Fisheries Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu asserts that the NDA government has restored the aquaculture industry through subsidy enhancements and policy reforms, reversing previous failures.

Key Takeaways

  • The NDA government has reduced fish feed prices and enhanced electricity subsidies for farmers.
  • ₹32 crore has been released for the proposed Fisheries University in Narasapuram.
  • The fisheries sector is projected to see a 14.9% growth in 2025-26.
  • The APSADA Act has been strengthened to ensure governance and transparency.

Andhra Pradesh Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu has made a strong assertion regarding the revitalization of the state's aquaculture sector. Speaking to the media in Vijayawada, the Minister accused the previous YSRCP administration of crippling the industry through systemic policy failures, which led to skyrocketing production costs and stagnant growth.

A Statistical Turnaround

Providing a macro-economic perspective, Mr. Atchannaidu highlighted that Andhra Pradesh’s Gross Value Added (GVA) has seen a massive surge from ₹41.75 lakh crore in 2019-20 to an estimated ₹63.65 lakh crore in 2025-26. He pointed out a stark contrast in sector performance: while the TDP government (2014-19) oversaw a robust 15.74% growth in fisheries, the subsequent YSRCP tenure saw this plummet to a mere 1% by 2023-24. However, the current NDA dispensation has successfully triggered a rebound, with a projected growth rate of 14.9% for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Direct Relief to Farmers

To combat rising operational costs, the government has implemented aggressive relief measures. The Minister noted that fish feed prices were slashed by ₹5.60 per kg in 2024. Furthermore, the effective electricity tariff for aquaculture farmers has been drastically reduced from ₹3.85 to ₹2 per unit. By removing zonal restrictions, the government has extended subsidized power at ₹1.50 per unit to all eligible farmers, significantly boosting the electricity subsidy budget towards a proposed ₹1,150 crore for 2026-27.

Institutional Reforms and Long-term Vision

Beyond immediate subsidies, the government is focusing on structural empowerment. A significant ₹32 crore has been allocated for the establishment of a Fisheries University at Narasapuram. Additionally, the APSADA Act has been strengthened to curb corruption and improve transparency. The Minister concluded by stating that a comprehensive, end-to-end aquaculture policy is under formulation to protect farmers from market volatility and price crashes in the shrimp and fish markets.