Andhra Prawn is a brand of its own, says Kamineni

Bhimavaram: Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas called on the farmers to protect the Andhra Pradesh prawn since it has a good demand in the international market.

The Health Minister inaugurated the International aqua seminar on ‘Profit On Aquaculture -2017’ organised by Uddaraju Ananda Raju Foundation (Bhimavaram) and Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, Veterinary University (Tirupati) at Vishnu Educational Society here on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, Kamineni said that there is vast development in aquaculture in this area. However, some people are alleging that aqua culture is polluting water and affecting drinking water, he pointed out.

The farmers are facing many hurdles in aqua cultivation. He said that the farmers are now facing trouble with the bacteria to prawn and seminars will be useful to overcome it.

He said that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has taken steps to discuss the issue of 14,000 acres of Jirayiti lands in Kolleru lake area and praised the CM for striving to develop aquaculture in the State, he said

Earlier, the farmers who wanted to dig an aqua pond faced many a hurdle, but TDP government directed the officials to give permission for a digging a aqua pond immediately.

He pointed out that the sixty percent aqua products of the country are from this area only. He suggested the scientists and officials about the allegations and doubts raised over pollution due to the aquaculture.

Many people are criticising that aqua ponds are polluting water sources in this area. In view of this, the officials have to clarify about the pollution and other issues related to the digging of the aqua pond.

Andhra Pradesh Special Chief Secretary and Vice Chancellor of S V University Tirupati Dr Manmohan Singh in his presidential address aspired the Andhra Pradesh should become world’s aqua hub.

The growth rate of the country will increase with this sector only, he added. He said that the scientists from Thailand, Malaysia, America, UK, China and Vietnam are participating in the seminar which is a welcoming one.

He said at present the marine products reached 2.5 billion tonnes and during next 10 years, it has decided to raise the marine products to 10 billion tonnes.

Ananda Group Chairman UK Viswanadha Raju, MLAs Pulaparti Ramanjaneyulu, Vetukuri Venkata Siva Rama Raju also addressed the inaugural meeting. Later, the Minister and other dignitaries garlanded the portrait of Padmasri late BV Raju and his wife.

Board of Industrial infrastructure Chairman Dr S Krishnaiah, State Bank of India (SBI) Deputy General Manager Deep Chand., Ananda group Chief advisor Mohan Kumaran Nayar, also participated in the inaugural meeting.