Andhra Pradesh’s ambitious development agenda faces a significant external challenge as the United States has imposed a steep 60% tariff on Indian shrimp exports, a move that could severely disrupt the State’s aquaculture industry.
Addressing the Collectors’ Conference on Monday, Special Chief Secretary of Agriculture Budithi Rajasekhar warned that shrimp farmers and exporters are under mounting pressure and urged district-level interventions to mitigate the impact. He noted that nearly 40% of shrimp cultivation costs are tied to feed and suggested measures to reduce expenses by at least 6%. He also raised concerns about rising antibiotic use, calling for strict monitoring to protect the credibility of Andhra’s exports in global markets.
Industry Day
Alongside agriculture, the State is making strong industrial and infrastructural strides. Industries Secretary Dr. N. Yuvaraj announced that every Tuesday will now be observed as “Industry Day,” modelled on grievance redressal programmes, to expedite project approvals and resolve bottlenecks. Since June 2024, 122 projects worth ₹10.06 lakh crore have been cleared, with defence and aerospace clusters planned across Vizag, NTR, Kurnool, Anantapur, and Prakasam districts.
