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Agriculture
Andhra Pradesh shrimp farmers warn of crop holiday over soaring feed costs
✍️ The Hindu
🗓 08 Sep 2026, 03:36 AM
👁 40
Shrimp cultivators in Andhra Pradesh have announced they will halt production unless the state government intervenes to curb rising feed prices by September 30.
Shrimp farmers across Andhra Pradesh have issued a stark warning that they will observe a "crop holiday" if the state government does not take decisive action to address the sharp rise in shrimp feed prices. The deadline set by the growers is September 30, after which they plan to suspend all stocking and harvesting activities.
The cost of commercial feed, a major input for shrimp aquaculture, has surged in recent months, squeezing profit margins for cultivators who already operate on thin returns. Farmers say the price hikes make the current production cycle financially untenable, threatening the viability of their farms.
Representatives of farmer associations have appealed to the agriculture department and the state fisheries ministry, seeking subsidies, price caps, or other relief measures to stabilize feed costs. They stress that timely intervention is crucial to prevent a sudden drop in shrimp output, which could affect both domestic supply and export earnings.
State officials have acknowledged the concerns and indicated that they are reviewing the situation, though no concrete policy response has been announced as of now. The standoff underscores the broader challenges facing India's aquaculture sector amid rising input costs.
The cost of commercial feed, a major input for shrimp aquaculture, has surged in recent months, squeezing profit margins for cultivators who already operate on thin returns. Farmers say the price hikes make the current production cycle financially untenable, threatening the viability of their farms.
Representatives of farmer associations have appealed to the agriculture department and the state fisheries ministry, seeking subsidies, price caps, or other relief measures to stabilize feed costs. They stress that timely intervention is crucial to prevent a sudden drop in shrimp output, which could affect both domestic supply and export earnings.
State officials have acknowledged the concerns and indicated that they are reviewing the situation, though no concrete policy response has been announced as of now. The standoff underscores the broader challenges facing India's aquaculture sector amid rising input costs.