A major player in the aquaculture sector, Andhra Pradesh contributed 46 per cent of marine exports, valued at around Rs. 35,000 crore, during 2014-15.

The contribution of the fisheries sector to the country’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is 6.04 per cent, and the total fish and prawn production in brackish and fresh water in the State was 19.78 lakh tonnes, and it was worth around Rs. 21,325 crore.

However, aqua farmers fear a dip in production owing to the prevailing drought situation.

Price fluctuations

“Aqua farmers invest Rs. 5 lakh on an average in an acre of pond for raising shrimp. But, the benefit is marginal, thanks to price fluctuation in the international market and adverse weather,” said V. Sathibabu, a farmer from Gudivada.

Another aqua farmer, G. Venkanna from Undi in West Godavari district, said canals, which were the principal sources of water for aquaculture, had dried up, and that a few tanks were dependent on bore wells.

“Aqua farmers spend lakhs of rupees every season on procurement of seed strock, feed and medicine, not to mention labour and power charges.

Apart from that the lease value is between Rs. 40,000 and Rs. 50,000 per acre a year,” he added.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Gudivada (Krishna) – August 24th, 2015