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Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Totapuri mango price drop worries farmers
Tirupati: Mango farmers in Chittoor and Tirupati districts are in distress as the onset of early monsoon, coupled with the middlemen syndicate's greed, has crashed the prices of Totapuri variety to an all-time low of 4,000 a ton, down from last year's high of 18,000 to 30,000 a ton. The erstwhile combined Chittoor district is referred to as the mango capital of the country as the fruit is extensively grown in an extent of approximately 2.87 lakh acres here. Totapuri is one of the widely grown mango varieties in Chittoor and Tirupati districts and account for nearly 90% of the overall mango farming in the region. Table varieties like Benisha, Sindoora, Alphonsa, Khadar and other varieties are grown in the remaining 10% of farmlands. While table varieties are sold in open markets, Totapuri variety is exclusively supplied to 60 odd mango pulp units in the districts. With an average annual output of close to 7.5 lakh tonnes, Chittoor registers an impressive turnover of 1,000 plus crore in mango sales annually, with the pride mangoes from the district exported to several countries. But unfortunately, though the district received bountiful timely rains leading to a desired mango yield this year, farmers who grew the Totapuri variety are in distress as the middlemen and pulp owners' syndicate haven't even opened the market even though the mango season for the year is drawing to a close. Giridhar Reddy, a trader at Damalacheruvu Mango Nagar market, said while representatives of pulp industries approach farmers for Totapuri variety as early as April every year, this year they have stayed away though June has set in and the mango season will end soon. The early onset of monsoon has further worsened their woes, forcing farmers to pluck the fruits early, leading to a scenario of oversupply in the mango markets. Mango farmers from the region said when YSRCP govt was in power, TDP leaders promised to end the syndicate's reign over mango markets and assured farmers of remunerative prices for their yield once the party returned to power in the state. "Unfortunately, while farmers who grew Totapuri last year earned anywhere between 18,000 and 30,000 per ton, this year the prices have crashed to 4,000 a ton, resulting in huge losses. The state govt has not even held meetings to fix a minimum support price for the mango yield," rued Kesavulu, a mango farmer from Puttur mandal.
The Hindu
02-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Mango growers up in arms after pleading for remunerative price for the sixth year
After sustaining losses for six consecutive years in the absence of remunerative prices, the mango growers of the undivided Chittoor district have raised a banner of revolt. Even as the mango season is nearing its end, the pulp factories, which are replete in the region, are yet to open their gates in a full-fledged manner for receiving the harvested fruits, triggering a sense of alarm among the farming community. There was palpable calm and uncertainty at the start of the season, where farmers perceived a heavy fall in yield as the flowers dropped in large quantities. However, the yield turned out to be better than expected, making the price plunge. Leave alone the exotic fruits, like Benisha, Alphonso, Kalepad, Pullura and Imam Pasand, collectively called as 'table varieties', even the ubiquitous 'Bengalura' or 'Totapuri', which is widely used by the fruit pulp factories, are waiting for takers. Members of the Federation of Farmers Associations led by Mangati Gopal Reddy, A. Rama Naidu, K. Venkaiah, Price Stabilisation Committee convener T. Janardhan and others attended the Public Grievance Redressal System (PGRS) meeting at the district Collectorate here on Monday and submitted a representation to Collector S. Venkateswar on the need for government intervention to get remunerative prices for the mango growers. Recalling that the farmers had hit the streets for the last six years appealing for remunerative price, the farmer leaders sought a minimum of ₹30 per kg for the mangoes, which they said was 'the least price to sustain their livelihood'. Acknowledging their concern, Mr. Venkateswar pointed to the series of meetings he had with the departmental officials at the State and district levels, and assured that the State government would come to the rescue of the mango growers.
The Hindu
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Collector assures to fix MSP for 'thothapuri' mango variety soon
District Collector Sumit Kumar on Thursday assured a delegation of mango farmers that a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the 'thothapuri' variety of mangoes will be fixed within four days. The delegation of farmers was led by Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham State vice-president A. Ramanaidu and district president T. Janardhan. The farmers demanded MSP ₹30 per kg for thothapuri mangoes citing a production cost of ₹15 per kg. They also asked that the pulp industries could pay ₹20 per kg, and the remaining ₹10 could be through subsidy from the State government. Reacting to the farmers' demand, the Collector said that a price stabilisation committee would decide the MSP within four days. The farmers further demanded formation of a district-level mango board, and market support for the popular Benisha variety being sold in Rythu Bazaars for ₹50 per kg.
