Government urged to address issues faced by shrimp farmers

The Andhra Pradesh Farmers Association urged the State government to immediately address the issues faced by shrimp farmers, citing heavy financial losses and growing distress in the sector.

Association State assistant secretary K. Srinivas on Wednesday raised concerns over the rising cost of feed and the declining prices of shrimp, which he said are severely affecting the livelihoods of farmers. Speaking at Anne Bhavan in Eluru, he pointed out that farmers are struggling due to the imbalance between input costs and market returns.

He also highlighted the problem of substandard feed and seed, stating that poor quality supplies are causing significant losses to shrimp farmers. Criticising market practices, Mr. Srinivas alleged that prices are being artificially suppressed under the pretext of global factors such as war.

Mr. Srinivas demanded that the State government hold an immediate meeting with shrimp farmers to understand their concerns and take corrective measures. It called for strict regulation of feed and seed prices and ensuring the availability of quality inputs to farmers.

The farmer leader further urged the government to announce a minimum support price for shrimp and take stringent action against companies that exploit farmers through unfair practices. He also demanded the implementation of a subsidised power tariff of ₹1.50 per unit for shrimp farming operations, stating that electricity costs are a major burden on farmers.

Additionally, he appealed to both State and Central governments to take steps to boost domestic consumption of shrimp, which could help stabilise prices and improve farmers’ income.