Amid declining shrimp prices, the farmers from Gudur and Kota region have staged protests simultaneously at GMT, GVR, and Penver Products processing plants in Gudur mandal of SPSR Nellore district on Thursday.

“In the current situation, the processing plants and shrimp exporters have formed a syndicate to purchase tiger shrimp at reduced rates. The shrimp farmers staged protests demanding fair prices,” said Andhra Pradesh Shrimp Farmers’ Federation convener Duggineni Gopinath.

“While the price for 30-count tiger shrimp was ₹580 a month ago, they are currently being purchased for ₹430. Similarly, the price for 20-count shrimp has dropped to ₹570 at present from ₹730 a month ago,” he said.

“Shrimp farmers are currently in a state of uncertainty, lacking remunerative prices and unable to predict when traders will buy their produce or halt purchases,” Mr. Gopinath said, adding that the feed companies have hiked prices by an unprecedented ₹26 per kg.

Meanwhile, the managements of the shrimp processing plants have assured the shrimp farmers to hold a joint meeting in 2-3 days to discuss about remunerative prices. Nellore District Shrimp Farmers’ Federation leaders Danekula Jaganmohan Rao, Avula Manohar Reddy, and Nadendla Ravindra Babu, also participated in the protest.