Can cooperation reduce yield risks associated with infectious diseases in shrimp aquaculture in Vietnam?

Abstract

Infectious diseases are a major threat to Asian shrimp aquaculture, as they proliferate at system level rather than only the individual level. We assess the impact of various forms of cooperation among Vietnamese farmers on yield risks caused by white spot disease and acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease. Using a stochastic simulation model, we simulate shrimp farming yield risks based on input from two expert workshops. The results provide a relative comparison of expected yield losses caused by both diseases comparing a baseline scenario (no cooperation) and three scenarios with varying degrees of synchronization and information sharing across farms. Results show lower expected yield losses in all three cooperation scenarios in comparison with the farm-based scenario, highlighting the value of synchronization and information sharing practices to mitigate yield losses. We discuss the potential this has to reduce systemic risks in aquaculture, thereby potentially incentivizing the reintroduction of risk-sharing mechanisms.