Prawn cultivation suffers rude jolt

Bhimavaram: Prawn cultivation, which is providing about Rs 10,000 crore revenue to the government, has suffered a big jolt in West Godavari district. The crop area came down to a meager 20,000 acres from 80,000 acres previous year.

The farmers and traders have been showing different reasons for the fall in cultivated area. The increase in price of feed and technology increased 30 per cent burden on the farmer. Rise in diesel price is another major reason for fall in investments this year.

The farmers have suffered bad weather condition in the recent past which prevented them from going ahead with the cultivation this season. The cost of the seed has dropped in an unprecedented manner. The inferior quality seed caused a dent in investment. 

The seed was dying within 20 days. The cost of the seed ranged from 30 to 40 paise during February. Now it was dropped to 18 paise. 

Some of the hatcheries have to attract the farmer with free offer of one lakh seed for purchase of every one lakh seed. In spite of such offers, farmers are reluctant to buy.

The price of popular variety of prawn saw a fall of Rs 100 to Rs 50 during the past three months. As a result, many farmers are not ready to invest in the prawn culture again.