ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture conducted sensitization programme at Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh on 09.12.2025 to sensitize shrimp farmers and aqua professionals on shrimp diseases, their prevention and management especially on Microsporodiasis caused by the parasite EHP and the EHP-Cura-I intervention for its management. About 160 participants comprised of shrimp farmers, field level aqua professionals and fisheries college students participated in the event.
Dr.M.Kumaran, Principal Scientist gave brief introduction about the shrimp farming scenario in the country, major risks in shrimp farming, the diseases affecting the shrimp, economic loss due to two major diseases: White Spot and Microsporodiasis disease and the diagnostics and therapeutics to prevent and manage the diseases including the shrimp insurance schemes launched with the technical support of ICAR-CIBA.
Shri.Krishna Kishore, Assistant Director of Fisheries, Chirala explained the programmes implemented by the Department of Fisheries, Andhra Pradesh to sort out the issues faced by the shrimp farmers in the State.
Dr.R.Ananda Raja, Principal Scientist, made a comprehensive presentation inculcating the institutional support available for shrimp farming, shrimp diseases, their causes and the biosecurity and better management practices to prevent their entry and spread in the shrimp aquaculture system. He also outlined about the importance of traceability in securing food safety issues being raised by the importing countries and QR code based traceability module being developed by the ICAR-CIBA to address the issue.
Dr.T.Sathish Kumar, Senior Scientist and the Principal Investigator of the Microsporodiasis disease management project and the sensitization programme sponsored by the NFDB. In his exhaustive presentation he gave detailed the EHP and white fecal disease, the etiology of the disease, symptoms, diagnostics and management of the disease through application of EHP-Cura-I product developed and popularized by ICAR-CIBA. He explained about the mode of application, doses, frequency of application and validations done so far.
Later the farmers who have applied the EHP-Cura-I opined the efficacy of the product in prevention and management of the EHP disease. Subsequently, the EHP-Cura-I was also distributed to six shrimp farmers for their farm application.
Shri. Ram Prasad, Field consultant, the CAA informed about the regulations and registration aspects of CAA.
Shri.P.Venkateshwarlu, Deputy Manager, Aquaculture Insurance briefed about the shrimp insurance schemes and the process of application and claim settlement.
The meeting ended with the vote of thanks by Dr.R.Ananda Raja, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CIBA.
