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Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has written to Union Ministers seeking policy and financial support for Andhra Pradesh's aquaculture and tobacco farmers.
Amaravati: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has written separate letters to Union Ministers seeking policy support and financial relief for Andhra Pradesh's aquaculture and tobacco sectors, urging the Centre to introduce measures to protect farmers, improve exports and strengthen the State's Blue Economy.
In a letter to Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh, the Chief Minister requested permission for shrimp feed manufacturers to import genetically modified (GM) soybean meal to address the sharp rise in feed production costs.
Naidu said soybean meal, a key ingredient in shrimp feed, has become significantly more expensive due to domestic shortages, placing heavy financial pressure on aqua farmers. He recalled that similar import permissions had been granted on a limited scale in 2021 and noted that increasing shrimp exports from Ecuador have intensified competition in global markets.
The Chief Minister also requested the establishment of a National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) Regional Office in Amaravati. He said the State has already allocated 7.89 acres of land at Nekkallu village for the proposed office, training centre, fisheries park and public aquarium, which would strengthen Andhra Pradesh's fisheries ecosystem.
In a separate letter to Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Naidu sought measures to protect the aquaculture sector by regulating fish meal exports and ensuring adequate domestic availability before permitting exports. He also reiterated the request to allow imports of GM soybean meal.
The Chief Minister further urged the Centre to extend RoDTEP benefits to unmanufactured FCV tobacco (HS Code 2401), stating that Indian exporters are at a disadvantage compared to competitors in countries such as Zimbabwe and Tanzania, where export incentives are available.
Writing to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Naidu sought a reduction in GST on aquaculture aerators from 18 percent to 5 percent and requested a one-time top-up of Rs.5 lakh under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme for aquaculture farmers.
He also proposed the creation of a Rs.100 crore corpus fund through the NFDB to strengthen domestic marketing of aquaculture products.
Additionally, the Chief Minister requested the Centre to reduce GST on unmanufactured tobacco (HSN Code 2401) from 40 percent to 28 percent, stating that the move would provide significant relief to lakhs of tobacco farmers, traders and exporters in Andhra Pradesh.
Naidu said the proposed measures would improve the competitiveness of the State's aquaculture and tobacco sectors, safeguard farmers' livelihoods and enhance export potential.
