Alltech Aquaculture reposted this
3 Days of Shrimp Farm Visits – Key Lessons Learned This week, I spent three days visiting shrimp farms in the Southern Thailand. It reminded me of an important lesson: sometimes we get too focused on low farm gate prices and overlook the other challenges farmers are facing. The reality is, there are many obstacles on the farm that require support. Getting out there, talking to farmers, and thinking about how we can help them beyond the price discussion opens up opportunities. The second takeaway is the importance of building rapport. Trust opens doors—literally. We were told that one farmer rarely allows visits, especially from salespeople. I thought it was fine since it was our first meeting, but over coffee, he shared photos of his farm, exchanged ideas, and suggested management strategies that could help him. By the end, he not only invited us to visit his farm but also asked for advice on two more farms. It just goes to show—when you’re seen as a trusted solution provider rather than someone just pushing sales, you gain more access and trust. Finally, data is powerful. During a product demo, we saw improvements in water quality parameters. The farmer was using AI probes that sent real-time data—pH, DO, temperature—directly to his phone every five minutes. After applying our product, the data clearly showed improvements. It was a great reminder that real, measurable results build confidence.