Former Chief Minister and YSRCP President Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy launched a scathing attack on the coalition government for handing over the aqua sector to corporate syndicates and pushing lakhs of aqua farmers into severe financial distress. Addressing a large gathering after interacting with aqua farmers in Bhimavaram, YS Jagan declared that YSRCP would stand firmly with farmers and launch an agitation until justice is delivered and the syndicate controlling the sector is dismantled.
Farmers Forced to Sell Below Cost
YS Jagan said aqua farmers are producing shrimp at an average cost of ₹275 per kg, but are being forced to sell at around ₹230 per kg, making it impossible even to recover their investment. He said companies dealing in seed, feed and procurement have formed a syndicate that dictates prices, leaving farmers completely at their mercy. While feed companies arbitrarily increase prices, buyers depress procurement rates, ensuring that farmers suffer losses at both ends.
Coalition Protecting Syndicates, Not Farmers
He said the coalition government is protecting these syndicates instead of safeguarding farmers’ interests. Feed prices have increased by ₹16 per kg within four months, and the government’s reduction of just ₹2 per kg is merely eyewash. YS Jagan said the same anti-farmer attitude is visible across agriculture, where Minimum Support Price is not being ensured for any crop.
“We will continue to fight alongside farmers and intensify our agitation until they receive justice. Once we return to power, these syndicates will be dismantled,” he asserted.
YSRCP Created Regulatory Framework for Aqua Sector
Drawing a comparison with the previous YSRCP government, YS Jagan said his administration enacted the Andhra Pradesh State Aquaculture Development Authority Act to regulate the aqua sector, monitor prices and protect farmers from exploitation. The present government, he said, has rendered the Act ineffective while allowing feed prices to rise unchecked.
He recalled that the YSRCP government ensured remunerative prices for aqua produce, supplied electricity at ₹1.50 per unit, extended ₹3,306 crore in electricity subsidy over five years, and cleared ₹401 crore in unpaid dues left behind by the previous TDP government.
Support Systems Dismantled
YS Jagan said the previous government established 35 integrated aqua laboratories, deployed technical experts through Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs), and set up the Fisheries University at Narasapuram to strengthen scientific support for aqua farmers. He criticised the coalition government for shutting down the university, halting work on the medical college at Narasapuram, and abandoning critical support systems.
Power Crisis Worsening Farmers’ Distress
He said thousands of aqua farmers are unable to obtain electricity connections due to administrative delays. Around 12,000 applications for new power connections remain pending, transformers are not being supplied, and farmers are being forced to depend on expensive diesel generators. At the same time, the government is attempting to increase electricity charges through new power factor regulations, further increasing production costs.
Production and Exports Have Declined
YS Jagan said Andhra Pradesh witnessed significant growth in shrimp production and exports during the YSRCP government, whereas the sector is now witnessing decline because of anti-farmer policies and rising input costs. He assured aqua farmers that YSRCP would continue to fight alongside them until their livelihoods are protected and the sector is restored.
Pays Tribute to Mudragada Padmanabham
Before the meeting, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy paid floral tributes to the portrait of former Minister and senior YSRCP leader Mudragada Padmanabham in Bhimavaram.
