Production and economic efficiencies of intensive black tiger prawn (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Penaeus monodon</Emphasis>) culture during different cropping seasons in the Mekong delta,Vietnam

Production management of intensive prawn farming strongly differs between dry and wet season in terms of availability and quality of prawn seeds and water quality. Secondary data implied that prawn seed batches from the market had a total pathogen infection rate of 53%, predominantly caused by 37% white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), 19% monodon baculovirus (MBV) and 4% yellow head virus (YHV). Pathogen-free seed batches averaged to 52% during the dry season compared to the wet season (42%). Survey revealed average stocking density of 17 PL m⁻² with a survival rate of 55%, a crop yield of 2,470 kg ha⁻¹ crop⁻¹ and a net income of 6,768 USD ha⁻¹ crop⁻¹. Average production cost amounted to 3.4 USD kg⁻¹, and feed cost accounted for 58% of the production cost. Technical efficiency with respect to prawn yield and survival rate was higher during the dry season than the wet season. The probability of yield loss was 15.6 times higher in the wet than in the dry season. A positive net income can be generated for farms operating in the dry season using new ponds and performing pathogen laboratory tests on prawn seeds before stocking.