Defective seed supplied by some of the unauthorised hatcheries is posing a serious threat to the culture of vannamei shrimp in Andhra Pradesh, and it is imperative that the State Government take the requisite steps for supply of quality seed, according to many aqua farmers who participated in the Aqua Aquaria 2015 which concluded here on Sunday.

Most of the farmers' representatives, including K. Narayana, Member of Parliament from Machilipatnam and himself an aqua farmer, said as there were no quarantive facilities in the State the brood stock was being imported from the USA through Chennai port. Therefore, on a priority basis, quarantine facilities should be set up and also brood stock multiplication centres for supply of quality seed. Otherwise, they said, vannamei shrimp culture would face the same problems as the monodon (tiger shrimp) faced some years ago in the State.

The farmers also said the applications for digging new aqua ponds were not being cleared speedily and there were too many procedural hassles. They should be addressed.

The seafood industry representatives wanted fisheries colleges and also a university in the State, as there was a huge dearth of skilled personnel in the sector. Viswanadha Raju, of the Ananda Group at Bhimavaram in West Godavari district, said he would even offer land for setting up fisheries university. "We are setting up an aqua park at Bhimavaram at an initial investment of Rs 356 crore. It is coming up in 60 acres," he said.

The need for providing more finance for the sector and insurance facilities was also highlighted by many speakers. Several speakers also said the MPEDA should offer more incentives to farmers and processors in the State.

sarma.rs@thehindu.co.in

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