The Prakasam district Prawn Farmers Association in India has raised urgent concerns regarding the quality of black tiger prawn seed supplied by local hatcheries. In a recent meeting held at their office in Ongole, the association called on the government and officials to intervene and provide compensation for the losses incurred by the farmers.

Shift from Whiteleg to Black Tiger

Association president Duggineni Gopinath highlighted that prawn farming is a significant agricultural activity in the district, with about 27,000 acres under cultivation. For over five years, the farmers had been cultivating whiteleg shrimp. However, due to substantial losses, they shifted to black tiger prawn farming over the past two years, covering 12,000 acres.

This summer, the supplied black tiger prawn seeds failed to grow, resulting in severe financial losses for the farmers. As the monsoon season approaches, farmers are preparing their ponds for the next cultivation cycle. However, the quality of the seed remains a critical issue, leaving them uncertain about their next steps.

Call for Government Intervention

Duggineni Gopinath demanded that the government take immediate action to halt the distribution of inferior quality seeds by hatcheries. He emphasized the need for the government to ensure the availability of high-quality prawn seeds and to provide compensation to farmers for their losses from the previous season.

In addition to addressing seed quality issues, Gopinath requested that officials guarantee a support price of INR 240 (USD 2.87) for 100 counts of whiteleg shrimp. This support would help stabilize the farmers’ income and encourage sustainable prawn farming practices in the district.