Amid rising production costs, shrimp feed manufacturing companies have proposed to increase the prices again.

Aqua farmers across the State have requested Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is also Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh State Aquaculture Development Authority (APSADA), to intervene and stop the move to increase the price.

According to the sources, the manufacturers have decided to increase the prices by ₹12 per kg on Vannamei shrimp feed and ₹14 per kg for tiger shrimp feed.

This follows rise in prices of fish meal, fish oil, minerals, binders, soybean, and other raw materials used in the manufacture of the feed during the three-month period from January 26 to April 26.

The manufacturers have written a letter to the AP Fisheries Commissioner and APSADA to give permission for the proposed price rise. However, the aqua farmers are opposing the move as the prices have already been increased by ₹4 per kg in February, citing hike in the production cost.

Duggineni Gopinath, president of Prakasam District Shrimp Farmers’ Association, says, “The shrimp feed manufacturers have become a syndicate and are preparing to increase the feed prices again to burden the aqua farmers. The Chief Minister should reject the proposal and help the aqua farmers.”

“Currently, shrimp farmers are facing increasing production cost and their cultivation is not profitable. On the other hand, the shrimp kept in ponds are dying due to various viruses. In this situation, the feed manufacturing companies have formed a cartel and are seeking permission for price hike again,” he observes.

In fact, the prices of raw materials have not increased as much as the companies claim. Every year, from April 15 to June 14, the government imposes a ban on fishing, during which period the supply of fish meal and fish oil is low. Also, the farmers who grow soybean receive their harvest in November and December, when the price is less, reasons association secretary B. Ramesh Reddy.

The price will increase marginally in the months of February, March and April. Citing this as a reason, the feed manufacturing firms are attempting to increase the prices of shrimp feed and make more profits, he argues.

If the feed prices are increased, the shrimp farmers who do not have remunerative prices will completely avoid shrimp farming, and it will lead to the collapse of the aqua industry, fears association vice-president Ch. Ramanaiah.

The association leaders have also urged the government to provide power subsidy to all shrimp farmers by reducing the tariff to ₹1.50 per unit.