Raj Budget signals power tariff cut for shrimp farmers with a new slab

Jaipur: Shrimp farmers in Rajasthan, facing high electricity tariffs, may get relief after finance minister Diya Kumari announced in the State Budget that power rates will be reduced to spur the rural economic activity.Energy department sources said the govt is considering a separate tariff slab for shrimp farming, likely positioned between industrial and agricultural categories. The issue gained attention after TOI highlighted the farmers' concerns with a news report titled "Shrimp farmers hit by ₹12 a unit power tariff in Churu" in its Dec 29 Jaipur edition.
In the saline water belt of Churu, where traditional agriculture is nearly impossible, farmers turned to shrimp farming as a viable alternative. Their efforts, however, are being hampered by exorbitant electricity costs, with rates going up to Rs 13 per unit."We are looking to create a new slab for this farming activity. Decision on tariff levels will be taken after studying models in other states and factoring in local conditions," said a senior energy department official.Electricity accounts for 30% of the input costs in shrimp farming, as maintaining adequate oxygen levels in the ponds for the 3-month crop cycle is crucial for the survival of shrimps.Unlike states such as Haryana and Andhra Pradesh, which classify shrimp farming as an agricultural activity to encourage this cash crop, Rajasthan categorises it under non-domestic, non-agricultural activities, imposing the highest commercial rates.While attempting to circumvent these high tariffs, some farmers faced severe penalties, with fines reaching up to Rs 7-10 lakh, straining their financial viability."In many areas of Churu district, you can only do one crop of bajra or moong with monsoon rain. There is no other agriculture activity. Shrimp came as a blessing. The govt should encourage the crop, and low power tariffs are critical for it," said Ravi Kant, a shrimp farmer in Ratangarh.Shrimp cultivation has been expanding in areas where the land has high saline content. About 300 farmers are engaged in the occupation. In recent years, farming is expanding in other districts like Bikaner, Sriganganagar, and Nagaur.