Prawn farmers in Odisha’s Bhadrak district are facing severe difficulties due to an acute shortage of diesel, raising concerns over large-scale losses in aquaculture production. The crisis has particularly affected farmers in Chandbali block, where diesel is highly essential for operating equipment used in shrimp farming activities, sources said on Wednesday.

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According to local farmers, they are not receiving diesel in barrels as per their required quantity, which has disrupted day-to-day operations in shrimp ponds. The shortage has created panic among shrimp cultivators, many of whom depend entirely on aquaculture for their livelihood. Farmers alleged that the lack of adequate fuel supply is hampering the functioning of aerators and other machinery necessary for maintaining shrimp farms.

The cultivators fear that if the situation continues, shrimp enclosures worth lakhs of rupees could suffer extensive damage in the coming days. Many farmers stated that the present fuel scarcity has already started affecting cultivation activities, putting them under immense financial pressure.

Demanding immediate intervention, shrimp farmers submitted a memorandum to the local Tehsildar seeking urgent diesel supply for aquaculture purposes. They appealed to the local administration to ensure the uninterrupted availability of fuel so that farming operations can continue without disruption.

Farmers further warned that if diesel is not supplied at the earliest, they will be forced to stage protests and take to the main roads in the coming days. The warning reflects growing frustration among the farming community, which claims that repeated shortages are threatening their source of income and putting the local aquaculture economy at risk.

The issue has now become a major concern in the coastal region, where shrimp farming plays a significant role in the rural economy. Farmers are hoping for swift administrative action before the crisis worsens further and leads to irreversible financial losses.

“Government has currently stopped providing sufficient diesel. Here in Chandbali block, we have more than 25,000 (shrimp) farmers. Along with that, over 1 lakh families are associated with shrimp farming. If they don’t get oil, the prawns will die. Beyond these 25,000 farmers, there are also 1 lakh families involved in providing feed, calcium, and medicine, who are all connected to these farmers. All the families will lose their livelihoods. Therefore, I am appealing to the government to realise the plight of farmers soon and arrange for providing oil,” a local shrimp farmer, Biswanath Sutar, said.

Reported By: Trilochan Sahu