Inauguration of AOC at Karlapallem, Guntur District

9 June 2021.

TheAqua One Centre (AOC) in Karlapallem, Guntur District was inaugurated virtually by Shri A. S. Dinesh Kumar, IAS, Joint Collector (RB & R) & Addl. Magistrate, Guntur Dist on behalf of Sri Vivek Yadav, I.A.S, Hon’ble Collector and District Magistrate, Guntur District in the presence of Shri K. S. Srinivas, IAS, Hon’ble Chairman, MPEDA & President, NaCSA on 09-06-2021 at 17.00 Hrs. Shri P. Suresh Kumar, Joint Director of Fisheries, I/C, Guntur joined in the virtual inaugural programme. Shri K. Shanmukha Rao, CEO, NaCSA welcomed all the dignitaries to the virtual inauguration of AOC at Karlapallem, Guntur Dist.

Felicitations were done by Dr. M. Karthikeyan, Director & Shri K S Pradeep, Secretary, MPEDA HO, Shri Sykem Bhaskar Rao & Shri Chapalla Ramanaiah, NaCSA GC Members.

Shri Dhirit Ekka, Dy. CEO thanked all the participants for attending the inauguration of AOC in Karlapallem, Guntur Dist.

During the programme, Hon’ble Chairman, MPEDA & President, NaCSA delivered his presidential address and discussed on the importance of AOC in Karlapallem. He mentioned on the tiger prawn culture in Nijampatnam area. He informed that NaCSA established and inaugurated the 20th AOC in Karlapallem for the benefit of small aqua farmers. He urged that the farmers in and around this AOC will be benefitted. He advised all the aqua farmers to use the facility of AOC which is having modern equipments for analysis of soil/water and animal health. He also informed to Joint Collector, Guntur Dist to cooperate in the future programmes to be taken up by MPEDA in Guntur Dist.

Guntur District is well developed in Fisheries with Resources of Fishery wealth in Marine, Brackish Water, Reservoir and Inland Fisheries. The district is blessed with a total brackish/inland water area of 2622 Ha (2330 WSA) with 3348 farmers and the aquaculture exists in 08 Mandals.

NaCSA is holding 73 Societies with 1570 farmers with Water Spread Area (WSA) of 1414.84 Ha and 2781 ponds in 08 Mandals of Guntur Dist. The AOC in Karlapallem covers 25 Aqua societies and there are 525 farmers with a total WSA of 410 Hectares. With the establishment of AOC in Karlapallem, the major farming areas of 04 Mandals (Baptla, Karlapallem, Pitlavanipallem & Nijampatnam) and under these Mandals 20 villages will be covered. NaCSA will provide complete farm level analysis on water quality and to cover major chunk of Aqua farmers both inland and brackish water areas thus reduces the cost of production with right advisory inputs during culture. The establishment of AOC will also increase the efficiency of farms by monitoring their ponds, seed and water quality from stocking to harvest at regular intervals for high survival rate and better production under Continuous Pond Monitoring Programme (CPMP).