YSRCP farmers’ wing working president Vaddi Raghuram on Sunday (April 13) slammed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government for giving more support to aqua-feed firms than to aqua farmers.
Addressing a press conference at the party office at Tadepalli near here, Mr. Raghuram said most seed and feed firms in the State are owned by leaders of the alliance parties. While raw material prices dropped to a fourth, feed-price reduction has been negligible.
For instance, the price of soy—a major raw material in aquafeed—has dropped from ₹100 a kg to ₹25 a kg, but the government cut the feed price by just ₹4 a kg.
Instead of cutting the feed prices by at least a fourth, the government hiked it by ₹6.50 a kg, citing increased import tariffs. When former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy lambasted the government’s lopsided policy, it hurriedly cut the prices by just ₹4, instead of at least ₹15 a kg.
The Aqua Empowerment Committee, set up by the previous YSRCP government to review seed, feed and product prices weekly, stabilise prices and restrict arbitrary hikes, was disbanded after the alliance came to power.
Now, the NDA government has formed a committee with representatives from companies aligned with them—processing plants, hatcheries and feed units. “How does such a committee protect the interests of aqua farmers?” he asked.
Published – April 13, 2025 08:20 pm IST