VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has appealed to the central government for urgent measures to rescue the State’s aqua sector, crippled by steep US tariffs on shrimp exports.
In letters addressed to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Naidu highlighted the severe economic fallout affecting 2.5 lakh aqua farmer families and 30 lakh people dependent on related industries in the state.
Andhra Pradesh, a leader in India’s aquaculture, accounts for 80% of the country’s royal (vannamei) shrimp exports and 34% of marine product exports, valued at Rs 21,246 crore annually.
However, US tariffs imposed since April 2025 have led to an estimated Rs 25,000 crore in losses, with 50% of export orders canceled and a Rs 600 crore tariff burden on 2,000 containers. The crisis threatens the livelihoods of millions, particularly in the Godavari districts, where aqua farming is a key economic driver.
Naidu proposed immediate relief measures, including a 240-day moratorium on loan interest for aqua exporters and companies, a temporary waiver of the 5% GST on frozen shrimp, and interest subsidies to ease financial strain.
To reduce reliance on the US market, he urged the Commerce Ministry to pursue free trade agreements with countries like the European Union, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Russia, noting exporters’ readiness to supply seafood to EU nations.
To bolster domestic consumption, Naidu requested a Rs 100 crore corpus fund to establish cold storage facilities and hygienic fish markets. He also proposed dedicated trains to transport aqua products from South India to northern markets and awareness campaigns to promote seafood’s nutritional benefits.
Currently, per capita fish consumption in India is 12-13 kg annually, far below the recommended 20-30 kg. Additionally, he sought one-time loans of up to Rs 1 lakh for fishermen through Kisan Credit Cards and the establishment of regional ICAR-CIBA and ICAR-NBFGR offices in Andhra Pradesh.
The state government has already reduced aqua feed prices by Rs 9 per kg and is planning subsidized transformer supplies. Naidu emphasized that coordinated efforts between the state and central governments are critical to stabilizing the aqua sector and preventing further economic distress for millions of stakeholders.