Feed Companies Crippling Aqua Farmers by Hiking Shrimp Feed Prices: State Kshatriya Corporation Director Dendukuri Sathibabu Raju.

Allavaram:Indian News Times:Dendukuri Sathibabu Raju, Director of the State Kshatriya Corporation, stated that aqua farmers—who serve as the backbone of Andhra Pradesh's economy—are facing an unavoidable situation where they are being pushed toward severe financial losses due to feed companies arbitrarily hiking the prices of shrimp feed. He noted that aqua farmers, who are already grappling with a series of pest outbreaks, are now likely to be further devastated by these increased feed prices. He observed that farmers relying on the aqua sector find themselves in a helpless predicament, lacking remunerative prices for their produce; furthermore, with investment costs in the aqua sector skyrocketing in recent times, these farmers are being driven into a state of utter desperation. He added that aqua farmers, having only recently suffered severe setbacks due to the impact of "Trump tariffs," now face inevitable and heavy losses once again due to the shock of rising feed prices. He pointed out that aqua farming is currently undertaken across approximately 46,000 acres in the Ambedkar Konaseema district, with farmers consuming about 4,000 tons of feed daily; however, he warned that the aqua sector is bound to suffer further collapse as a direct consequence of the decision to hike feed prices. He mentioned that Agriculture Minister Atchannaidu has already condemned these actions and has urged the coalition government to take immediate measures regarding the hike in feed prices.  Sattibabu Raju urged Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to take immediate initiative and make efforts to reduce the hiked prices of shrimp feed, noting that aqua farmers face numerous difficulties and setbacks—and consequently suffer financial losses—throughout the entire process, from the initial stocking of seed in ponds to the final harvesting of shrimp.

               Srinivas Spl Correspondant