Adverse conditions push Vannamei prawn farmers into distress in Srikakulam

Srikakulam: Adverse conditions pushed Vannamei shrimp farmers into trouble in Srikakulam district. Vannamei prawns are being cultivated in sea coast villages at Kallepalli, Mopasubandaru, Srikurmam, Bandaruvanipeta, Bonthalakoduru, Budagatlapalem, Kuppili, Ponnada, D Matsyalesam, Kalingapatnam, Mulapeta, D L Puram, Noupada, Selagapeta, Naidupeta, Kollipadu, Baruva, Bhattigalluru, Seethanagaram, Nuvvalarevu, Akkupalli, Sivarampuram and other villages in Etcherla, Srikakulam Rural, Gara, Santhabommali, Vajrapukotturu, Palasa, Sompeta mandals in the district.

But this year due to adverse conditions concerning to market and other facilities, the farmers are depending on middlemen to dispose their produce. To procure Vannamei shrimp buyers are depending on dealers and they in turn procure the prawns from farmers by fixing rates.

Previously, huge demand was witnessed for Vannamei prawns in foreign countries like the USA, Japan, China, Germany and other Gulf countries across the world. But now the demand depleted as they also started the production of Vannamei prawns.

Due to virus attack, foreign countries are not interested to procure our produce from our country, said a prawn grower K Gopala Rao. Speaking to The Hans India, he said the government was not providing any facilities to farmers like providing cold storage plants, transporting of prawns from seacoast to main market areas and bank loans facility.

"We are not receiving any sops from the government to improve our cultivation," said Gopala Rao. Government is not providing even subsidy on diesel price which will help to save our investment, said another farmer R Dasaradha Rao.

"Quality seed is not available. In addition to it virus generated diseases are also spreading among prawns which are hitting the field hardly," said a supervisor in a sea foods company N Girija Govardhana Giri.

"We are suggesting farmers to take timely precautions to prevent loss of produce and providing facilities as sanctioned by the government," said joint director for fisheries department V V K Murthy.