Govt tackling ‘White Gut’ with top priority: Minister

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Andhra Pradesh Minister for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Kinjarapu Atchannaidu has said the state government is giving top priority to safeguarding the interests of aquaculture farmers following reports of ‘White Gut’ disease symptoms in shrimp farms across several parts of the state. Fisheries Department officials inspected a shrimp pond belonging to farmer P. Manoj Varma at Mahadevipatnam in Undi mandal of West Godavari district. Similar field inspections are underway in other aquaculture regions across the state.

Atchannaidu directed officials to conduct surprise inspections at both registered and unregistered hatcheries and private aquaculture laboratories. The minister warned that the government would take stringent legal and departmental action against those involved in the sale of poor-quality shrimp seed, substandard feed, fake laboratory reports, or violations of aquaculture regulations. Appealing to farmers, Atchannaidu urged them to buy certified seed only from approved hatcheries, stock ponds according to their carrying capacity, and maintain proper records of seed purchases.

The minister also stressed the importance of strict biosecurity measures, including drying ponds after every crop, removing sludge, applying lime, and undertaking disinfection to eliminate disease-causing organisms. He said officials have been instructed to ensure that farmers adopt the best management practices recommended by the Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA).

The government has also decided to coordinate with leading scientific institutions, including the State Institute of Fisheries Technology, NASPAD, Andhra Pradesh Fisheries University, MPEDA, CIBA, and the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, to strengthen scientific monitoring and disease management. Updated standard operating procedures (SOPs) will be prepared, while students from the Fisheries University will conduct awareness campaigns at the village level.