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Prawn culture gaining popularity among farmers in Gadwal
Several farmers, including many migrants from Andhra Pradesh, are involved in prawn culture in Gadwal district, in Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers’ catchment area since the region is conducive for spawning prawns.The region gets irrigation facility from the Jurala and Nettempadu irrigation projects. Completion of irrigation projects and releasing water from them into tanks proved to be a boon to th
Gadwal: Several farmers, including many migrants from Andhra Pradesh, are involved in prawn culture in Gadwal district, in Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers’ catchment area since the region is conducive for spawning prawns.The region gets irrigation facility from the Jurala and Nettempadu irrigation projects. Completion of irrigation projects and releasing water from them into tanks proved to be a boon to the farmers.
It has facilitated the farmers to transform their parched lands into prawn ponds. Water availability has improved in the region because of the completion of the irrigation projects. Migrant farmers from Andhra Pradesh dug at least 50 to 60 prawn ponds in Vaddepalli, Rajoli, Gadwal, Itikyala, Maldakal and Tharur in just a year. They took wastelands from the local farmers on lease and developed them into prawn culture ponds. In fact, 200 families are engaged in the prawn culture.
On the basis of recommendation of fisheries’ department, the local farmers have been evincing keen interest in prawns culture. The projected yield from each pond will be two to three tonnes. Prawns are being raised in the ponds by feeding them on special feed and supplying oxygen to them through aerators. The projected revenue from pond is estimated at Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh.
Reversing the trend that was prevalent in the erstwhile Mahabubnagar district, many people migrated to Gadwal area to practise prawn culture. The investment on each pond works out to around Rs 4-5 lakh. The prawn culture farmers have been appealing to the Telangana government for insurance facility.
Assistant Director of the fisheries department, Lakshmappa, said the farmers who had earlier grown catfish and incurred losses are now inclined to take up prawn culture due to increased availability of water. Earlier, there was no water facility available. On account of Jurala and Nettempadu irrigation projects, even people from other states are making a beeline to the region to get involved in prawn culture.
By Nanda Kishore
