bore well. The level of potassium was enhanced in saline water by adding muriate of potash (fertilizer grade) around 50% equivalents to coastal seawater. The methods of husbandry remained the same as that of coastal farms. A production 2.7 tons/ha in 110 days at a stocking density of 10 PLs/ 3 m could be obtained.

Interception of ground saline water and utilization in aquaculture ponds will lower the ground table, help in soil improvement and reduction in secondary salinization. Since inland saline water is drawn from deep bore wells, it is pathogen free and bio-secure. Like agriculture, a crop of tiger shrimp is of 4 months duration and hence farmers may harness returns in a short time and can take two crops in a year during warmer climate of 8 months (March- November).

The technology is highly suitable for the farmers of northwestern India whose lands have become saline and where griculture productivity is poor or zero.