Aquaculture for all

Aquaculture under white spot threat

INDIA - The burgeoning aquaculture in Ongole district now has a new enemy! The white spot disease! Low soil and water salinity levels in aqua ponds in the district are proving to be favourable for the viral proliferation and the incidence of white spot disease among the prawns. The white spot has been reported in the aquaculture tanks in Kothapatnam mandal.

The virus is known to spread very fast and engulf the whole aquaculture tank. Usually, emptying of the whole tank is the only way to curb the disease.

The aqua-culturists of Ongole are worried over the incidence of the viral disease. “We have already invested lakhs of rupees this year. All this would go waste if the prawns are afflicted by white spot,” said aqua-culturist from Kothapatnam B Venkata Raju.

Presently, the input cost per acre in aqua sector stands at Rs 50,000 and the prawn culture is being done in some 4000 acre in nine coastal mandals of Prakasam district. The farmers were expecting good returns this year in view of the low production rates in Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand and prospects of increased exports.

Source: NewIndExpress

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