Aquaculturists in Prakasam district are a happier lot with the State government recognising the sector as a growth engine and their produce getting relatively better price in the international market. But, what they need is more support from the central and State governments to compete in the tough global market marked by fluctuating fortunes in the long run, opine a group of aquaculturists in the coastal village of Tangutur. The Vannamei shrimp price ruling steady at Rs. 400 per kg for a 40-count in the export market is a good development, they say. The State government slashing power tariff by 20 per cent to Rs. 3.75 per unit has come as a big relief as also 24 x 7 power supply, which has helped them do away with generators for energising aerators, they say, adding another welcome development is that they are able to get an encouraging price of Rs. 220 per kg for a 100-count during week-end and Rs. 210 per kg in the week beginning in the domestic market.
The State government should ensure setting up of at least two aquatic quarantine facilities, one in south coastal Andhra Pradesh and another one in north coastal Andhra Pradesh by the Centre, to ensure Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) broodstock, says Andhra Pradesh State Prawn Farmers’ Welfare Association secretary A. Kondal Rayudu while talking to The Hindu. Hitherto, they depended upon the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture near Chennai which, they say, is unable to meet their demand fully.
Spurious seed
“We spend sleepless nights owing to spurious seed,” complains an aquaculturist Ch.Venkateswarlu. The present dryspell, which affects the growth of shrimp, also adds to our worries over outbreak of viral infection, says another aquaculturist Ch. Murali while pressing for dredging of the sea-mouth to reduce the salinity in creeks.
The Centre should form a commodity board for aquaculture under the Union Commerce Ministry on the lines of the one for tobacco to intervene in the market as and when needed and regulate the crop after assessing the domestic and overseas demand for shrimp, suggests another aquaculturist Tella Ramaiah. Pointing out that feed accounts for 70 per cent of the cost of production, they want the State government to ensure them quality feed and regulate its price as well. The government should also set up cold chains and develop domestic market for protein-rich shrimp to shed their over-dependence on the international market, they add.
