With exports hit, aqua farmers in Andhra Pradesh turn to domestic markets to sell produce

A trader selling shrimp and other seafood at a fish market in Vijayawada on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: G.N. RAO

With the seafood exports badly hit following the announcement of tariff hike by the U.S., shrimp farmers have diverted the produce to the domestic markets.

Huge quantity of shrimp and other seafood products were seen in the markets on Sunday. At some places, aqua farmers were seen selling the produce directly to avoid losses.

In some districts, farmers reportedly sold the stocks to middlemen, who in turn sold them in the local markets at a lesser price.

“The price of 80-count shrimp is sold at prices ranging between ₹180 and ₹200 per kg, while the 60-70 count variety is fetching between ₹225 and ₹250 in the market,” said K. Srivalli, a consumer who visited the fish market in Vijayawada.

“As exports to the U.S. have stopped, there has been a fall in prices for the last three days with a cascading effect in the local markets as well,” said Adinarayana, a vendor.

Traders were seen selling prawns, crabs and other seafood varieties, which arrived from different places, in the local markets at low prices. Similar situation prevailed in Eluru, Bhimavaram, Narsapuram, Machilipatnam, Avanigadda and other places.

“I raised Vannamei in about four acres and I am ready to harvest the crop. But due to the rise in duty, exports from Andhra Pradesh are badly hit and the prices declined causing huge losses,” said a farmer, Srikanth, of Eluru district.

“We cannot store the produce for a long time. But due to the developments in the international market, exports have been stoppped, creating panic among the farmers and the exporters in the State,” said an export agent.