State Govt recommends MSP for Totapuri mangoes, awaits Centre’s nod

Following a bandh and protest in Srinivaspura, Malur, Kolar and surrounding areas by mango farmers on Monday, the Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation Limited (KSMDMCL) and the Deputy Commissioner of Kolar District have written to the state government proposing to provide minimum support price (MSP) to Totapuri mangoes.

This proposal was also sent to the Union government on Tuesday. Once the center approves the MSP, the state government will issue an official circular.

Vedamurthy RT, Managing Director, KSMDMCL, explained, “Considering the loss of farmers growing Totapuri mangoes this year, we have recommended MSP for this variety only and sent a proposal to the state government. According to the Karnataka Agricultural Price Commission (KAPC), the cost of cultivating one kg of Totapuri is put at ₹39. Based on this, the government has decided that the government should decide the MSP. ₹17.50 per kg as the cost of cultivation Officials have recommended ₹ 4.37 per kg as MSP.It is now left to the Union Govt.

SR Kumaraswamy, deputy director, horticulture department, Kolar district, said, “We expect the Union government to provide the expected MSP to the farmers, which is ₹8,000 to ₹10,000 per tonne.

Neelatur Chinnappa Reddy, president of the District Mango Growers’ Welfare Association, said, “If they give us the asking price, we can survive. Otherwise, farmers will be at a total loss. Last year, Totapuri was sold at ₹ 2 per kg and farmers were earning ₹ 2,000 per tonne.”

He added, “Srinivaspura, Kolar and Malur are famous for Totapuri mango cultivation. This year we have lost a large amount of crops due to climatic extremes like extreme heat and sudden hailstorm. We have spent millions on mango cultivation. If the state and Union government do not give us MSP within a day or two, we will continue the protest again.”

Explaining the reason why Totapuri is sold at a lower price every year, Mr. Vedamurthy said, “It is a late variety that comes in the market after all the other varieties have arrived and sold. People prefer to eat mango varieties that are sweeter and juicy. Such varieties come in mid-April and May. It is one of the few varieties that go beyond mango pulp and juice.”

Meanwhile, the prices of other mango varieties are neither too low nor too high in the wholesale and retail markets. Badami Alphonso costs ₹80 per kg in the wholesale market. Similarly, Mallika, Banganapalle, Kalapahad, Raspuri, Sindhura, Imam Pasand and others, the price varies between ₹ 15 to ₹ 20 per kg.

Venkat Lakshmamma, a mango grower from Srinivasapura, said, “Every year we experience huge losses growing Totapuri. It retails at ₹ 30 per kg and not more. Once I harvested the mangoes this year, I brought them to Bengaluru to sell them in the retail markets on a cart and also made huge money in Thong. profits, at least I can get back the money I invested.”

Another farmer, Syed Ashfaq of Noolapura village in Kolar district said, “I grow three varieties of mangoes so that I can get good returns even though I suffer a loss on Totapuri. I have managed to sell Badami Alphonso at ₹150 to ₹200 per kg, Kaalapahad I doubt if I can sell the variety at ₹70 per kg but I can. Totapuri is in APMC mandi where traders offer just ₹2 per kg.I sometimes sell them to private factories who buy them at ₹3 to 4 per kg to make pulp and juice from Totapuri.

Published – 23 Jun 2026 23:04 IST