With the seafood exporters resuming operations to the U.S. after the 90-day pause on levy of 26% duty, aquaculture activity has picked up in the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh.
Aqua farmers and other stakeholders were busy at the ponds and at the packing units in Eluru, Krishna, East and West Godavari, Nellore, Prakasam and other districts on Sunday.
Members of the Andhra Pradesh Seafood Exporters’ Association of India (SEAI) said exports to the U.S. were being shipped as usual. Exports to countries such as China, the European Union, Japan, Southeast Asia were being routed through various ports as there was a great demand for Indian seafood products in the international market.
As per unconfirmed reports, farmers, exporters and other stakeholders suffered more than ₹1,000 crore loss after the U.S. announced the tariff hike.
“The efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu helped the aqua farmers come out of the crisis in the State. We request the Union and State governments to negotiate with the U.S. for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries,” said Subba Raju, an aqua farmer and a member of the A.P. Prawn Farmers’ Welfare Association.
A few hatchery owners said they suffered huge losses as farmers stopped procuring seed from them.
Prices stabilise
“At present, the prices of shrimp are stable in the market. The price of 100-count shrimp is ₹100 per kg. While the per-kg price of 90-count shrimp is ₹235, the 80-count variety is commanding ₹255. Similarly, the price of 70-count variety is ₹275, 60-count variety 295 and 50-count shrimp ₹315,” said G. Adinarayana, a farmer from Akiveedu in West Godavari district.
“With the government intervening, the price of feed has come down. We are harvesting the crop and shifting the stocks to the packing units,” said P. Raju, a shrimp farmer from Polatatippa village in Krishna district.
Published – April 13, 2025 07:13 pm IST