N. Chandrababu Naidu Writes to Centre Over Aqua Export Crisis!

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has written to Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal highlighting the severe crisis faced by aqua farmers and shrimp exporters in the state. The Chief Minister stated that the 50% tariff imposed by the United States on shrimp exports has increased the overall tax burden on Indian exports to nearly 60%, badly impacting aqua exports from Andhra Pradesh. He warned that exports worth nearly ₹25,000 crore are at risk, affecting around 2.5 lakh aqua farmer families and more than 30 lakh workers dependent on the sector.

Chandrababu Naidu also informed the Centre that domestic aqua product prices have already fallen by 20-25%. He requested measures such as increasing working capital limits by 30%, providing a 240-day moratorium on interest payments, and offering temporary exemptions from 5% interest and 5% GST. The CM further urged the Centre to explore alternative export markets including Russia, the European Union, and Australia, while also requesting special railway services for shrimp transportation and expansion of Kisan Credit Card limits for aqua farmers. In another letter to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, he sought a ₹100 crore corpus fund for a Prawn Producers Coordination Committee and the establishment of an additional Regional Fisheries Institute in Andhra Pradesh.