This summer holiday, my father decided to take us to visit one of his college friends who lives in Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh. He told me that his friend helps farmers who do shrimp and fish farming. I was very excited about this trip.

We started our journey in the morning and reached Machilipatnam by afternoon. Machilipatnam has a beautiful beach (Manginapudi Beach), so we decided to stay there for one night and travel to Bhimavaram the next day. My father and I both love beaches. We enjoy the waves, the sand, and the fresh sea breeze. I had taken a small basket to collect seashells, but unfortunately it got washed away by the sea. Even then, we had a wonderful time at the beach.

The next day, we travelled to Bhimavaram and reached my father’s friend’s house around 6:30 PM. We met his family. He has two daughters, Devika and Sanvi. Sanvi and I played together. Later, Uncle took us to a nearby park where we enjoyed many activities. It had been a long day, and I fell asleep as soon as I had my dinner. 

The next morning, Uncle and my father were ready by 8 o’clock. My father woke me up and packed a tiffin box for me. Aunty had prepared delicious idlis and pea curry. First, we visited Uncle’s warehouse where he stores shrimp and fish feed, medicines, and supplements. He explained some of the products and how farmers use them. Uncle had started this business only a few months ago, but he already knew many farmers because he had worked in a similar field before.

After loading some feed and supplements into his car, we started visiting farms. As we drove through the city, my father showed me many shops that sold feed, farming equipment, accessories, and laboratory testing services. Everything seemed connected to shrimp farming. Uncle told us that a large part of Bhimavaram’s economy depends on shrimp farming and related businesses. Many people have earned a good income by exporting shrimp and fish.

As we moved out of the city, I could see greenery everywhere. Coconut trees lined the roads, and there were ponds all around where shrimp farming was taking place. Near every pond was a small hut where the caretaker stayed to look after the farm. Around these huts, I saw cows, goats, chickens, ducks, dogs, and other animals.

We stopped at one of the farms. The caretaker was about to feed the shrimp. My father asked if we could go into the pond on a small boat. After speaking with the caretaker, Uncle got permission for us. Normally, visitors are not allowed inside because farmers want to avoid contamination, but they made an exception because they saw how excited I was.

My father and I got into a small metal boat along with the caretaker. He carried a bag of feed and used a rope to move the boat around the pond. At several marked locations, he threw feed into the water. Then he pulled up a net tray from beneath the pond and placed some feed inside it before lowering it again. My father asked why he was doing this. The caretaker explained that the trays help farmers check whether the shrimp are feeding properly. When they return later, they inspect the trays. If the feed is gone, the shrimp are eating well. If feed remains, it may indicate a problem. There were about ten such feeding points around the pond.

Whenever the caretaker lifted a tray, I could see many shrimp inside it. He even allowed me to hold one. I carefully picked up a shrimp, but suddenly it jumped in my hand. It felt like a small electric shock, and I immediately dropped it. I shouted in surprise. My father laughed and explained that the shrimp was simply trying to escape. The caretaker also laughed at my reaction.

After feeding was finished, we returned to the hut. There were goats, chickens, roosters, cows, and several baby goats. I could not resist holding the baby goats. Their mother kept making noises and did not want me to come near them. My father helped me hold one of the baby goat carefully. It very small and adorable.

Next, we visited the cowshed. One cow started walking towards me, and I became frightened. A farm worker quickly came and held her. He explained that the farm owner’s daughter, who is about my age, often plays with the cow. The cow may have thought I was her. My father gently patted the cow, and she tried to lick his hand. He told me that animals can sense kindness and often respond with affection.

The farm also had some very large roosters. Uncle told us that these roosters are sold for high prices because they are used in traditional cockfighting events during certain festivals. I remembered seeing pictures of cockfights at our hotel in Machilipatnam.

By then, I was hungry. When I opened my tiffin box, a small puppy came near me. I shared some idli with the puppy, and we enjoyed our breakfast together. While we were there, Uncle received a call from a farmer who was facing a problem at his pond. We immediately drove to the farm. Uncle inspected the pond and spent some time finding the cause of the issue. After checking everything, he explained that the ammonia level in the water had increased. He suggested the right treatment and advised the farmer on what product to use. Since Uncle had the required material in his warehouse, he asked the farmer to collect it later that day. I realized that Uncle was not just selling products. He was helping farmers solve problems and protect their livelihoods. He was a trusted guide for many farmers in the area.

Later, we returned to Uncle’s house. Aunty brought a ripe papaya from her garden, and we all enjoyed eating it together. It was very sweet and delicious. Before leaving, both families took some photographs together.

This visit taught me that different regions of India have different types of farming based on the resources available there. I also learned how important people like Naresh Uncle are. They support farmers, help solve their problems, and play an important role in making farming successful. I was amazed to see the large shrimp ponds, the feeding process, and the many animals living around the farms. I also learned that farming is not easy and requires a lot of knowledge, patience, and care. This trip was both fun and educational, and it gave me a new respect for farmers and the people who help them. I will always remember my exciting visit to the shrimp farms of Bhimavaram.