*Roll back Aqua Feed Prices, Protect Farmers: Vaddi Raghuram*

Tadepalligudem, June 17: Former APSADA Vice Chairman and Tadepalligudem YSRCP Coordinator Vaddi Raghuram demanded that the coalition government immediately roll back the steep hike in aqua feed prices and prove its commitment to aqua farmers. He said that whenever feed prices were increased during the Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy government, they were rolled back immediately, with prices reduced on three separate occasions to protect farmers. He questioned why feed prices had now been increased by Rs.10 per kg for Vannamei feed and Rs.12 per kg for Tiger feed, and asked the government to explain the burden imposed on farmers through what he termed the “CBN Tax” and “Lokesh Tax.” He said the government must disclose how many thousands of crores changed hands behind the feed price hike and immediately reverse the increase if it has nothing to hide.

Raghuram said YSRCP has been consistently fighting for aqua farmers, who believe only Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy can secure justice for the sector. He pointed out that feed prices were never reduced when soybean and other raw material costs declined, but were sharply increased now under the pretext of higher input costs and the fishing ban period, pushing the aqua sector into crisis. He also criticised the government’s failure to honour its promise of supplying power at Rs.1.50 per unit to all aqua farmers irrespective of aqua or non-aqua zones, stating that GO No.169, particularly Clause 4 relating to the Power Factor requirement, has become a major threat to thousands of farmers who cannot comply with industrial-level standards. Recalling that the Jagan government brought 50,800 connections under subsidy, cleared Rs.330 crore in pending electricity dues, and intervened to roll back feed price hikes by multinational companies, he said the coalition government must protect farmers instead of corporate interests and immediately withdraw the increased feed prices.