AP takes up resurvey of non-aqua zones

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh government has taken up a resurvey of non-aqua zones to bring them under aqua zones, based on feasibility, so as to enhance the area falling under aquaculture and give a boost to aqua production in the state.

The government is ready to ensure proper water availability, drainage connectivity, and transportation of seed, feed and produce, without causing any environmental issues. The resurvey on non-aqua zones has to be completed by Feb. 10.

At present, AP has over two lakh hectares under aquaculture mainly in erstwhile Krishna, West Godavari and East Godavari. The resurvey is expected to add more hectares to the existing area under aquaculture.

The government has noted that a good number of farmers involved in agriculture have started leasing out their lands for aquaculture, as cultivation of crops has not been remunerative for them anymore. Such farmers are getting an income of Rs.50,000 to Rs.1 lakh or even Rs.2 lakh per acre. With the money earned thus, the farmers hope to do some business.

As this practice is causing the shrinkage of lands meant for the cultivation of crops, this is causing a lot of environmental issues. Based on the resurvey, whatever lands are suitable for aquaculture would be brought under aqua zones by following certain procedures. This would help landowners or farmers to take up aquaculture, contribute their share for the state’s total aqua production and help increase the export potential from AP.

Moreover, the size of agricultural landholdings is shrinking due to the distribution of property from one generation to another. Cultivation in small landholdings is also becoming unviable. These can be pooled together to do aquaculture in a big way.

The state government has issued orders on the procedures to be adopted for bringing non-aqua zones into aqua zones at multiple levels. Finally, the details pertaining to the extent of the area and their owners would be published in the district gazette.

Krishna fisheries joint director Srinivasa Rao said, “In Krishna district alone, aquaculture is being taken up in over 86,000 acres as per an e-fish survey. We are taking up the resurvey on non-aqua zones to bring them under aqua zones based on certain criteria. Other districts too are doing this. We are expecting that this would help add more area for aquaculture.”