Nellore: Adverse weather taking huge toll on shrimp farming

Nellore: The aquaculture in the Nellore district was highly impacted by unfavourable weather conditions. Soon after the cyclones hit the district, aqua farmers are bothering about the survival of shrimp in the ponds. Experts in aquaculture say that shrimp in the ponds get affected by the presence of white spot syndrome due to decreased temperatures even during the daytime.

Farmers have now been cultivating Litopenaeus Vannamei shrimp in around 20,000 hectares across the district and have taken up the culture in Manubolu, Venkatachalam, Muthukur, Thotapalligudur, Indukurpeta, Kovur, Kodavalur, Vidavalur in Nellore division. Allur, Bogole, Kavali in Kavali divisions. Kota, Vakadu, Chittamur, Chillakkur in Gudur division.

Majority of ponds that were in harvesting stage in Indukurupeta, Kavali, Kovur and in Vidavaluru, and Bogole mandals severely affected due to the torrential rains. In fact, the climatic condition is one of the major aspects for the survival of shrimp in ponds. Usually, shrimp cultivation requires aerators and sunlight support for ponds for getting oxygen for healthy growth. Strong gales interrupted power supply in the rural areas, where culture was taken up during the cyclone Nivar.

An expert in aquaculture from Muthukur Dr Haribabu said the farmers have to take preventive measures for maintaining salinity levels in L Vannamei ponds. Vitamin-C levels in the feed should be observed during these days for preventing disease. Farmers have to clean the ponds periodically for avoiding the spread of diseases to shrimp.

"I have cultivated L Vannamei in around 9 acres. Now, the growth of the shrimp has impacted for the last one month due to low temperatures. The coastal mandals have received a huge rainfall with the recent cyclones. We have been spending additional cost for cultivation for feeding of shrimp to avoid spread of white spot disease," said K Ranga Reddy, a farmer from Indukurpet mandal.

After the white spot syndrome started attacking the ponds, farmers in the region have started decreasing shrimp culture.