With longest coast line and promising aqua products, AP remains strong in the aqua even in these lockdown season. Despite the lockdown, the aqua culture remains strong in the Godavari districts, thanks to the special reviews held by chief minister Jaganmohan Reddy in the last fortnight to stand by the aqua farmers.
The government has exported 1530 MT of aqua products as on Friday besides opening 56 aqua processing units and has come to the rescue of fisheries sector for export in the hour of crisis arising out of COVID-19 pandemic.
Aqua products are being exported thorough Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, and Krishnapatnam ports. As on April 3, 1530 MT of products are shipped at these ports and 270MT shipped on Friday.
Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Development Mopidevi Venkataramana has requested farmers not to believe the fake information on the export of aqua products.
He stated that the government is very clear on ensuring farmers’ safety and there would no loss for farmers. He further asked the shrimp farmers not to go for distress sale.
Any decision or announcement related to the department will be given only by the concerned officials.
The Minister said that district-wise processing units are now open in Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Prakasam, and Nellore districts and nodal officers are appointed to monitor the situation.
They are directly interacting with farmers, people and collecting data of workers to ensure that the processing work should not be halted, he added.
Minister assured shrimp farmers that no one would be in loss and shrimps will be purchased at the price fixed by the government and will be exported.
So far, 803 metric tonnes of shrimps were purchased through the price fixed by the government and the system would be streamlined in another two days, Minister said.