Latest news with #DuggineniGopinath
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Prawn farmers demand lower power tariff in Andhra Pradesh
ONGOLE: Representatives of the South Coastal Districts Prawn Farmers Associations on Tuesday urged the Andhra Pradesh Government to supply power at Rs 1.50 per unit and cut prawn feed prices by Rs 15/kg to offset losses from high US tariffs. At a meeting in Prakasam district, chaired by association president Duggineni Gopinath, farmers sought MSPs for Vannami (Rs 250 for 100 count, Rs 400 for 30 count) and Tiger prawns (Rs 470 for 30 count), with the government paying the difference if buyers fall short. They also demanded lower chemical prices, inclusion of prawns in government-run institutions' menus, domestic market allocation, subsidies on bank loans, mini-processing units, and new export markets.
Hans India
7 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Prawn farmers seek govt help
Ongole: The leaders of prawn farmers' associations from the south coastal districts have demanded that the government supply electricity at Rs 1.50 per unit, reduce the price of soy feed by Rs 15 per kg, and immediately take measures to rescue them from the tariffs imposed by Trump. The district leaders of the prawn farmers from Tirupati, Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, Guntur, and Krishna met in Ongole on Tuesday, as Prakasam district Prawn Farmers Association president Duggineni Gopinath presided over the meeting. They discussed the plight of prawn farmers and the effect of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on India, and passed resolutions. Observing the reduction in price of soy and other raw materials used to manufacture feed for the prawns, the farmers demanded that the government see the companies reduce at least Rs 15 per kg in the price of the feed, and supply electricity to all prawn ponds at Rs 1.50 per unit. They demanded an MSP of Rs 250 per 100 count Vanamai prawns, Rs 400 per 30 count Vanamai, Rs 470 per 30 count of Tiger prawns, and provide a bonus if the exporters didn't pay the price. They also asked the government to introduce prawns in the menu of meals at government schools, hostels, and Anganwadi centres. The farmers also demanded that the government ensure that about 30 percent of the prawns procured by exporters are sold in local markets, provide loans at a 50 percent subsidy to establish processing units, and encourage exports to Australia, South Korea, and European countries to reduce dependency on the US and China. The Prawn Farmers Association state vice-president, K Srinath Reddy, assistant secretary, M Venkateswara Rao, presidents, secretaries, and leaders from the district associations also participated in the meeting.
The Hindu
12-08-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Andhra Pradesh shrimp farmers seek govt. support amid export tariff woes
In a joint meeting held in Ongole on Tuesday, shrimp farmers' associations from Tirupati, Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, Guntur, and Krishna districts urged the Andhra Pradesh government to step in and address pressing challenges facing the aquaculture sector. Prakasam District Shrimp Farmers Association president Duggineni Gopinath highlighted that the sector has been hit hard since former U.S. President Donald Trump increased tariffs on Indian shrimp imports. 'Nearly 40% of our exports go to the U.S., and the increased tariff has severely hurt our earnings,' he said. Gopinath appealed to the State government to provide 50% subsidy on bank loans for setting up mini processing plants. He also suggested including shrimp in the food menus of social welfare hostels and anganwadi centres to boost domestic consumption. The farmer leaders demanded a minimum support price (MSP) of ₹470 per kg for 30-count tiger prawns and ₹400 per kg for 30-count Vannamei shrimp. They also sought uninterrupted power supply at ₹1.50 per unit without additional charges, and urged feed companies to lower prices by at least ₹15 per kg. Resolving to diversify their markets, the farmers said they will focus more on domestic sales and explore exports to South Korea and European countries, rather than depending solely on the U.S. and China.
Hans India
16-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Prawn farmers demand cut in electricity, feed prices
Ongole: Prakasam district committee of Prawn Farmers Association demanded that the state government reduce the electricity charges for the prawn farmers to Rs 1.50 per unit, and see the companies reduce the feed price as the cost of the raw material, soybean, has reduced in the market. The association president, Duggineni Gopinath presided over the district committee meeting held at their office here on Tuesday. The members discussed the conditions and situations of prawn cultivation in the district and the state. They observed that, although there are about 1,800 farmers in prawn cultivation, only 1,000 of them are receiving the subsidised electricity. They found that the 800-plus farmers are denied the benefit because they cultivate the prawns in more than 10 acres, or the DKT or the Darkast lands, and they are suffering from the high cost of cultivation. The members also found that the feed companies, which are expected to reduce the price following the reduction of the soy price in the market, misled the government. They said the companies reduced the MRP printed on the feed bag by Rs 9, but are charging the farmers the full amount. Regarding the market, the members mentioned that the price of 40-Count and 30-Count Black Tiger prawns was reduced by Rs 100 per kilo in just one month, leaving them in losses. The farmers' leaders said that due to the inferior quality, nearly half of the Black Tiger Prawns seed supplied to them didn't grow into prawns. The burden of electricity charges, the cost of feed, and the reduction of the price of prawns by the time the crop is available are making the farmers suffer huge losses. The leaders demanded that the government take measures to provide the electrical subsidies to the farmers who are cultivating the prawns in more than 10 acres and the DKT lands, and instruct the companies to reduce the price of the feed as per the soy price. The committee made a resolution to meet the officials and the public representatives from the district to explain their grievances and seek their support in convincing the government. The association general secretary K Subbareddy, honorary president Pamidi Subbanayudu, vice-president Singamneni Anjibabu, Ch Ravanaiah, Ramesh Reddy, Venugopal Reddy, and other leaders from Ongole, Tangutur, Singarayakonda, and Kothapatnam also participated in the meeting.
