Rise in shrimp feed prices leaves aqua farmers in deep waters in Andhra Pradesh
Aqua farmers in Andhra Pradesh are facing financial distress due to a significant increase in the price of shrimp feed. The rising costs are shrinking profit margins for thousands of farmers across the state's aquaculture belt.
Why it matters
Aquaculture is a major driver of the rural economy in Andhra Pradesh; rising input costs threaten the livelihoods of thousands of farmers.
It is 4.30 a.m. and long before the dawn broke, John Raju, an aqua farmer from a village near Palacole in the West Godavari district, wakes up to an alarm buzz and peeps out anxiously from his bedroom window into his backyard. He then heads out hurriedly towards his shrimp pond and walks along its embankment, with aerator machines making a constant whirring sound. They have been running through the night.
The article focuses on the economic challenges faced by farmers and provides context on the industry's importance.
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