Harvest occurred either throughout the cycle or only when ponds
were drained and was most commonly done with a beach seine (98%).
Prawn production was on average 2338 kg ha−1
yr−1
(Table 4) and
prawns were sold most commonly to a trader at the farmgate either
dead or alive (58.7%). Other options included selling prawns at Mahachai
market in Samut Sakhon (43.5%) or Chatuchak and other markets in
Bangkok (21.7%). Farmers interviewed in the north, northeast, and south
also sold prawns to local restaurants (2.2%) or hotels (1.1%). Farmgate and
market prices were not significantly different and did not differ by
region. The price of prawns at market increased with size, females
ranged from 1.25 to 3.75 US$ kg−1
and male prawns (which grow larger)
were more profitable at 2 to 6.25 US$ kg−1
.