VIJAYAWADA: A sudden rise in the demand for fish and other aquaculture products following the rise in price of poultry and meat is helping farmers in Krishna district earn profits. The export of shrimp has also seen a rise with the relaxation of curfew.
Aquaculture occupies a major part of farming in Gudivada, Kaikaluru, Mudinepalli and other parts of the district near Kolleru lake. Fish and shrimp ponds are spread over an extent of 30,000 acres and two lakh families depend on aquaculture.
The district’s aquaculture industry recorded large losses on account of the sudden fall of exports with Covid-19. Farmers, who export to Kolkata, Delhi and northeastern states, dealt with the blow of a 60% reduction in exports.
Many discontinued cultivation of shrimp anticipating further losses. “We have a fish pond on seven acres at Kalidhindi. Our export business collapsed after the lockdown and we are getting poor prices in local markets. We have discontinued farming fish for a while,” M Raghava Raju, a farmer, told TOI.
But as the price of chicken touched Rs 280 per kilogram in local markets and mutton soared to Rs 750 per kilogram, there was a sudden demand for fish and prawns.
“Consumers who earlier purchased chicken and mutton are now asking for fish. This sudden demand again boosted aquaculture,” said N Chiranjeevi, a meat trader from Mahanti market.
