YSRCP Accuses Andhra Government of Pushing Aquaculture Sector Into Crisis

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has accused the ruling coalition government in Andhra Pradesh of pushing the aquaculture sector into a crisis by allegedly favouring feed manufacturers over farmers. The party cited rising input costs, electricity charges and inadequate subsidies as major concerns affecting the livelihoods of aquaculture farmers.

Speaking to the media in Tadepalligudem on Friday, YSRCP coordinator Vaddi Raghuram alleged that the government was attempting to weaken the Andhra Pradesh State Aquaculture Development Authority (APSAADA), introduced during former chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s tenure to protect farmers' interests.

Raghuram demanded that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu disclose the names of three aquaculture farmers reportedly appointed to a government committee. He also questioned when and where consultations had been held with them, alleging that the government was working in the interests of a few companies rather than small farmers.

According to Raghuram, aqua feed prices had increased by ₹27 over six months, while the government was offering a subsidy of just ₹1.50. He also sought an explanation for the withdrawal of electricity concessions in June and July, claiming that the move had added to farmers' financial difficulties. Tenant farmers, he said, were particularly affected by rising cultivation costs and crop breaks.

Raghuram further claimed that the previous YSRCP government had provided ₹3.60 crore in subsidies to the aquaculture sector and vowed to intensify the party's agitation to protect farmers.

The allegations follow similar criticism by YSRCP leaders in September. Former MLA and West Godavari district party president Mudunuri Prasada Raju alleged that feed prices had been increased four times since the coalition government took office.

He claimed that a tonne of aqua feed, which cost around ₹80,000 during the election period, now costs ₹1.20 lakh. He also alleged that farmers continued to face power factor and overload charges despite the government's claims of providing subsidised electricity.

The YSRCP has threatened legal action and statewide protests if the government fails to address farmers' concerns. The opposition's allegations have brought renewed attention to rising production costs and the financial pressures facing Andhra Pradesh's aquaculture sector. The claims were not independently verified in the information available.