The government has assured to take all the steps for giving a major fillip to the growth of aquaculture in the State considering the fact that its contributions play a key role in the overall growth rate of the State. Agriculture Minister Prathipati Pulla Rao, who took part as chief guest at the inauguration of a shrimp feed plant at the BMR Industries at Damavaram village in Dagadarthi mandal in the district on Saturday, told the aqua farmers that all the necessary support would be given to them for developing aquaculture in a big way. Mr. Pulla Rao also mentioned the need for considering aquaculture as part of the agriculture sector because of the fact that a large number of farmers were entering this sector. Water Resources Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, Transport Minister Sidda Raghava Rao, Municipal Administration Minister P. Narayana, MLCs Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy and Beeda Ravichandra, and others were present on the occasion. Stating that the shrimp feed plant was set up at a cost of Rs. 129 crore, Mr. Pulla Rao said that this would be very much helpful to meet the growing requirements of aquaculture in the region. There were about 39,000 aqua farmers who have been actively involved in the sector making large contributions to its growth. The Ministers had an interaction with the aqua farmers at the venue when several issues and problems concerning this sector were brought before the government. Outdated power lines Several farmers raised the issue of outdated power lines causing problems to the aqua culture ponds. In some areas, there are power lines which were erected around 1991 or so. The Ministers assured to look into the matter and issue directions for solving the problem. Pulla Rao inaugurates shrimp feed plant set up at a cost of Rs. 129 crore at Damavaram.
2016, The Hindu