Andhra CM writes to Centre over crises faced by aquaculture, tobacco farmers
GST
Dated:- 18-5-2026
PTI
Amaravati, May 17 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has written to Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Nirmala Sitharaman over issues affecting aquaculture and tobacco farmers in the state.
The chief minister said in the letter that the tariff imposed by the United States on shrimp imports from India is resulting in nearly a 60 per cent tax burden on Indian exports, severely impacting aqua products exported from Andhra Pradesh.
“The tariff burden on shrimp exports is severely affecting aquaculture farmers and exporters in Andhra Pradesh and putting exports worth nearly Rs 25,000 crore at risk,” Naidu sa
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orarily exempting five per cent interest and five per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Naidu urged the Centre to hold discussions with the United States for the reduction of tariffs and take steps to increase exports to alternative markets such as Russia, the European Union and Australia.
The Chief Minister further requested the Central government to include shrimp in the food menu of the Indian Armed Forces, enhance the Kisan Credit Card limit to Rs 1 lakh for aquaculture farmers and provide a special railway facility for shrimp transportation from southern to northern states.
In a separate letter to the Finance Minister Sitharaman, Naidu sought sanction of a Rs 100 crore corpus fund through the National Fisheries Development Bo
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lamity Contingent Duty, had slowed market purchases and affected procurement.
Naidu noted that tobacco's opening auction price had fallen from Rs 280 per kg last year to Rs 250 this year, while companies' reduction of procurement quantities was causing losses to farmers.
The chief minister also highlighted that exporters were facing difficulties due to prevailing international geopolitical conditions.
The livelihood of nearly 43,000 tobacco farmers in Andhra Pradesh and lakhs of workers dependent on the sector were under threat, Naidu said.
Naidu cautioned that excessive taxation on legal cigarettes could lead to illegal tobacco products entering the market and urged the Centre to review the enhanced taxation policy and excise d
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