Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has written to Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, seeking urgent intervention to address the difficulties faced by aquaculture farmers due to the sharp rise in shrimp feed raw material prices.

Mr. Naidu highlighted that escalating prices of raw materials used in shrimp feed production have led to an additional burden of nearly ₹25,000 per tonne on the farmers, increasaing cost of cultivation.

He urged the Centre to take immediate steps to regulate the prices of shrimp feed raw materials.

Expressing concern over the continuing increase in feed costs, the Chief Minister warned that sustained price escalation could discourage shrimp cultivation and potentially reduce production. He noted that such a development may adversely affect both farmers’ livelihoods and the overall aquaculture ecosystem.

The Chief Minister also appealed to the Centre to ensure adequate availability of raw materials for domestic requirements and suggested easing import restrictions on soybean meal and soy oil, which are major components in shrimp feed manufacturing. He emphasised that making feed available at affordable prices is essential to sustain aqua farming and prevent further distress among farmers.

Further, Naidu proposed the establishment of a dedicated monitoring mechanism to oversee fluctuations in feed prices and ensure transparency in the supply chain. He underscored the need for coordinated efforts between the Centre and the State government to resolve the issues confronting aqua farmers and safeguard the long-term sustainability of the aquaculture sector.