For instance, semi intensive aquaculture farming for prawns is the most widely spread method, which yields up to 2.5 to 3 metric tons of prawns per harvesting cycle (4 to 5 months) per hectare of farming-pond. Considering current selling price of US $ 10,000 per ton one can see that this is a business opportunity not to be missed. It is nicknamed: "THE BLUE GOLD". The following table 1 gives an idea about investment in tiger prawn farming:
Prawn Farming On a 100 Hectares Compound / semi intensive operation
Investment - US $
6,850,000
Yields - tons
150
300
500
metric tons
Turnover
1,500,000
3,000,000
5,000,000
US $
Direct cost of sales
300,000
600,000
1,000,000
US $
Operating costs
150,000
300,000
500,000
US $
Interest + taxes
700,000
700,000
700,000
US $
Net profit
350,000
1,400,000
2,800,000
US $