AP Providing Power to All Aqua Farmers at Rs 1.50 Rate, Says Atchannaidu

Kakinada:The Andhra Pradesh government is extending subsidised electricity at Rs 1.50 per unit to all aquaculture farmers irrespective of zones, with an allocation of Rs 1,180 crore for this purpose, fisheries minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu said on Monday.

Addressing a meeting organised by the all India shrimp hatcheries association in Kakinada, the minister said the government was fulfilling its commitment to support the aquaculture sector despite the state's financial constraints.

The registration process for aquaculture units had been introduced to obtain a comprehensive database of aquaculture operations, he said.

The process, he said, has been simplified, is free of cost, and enables farmers to receive subsidised power immediately after registration.

Atchannaidu said the state, with support from the Centre, had secured approval for a national fisheries development board sub-centre, proposed to be established near Bhimavaram, and a quarantine centre near Visakhapatnam at an estimated cost of `100 crore.

He said 30 acres had been allotted near Bhogapuram airport for the facility, which he described as a major boost to the aquaculture sector.

Andhra Pradesh, he said, has 450 of the country's 550 shrimp hatcheries, providing employment to thousands of people.

The minister urged hatchery operators to produce high-quality, disease-free seed suited to local climatic conditions by adopting advanced technologies and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

Expressing confidence that the Polavaram project would be completed by 2027, the minister said it would ensure adequate water supply for aquaculture farms and hatcheries. He called upon hatchery operators, feed manufacturers, exporters and farmers to work together for the sector's growth.

Atchannaidu said the government was preparing a roadmap for the aquaculture sector in consultation with national and state-level industry associations. Review meetings would be held once every two months to address issues faced by stakeholders.

Representatives of shrimp hatcheries requested the minister to extend the `1.50 per unit power tariff to hatcheries as well.

Rajya Sabha member Beeda Mastan Rao, government whip Datla Subba Raju, Kakinada city MLA Vanamadi Venkateswara Rao, MLCs Perabathula Rajasekhar and Karri Padma Sri, DCCB chairman Tummala Ramaswamy (Babu) and others attended the programme.