N. Chandrababu Naidu has urged the Centre to take steps to protect aquaculture farmers as rising shrimp feed prices
May 17, 2026: N. Chandrababu Naidu has written to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan seeking measures to support aquaculture farmers affected by rising shrimp feed prices. During a review meeting chaired by Special Chief Secretary B Rajasekhar at the Secretariat in Amaravati, the Andhra Pradesh government decided to appeal to the Centre on issues such as incentives for fish meal exports and restrictions on soy imports to protect farmers’ interests.
Officials said the meeting reviewed the impact of feed price hikes on the aquaculture sector and the growing difficulties faced by shrimp farmers across the state. Fisheries Commissioner Ramashankar Naik briefed officials on shrimp production, feed consumption and proposed price increases by manufacturing companies. Scientists from the Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture said the prices of raw materials like soy, fish meal and fish oil had risen sharply between January and May 2026, increasing feed manufacturing costs by around ₹31 per kilogram.
Feed manufacturers claimed that rising raw material prices had added nearly ₹25,000 per tonne to production costs and sought an increase of ₹25 to ₹31 per kilogram in feed prices. However, farmer representatives opposed the hike, alleging that companies do not reduce prices when raw material costs fall. Farmers also demanded continuation of existing feed prices for at least two more months and requested subsidised electricity for licensed aquaculture farms. Officials further proposed introducing a monthly feed price mechanism and a system to revise shrimp procurement prices every 15 days to protect farmers from market fluctuations.