Shrimp culture to be taken up in Kolleru Lake

KAKINADA: A novel project is being taken up at the Kolleru Lake to cultivate paddy, shrimp, fish and scampi in 5 and 6 contours through organic farming. This kind of cultivation will be eco-friendly and it will fetch good returns to paddy farmers and also shrimp and fish farmers. Due to the organic mode of farming, more migratory birds will be attracted to the lake situated in West Godavari and Krishna districts. The environment can also be protected, according to shrimp traders. If the method is successful, it will solve many problems associated with shrimp culture. 

Ever since shrimp culture was started in Godavari and other parts of the state, there has been widespread criticism. The main concerns were that the area under paddy deteriorated and it led to salination of agricultural fields, making them unfit for paddy cultivation. However, it has been proved in countries like Vietnam that cultivating paddy and shrimp culture in the same fields by organic methods is completely doable. In this kind of farming, chemicals are avoided whether in the form of fertilizers for paddy or as feed for the shrimp. Only probiotics are used and antibiotics are avoided. 

The Ananda Group of Companies of West Godavari district with the technical support of a German company conducted a survey on the organic method of farming and prepared a detailed project report. “The report will be submitted to the Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu soon for taking necessary steps for approval. This kind of organic scampi culture with paddy and shrimp would benefit 15,000 to 20,000 farmers in the area,” said Ananda Group of Companies chairman U.Viswanatha Raju.

He said that the Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a German company for taking up the project on a pilot basis. Mr Raju said that if the culture is adopted in Kolleru lake, the lake would attract more migratory birds and also lure national and international tourists. He said that the group can produce 100 million organic seeds to supply to the shrimp farmers. The organically cultivated rice also fetches prime price in the Indian market as well as the export market.