Chandrababu Urges Centre to Support Andhra Pradesh Aqua Farmers
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu appealed to the Centre for immediate support to aqua farmers facing rising shrimp feed costs and increasing financial pressure across the state.
- Chandrababu seeks relief for aqua farmers
- Shrimp feed costs burden Andhra Pradesh farmers
- Centre urged to ease soybean meal imports
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has written to Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal requesting urgent intervention to protect aqua farmers in Andhra Pradesh. The letter highlights the severe difficulties being faced by shrimp farmers due to the sharp increase in prices of raw materials used in feed production.
According to the Chief Minister, the continuous rise in feed costs has significantly increased cultivation expenses for farmers. He explained that the additional burden on shrimp feed has reached nearly Rs 25000 per tonne, making aqua farming financially stressful for many producers.
The state government warned that if the situation continues without support measures, several farmers may be forced to reduce or completely stop shrimp cultivation. Chandrababu noted that such a development could affect seafood exports and create wider economic pressure on the aqua sector.
To ease the crisis, the Chief Minister requested the Centre to relax restrictions on imports of soybean meal and soybean oil, which are considered essential for shrimp feed manufacturing. He stressed the need to ensure sufficient supply of raw materials in the domestic market to prevent further price increases.
Chandrababu also suggested the formation of a dedicated monitoring system to regularly track feed prices and maintain affordability for farmers. He said both the state and central governments must work together to provide stability and confidence to the aqua farming community in Andhra Pradesh.
