An Economic Assessment of Fish and Prawn Health Management in Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

The assessment of physical and financial losses due to incidence of diseases in aquaculture is essential to strengthen the socio-economic status of fish farmers. This study has been conducted in four districts (Nellore, West Godavari, East Godavari, and Prakasham) of Andhra Pradesh which ranks first in the production of freshwater prawn and second in freshwater fish in India. The study is based on a survey of 120 fish farmers who owned small ( 10 acres) culture ponds. The study has elicited the geographic profile of fish farmers, aqua inputs, fish and prawn diseases, health management costs, and physical and financial losses in carp and prawn production systems in Andhra Pradesh. The study has revealed that health management costs are higher in prawn than those in carps production systems. The physical and financial losses were higher in prawn than carps culture systems. The study has made suggestions to minimize health management costs and losses in aquaculture in Andhra Pradesh.