Aqua feed prices cut by Rs 4/kg after Naidu’s intervention

Vijayawada: In a major relief for aqua farmers, aqua feed manufacturers have agreed to reduce prices by Rs 4 per kg following the intervention of chief minister Chandrababu Naidu. Manufacturers agreed to bring down the price of aqua feed from the existing Rs 112 per kg to Rs 108 a kg.Fish and shrimp farmers welcomed the decision and thanked the chief minister for addressing their long-pending concerns. As part of ensuring price stability in the sector, Naidu instructed the formation of a committee comprising aqua farmers and feed manufacturers. He directed the committee to submit its report within 20 days, following which a final decision on feed prices would be taken.Chief minister reviewed the aqua feed farmers concernes at a meeting here on Thursday.

Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, senior officials, aqua farmers and representatives of feed manufacturing companies attended the meeting. Naidu said the govt’s priority was to reduce production costs for farmers and help them earn better returns. He stressed that the coalition govt has the responsibility of protecting the aqua sector, on which lakhs of people depend for their livelihood.Aqua farmers expressed gratitude to the chief minister for continuing to provide electricity to aqua farms at Rs 1.50 per unit.

They said Naidu played a key role in expanding aquaculture from the Godavari districts to the entire coastal belt, from Srikakulam to Nellore. Farmers informed the chief minister that feed prices had been increased six times during the previous govt’s tenure, but no steps were taken to reduce the burden on farmers.

They said the feed price, which was Rs 87.80 per kg in 2019, had increased to Rs 107.80 by the time the previous govt completed its term.They pointed out that after the coalition govt came to power, the feed price was reduced by Rs 5.80 per kg initially. Farmers also clarified that the aqua community had never acted against the coalition govt and alleged that some people recently tried to use farmers’ issues for political purposes.