





Aquaculture insurance — also known as shrimp insurance, prawn insurance, or shrimp farm insurance — is a specialised agricultural insurance product that compensates aquaculture farmers for financial losses caused by disease outbreaks, natural calamities, and environmental hazards. India is the world’s second-largest shrimp exporter, and aquaculture is a critical livelihood for coastal farming communities in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Kerala. A single disease outbreak — particularly White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) — can wipe out an entire crop within 48–72 hours, causing losses of several lakhs per hectare.
The Government of India supports aquaculture insurance through the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) and the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), which provide up to 50% subsidy on shrimp insurance premium for eligible farmers. The National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) also promotes aquaculture insurance incentives. TropoGo helps shrimp and prawn farmers across India — including shrimp insurance in Andhra Pradesh, shrimp insurance in Odisha, and all other coastal states — compare aquaculture insurance quotes, understand subsidy eligibility, and buy shrimp insurance online.
India exported 7.76 lakh metric tonnes of shrimp worth over ₹50,000 crore in FY2023–24, making it the single largest export commodity in the fisheries sector. Yet less than 5% of aquaculture farmers in India have insurance coverage. A White Spot Disease (WSSV) outbreak — the most devastating shrimp disease — can cause 100% crop loss in a pond within days. Shrimp farm insurance premium for a 1-hectare pond typically starts at ₹4,000–₹8,000 per crop cycle after subsidy — one of the most affordable risk management tools available to coastal farmers.
To avail the 50% subsidy on shrimp insurance premium under PM-MKSSY or PMMSY: Register with your district fisheries department, obtain a fisheries ID, apply through your nearest bank or empanelled insurer, and submit pond registration details, stocking records, and Aadhaar-linked bank account. TropoGo helps farmers navigate subsidy eligibility and connect with empanelled insurers for low-cost aquaculture insurance.
| Parameter | Standard Cover | Enhanced / Higher Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Species | Litopenaeus vannamei (Whiteleg shrimp) | Penaeus monodon (Black Tiger), freshwater prawn (M. rosenbergii) |
| Stocking Density | Up to 25–40 PL/m² (semi-intensive) | 40–80+ PL/m² (intensive) — higher disease risk, higher premium |
| Pond Size | 0.2–2 hectares per pond | Larger farms eligible for group/portfolio policies |
| Culture Period | 90–120 day crop cycle | Extended cycles and year-round production farms |
| Biosecurity Level | Basic biosecurity (fencing, entry protocol) | Enhanced biosecurity with SPF seed and PCR testing — lower premium possible |
| Water Quality Monitoring | Daily DO, pH, salinity records maintained | Automated IoT sensors with digital logs — preferred by insurers |
| Seed Source | MPEDA-certified hatchery, SPF seed | Non-certified seed — may be excluded or attract loading |
| Location / Zone | Inland brackish water ponds | High-risk cyclone zones (Odisha coast, AP delta) — higher premium |
Gross premium: 4%–8% of sum insured per crop cycle • After 50% PM-MKSSY subsidy: effective farmer premium 2%–4% • For a 1-hectare L. vannamei pond stocked at 30 PL/m² with projected crop value ₹8 lakh: gross premium ~₹40,000–₹64,000; after subsidy ~₹20,000–₹32,000 • Prawn crop insurance cost per hectare varies by state, insurer, and disease risk profile. Contact TropoGo for a personalised aquaculture insurance quote.
Aquaculture insurance — also called shrimp insurance or prawn insurance — compensates farmers for financial losses caused by disease outbreaks (WSSV, IMN, EHP, vibriosis), natural calamities (cyclone, flood), and environmental hazards (summer kill, algal bloom). India is the world’s second-largest shrimp exporter but less than 5% of farmers have insurance. A single WSSV outbreak can cause 100% crop loss within days. Shrimp farm insurance premium after PM-MKSSY subsidy starts at ₹20,000–₹30,000 per hectare — essential protection given the ₹5–15 lakh investment per hectare per crop cycle.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) provides a 50% subsidy on prawn insurance premium for eligible small and marginal aquaculture farmers. To access the subsidy: register with your district fisheries department, obtain a fisheries ID and pond registration, approach an empanelled insurer (New India Assurance, National Insurance Company, or others) or apply through TropoGo. Submit stocking records, Aadhaar-linked bank details, and pond area documentation. The subsidy amount is credited directly to your account or adjusted against premium.
Yes — insurance for White Spot Disease in shrimp (WSSV crop loss coverage) is the primary benefit of aquaculture insurance in India. WSSV is a notifiable disease and its outbreak triggers claim settlement under most policies. To make a successful WSSV claim: intimate the insurer within 24–48 hours of detecting mortality, do NOT remove dead shrimp before surveyor inspection, and get PCR confirmation from an MPEDA or CIBA-approved laboratory. Water quality logs and stocking records must be up to date.
Standard aquaculture insurance covers major notified shrimp diseases including: White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV), Infectious Myonecrosis (IMN), Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP), Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS/AHPND caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus), vibriosis outbreak, Taura Syndrome Virus (TSV), and Yellow Head Virus (YHV). Coverage for individual diseases varies by insurer and policy — always check the disease schedule in your aquaculture insurance policy. TropoGo can help you compare shrimp farming insurance with the broadest disease coverage.
Biosecurity for shrimp farming insurance eligibility typically requires: use of SPF (Specific Pathogen Free) certified seed from MPEDA-licensed hatcheries, perimeter fencing and bird netting, foot bath at pond entry points, minimum water exchange protocol, daily water quality monitoring records (DO, pH, salinity, ammonia), and PCR testing at stocking. Farms that maintain higher biosecurity standards may qualify for reduced premium rates. Insurers may conduct pre-stocking farm inspection to verify biosecurity compliance before issuing the policy.
To compare aquaculture insurance and find low-cost aquaculture insurance: contact TropoGo, provide your pond area, species, stocking density, location, and projected crop value. TropoGo is among the best prawn insurance company partners in India — compares quotes from New India Assurance prawn insurance, National Insurance Company shrimp scheme, and other empanelled insurers. Key factors to compare: diseases covered, exclusions, per-hectare premium, claim process speed, surveyor network in your district, and subsidy eligibility under PM-MKSSY or NFDB aquaculture insurance incentive programmes.
Yes — aquaculture insurance is available for freshwater prawn farming, including Macrobrachium rosenbergii (giant freshwater prawn) and M. nipponense (oriental river prawn). Coverage for freshwater prawn includes disease outbreaks (bacterial and viral), flood inundation, and summer kill. Premium rates for freshwater prawn insurance are generally lower than marine shrimp due to lower disease intensity. West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha have the highest freshwater prawn insurance uptake in India.
Documents required for an aquaculture insurance claim: filled claim form (submitted within 24–48 hours of mortality), PCR disease diagnosis report from MPEDA or CIBA-approved lab, stocking records and SPF seed purchase invoice from certified hatchery, daily water quality monitoring logs from stocking to loss date, feed and input purchase invoices, photographs and video of mortality, surveyor inspection report, pond registration document, and Aadhaar-linked bank account details. Water quality monitoring for insurance claims is mandatory — absence of logs is a common claim rejection reason.