Vannamei shrimp farmers in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh are facing another financial challenge as feed prices increase, adding to production costs at a time when farmers are already dealing with lower output and uncertain returns.
The price revisions have added pressure on farmers who are managing rising input expenses, weather-related production challenges and disease risks. With feed being one of the major recurring costs in shrimp farming, even a small increase can significantly affect the overall cost of a culture cycle.
Feed Price Revisions Increase Production Costs
The reported price revisions cover different shrimp feed categories. The comparison shows increases ranging from ₹10 to ₹20 per bag, depending on the feed type and category.
| Feed category | Feed type | Previous price | Revised price |
| Category 1 | 1, 2 | ₹90 | ₹110 |
| Category 1 | 3, 3S, 4, 4S | ₹95 | ₹115 |
| Category 2 | 1, 2, 3 | ₹90 | ₹100 |
| Category 2 | 3S, 4, 4S | ₹100 | ₹115 |
Note: The source material does not clearly specify the pricing unit.
For farmers purchasing feed regularly throughout a culture cycle, these increases can add considerably to their total expenditure.
Farmers Already Facing Multiple Challenges
The feed price increase comes amid concerns over production challenges linked to changing weather conditions and El Niño-related impacts. Disease risks can further increase expenditure on health management and other farm inputs.
When shrimp growth, survival or production is affected, recovering the initial investment becomes more difficult. Uncertainty in farm-gate prices and export demand can also make it harder for farmers to secure profitable returns.
Rising Costs Could Affect Farming Decisions
Feed is one of the major recurring expenses in intensive shrimp farming. Any sustained increase directly affects production costs, particularly for farmers operating on tight margins.
With production challenges and uncertain market returns already affecting farmer confidence, rising input costs could influence decisions on stocking and taking up new culture cycles.
For shrimp farmers in Srikakulam and other aquaculture regions, maintaining a balance between feed costs, shrimp growth, survival rates and farm-gate prices remains essential for profitable farming.
