Nellore: The State government has been aiming to achieve a production of 27 lakh metric tonnes in the aqua sector next year. Agriculture minister Prattipati Pulla Rao has revealed this after inaugurating a Shrimp Feed Plant along with ministers Narayana, Siddha Raghava Rao and Devineni Umamaheswar Rao at Dharmavaram in Dagadarthi mandal of SPSR Nellore district on Saturday.
Mr Pulla Rao said the government will benefit to the extent of Rs 16,000 crore through the export of shrimp and fish and the sector has been benefiting 39,000 farmers directly and many more indirectly. According to the minister, the government gave its nod for a private aqua university and efforts are on to open the sea mouth into Pulicat Lake to put an end to the miseries of fishermen depending upon the lake for livelihood.
Earlier, the ministers took part in an interaction with stakeholders in aqua sector on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, former legislator and BMR Group chairman Beeda Mastan Rao appealed to the agriculture minister to extend cooperation to the aqua farmers involved in the shrimp cultivation all along the coastal area. He dwelt at length on the difficulties faced by the aqua farmers. He said that the aqua field has been providing livelihood to the fishermen community in the coastal belt.
MLCs Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy, Vakati Narayana Reddy, Beeda Ravichandra, Kovur legislator Polamreddy Srinivasulu Reddy, Parasa Ratnam, former minister Adala Prabhakar Reddy and joint collector A. Mohammad Imtiaz were present among others.
