*Fuel crisis hits Agriculture and aquaculture, farmers left in distress*

Tadepalli, April 27: YSRCP General Secretary (Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare) MVS Nagi Reddy criticised the coalition government over the emerging petrol and diesel crisis in the state, stating that while the government claims there is no shortage and attributes temporary gaps to panic buying, the ground reality is entirely different and alarming. He said diesel availability has dropped sharply across several districts, with many fuel stations displaying “No Stock” boards, forcing farmers to wait in long queues for hours and receive fuel in limited, rationed quantities, with supply reduced to nearly half in some places.

He said the shortage is severely impacting critical sectors like agriculture, transport, and aquaculture. Due to lack of diesel, tractors and harvesters are unable to operate, delaying crop harvesting, especially paddy, which could lead to yield losses and increased costs for farmers. He warned that disruptions in harvesting will also affect transportation. In the aquaculture sector, diesel is essential to run aerators and water pumps in shrimp and fish ponds, and even a few hours of interruption in aeration can cause significant losses, including the risk of large-scale fish and shrimp deaths due to reduced oxygen supply.

He further pointed out that nearly 4,000 tonnes of fish are transported daily from Krishna and Godavari regions to North and Northeast India, and this supply chain is now under strain due to the diesel shortage. Similarly, transportation of fruits to northern markets is also being affected. He demanded that the government immediately take corrective measures to restore normal fuel supply and prevent further damage to agriculture and allied sectors, warning that continued inaction will deepen the crisis for farmers and the rural economy.