Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday, 15 July launched a sharp attack on the state's coalition government, accusing it of driving the aquaculture sector into crisis through what he called anti-farmer policies that benefit a corporate syndicate at the expense of fish and shrimp farmers.

The Distress in the Aqua Sector

Addressing aqua farmers at Bhimavaram in West Godavari district, Jagan Mohan Reddy cited a stark cost-price mismatch: while the cost of production for aqua farmers stands at ₹275 per kg, the price they receive in the market is only ₹230 per kg — a shortfall that leaves farmers unable to recover their investment. He alleged that companies controlling seeds, feed, and procurement have formed a syndicate to manipulate both input costs and buying prices against farmers' interests.

The former Chief Minister further alleged that aqua feed prices were raised by ₹16 within just four months under the current administration. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's subsequent reduction of ₹2 per unit, he said, was 'a pittance' that did nothing to address the underlying crisis.

Jagan's Allegations Against the Coalition

Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged that the syndicate of aqua-sector companies comprises Telugu Desam Party (TDP) sympathisers who are being shielded by the party's leadership. He claimed the coalition has set aside the regulatory framework established under the Andhra Pradesh State Aquaculture Development Authority Act — legislation his government had enacted to monitor prices and guarantee assured returns to farmers.

He also alleged that approximately 12,000 pending applications for new power connections remain unresolved, forcing farmers to run generators at higher cost. Naidu, he claimed, is also attempting to hike power charges through 'power factor' regulations, adding to farmers' financial burden.

What the YSRCP Government Did, According to Jagan

Contrasting the current administration with his own tenure, Jagan said the YSRCP government had ensured Minimum Support Price (MSP) for aqua produce, supplied power to aqua farmers at ₹1.50 per unit, and paid ₹3,306 crore in subsidies over five years. It also cleared ₹401 crore in power dues left by the previous Chandrababu-led government, he claimed.

He added that his government had set up integrated labs across 35 aqua regions, stationed trained personnel at Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs) to guide farmers, and established a Fisheries University at Narasapuram — which he alleged the current government has shut down, also halting work on a medical college there.

YSRCP's Agitation Pledge

'Not just aqua but all farmers are being cheated by the coalition government, and MSP is not being given to any of the crops as Chandrababu is anti-farmer,' Jagan Mohan Reddy said. He assured aqua farmers that the YSRCP would continue to raise the issue and pursue agitation 'till farmers get their due.' He also pledged that if the party returned to power, it would dismantle the syndicates operating in the sector.

Shrimp and prawn production and exports, he claimed, rose during the YSRCP's tenure but are now declining under the present administration's policies. With assembly elections on the horizon, Jagan's Bhimavaram outreach signals that the aqua sector — a critical livelihood base in coastal Andhra — is set to be a central battleground for the opposition.