Totapuri mango growers are further in dire straits as prices continue to fall

The Secretary of the Cooperation Department has written to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare at the Center urging them to increase the quantity of Totapuri mangoes purchased. | Photo credit: FILE PHOTO

Thousands of farmers who grew Totapuri mangoes were coming to Agriculture Market Committee (APMC) Mandis and dumping the harvested produce at low prices, even as it further fell from ₹ 4.37 per kg to ₹ 3 per kg.

Ramesh Babu, a farmer from Srinivasapura in Kolar, said, “I grew Totapuri mangoes in nearly two hectares of my field and harvested a yield of eight tonnes. I parked my tractor in a queue where all the farmers were waiting to register to get the support price from the government. But before we started registering, the prescribed quantity of mangoes was procured.”

Mr. Babu added, “The horticulture department officials have given each farmer a token and urged us to wait for the Union government to extend the mango purchase limit. But these are not perishable products. So far, I have spread the mangoes in a big room at home. If the government does not take any decision, I will sell them at the mandi at whatever price I get.”

Meanwhile, Neelatur Chinnappa Reddy, president of the Mango Growers Association, Kolar, said, “Unlike other crops that can be grown in rotation, mango farmers cannot do this. Once the trees are planted, it is not possible to choose another crop if the farmer has mango trees planted in acres together.”

Last week, the Secretary of the Cooperation Department wrote to the Ministry of Agriculture and Social Welfare about the farmers at the Center and asked them to increase the amount of procurement of Totapuri mangoes from 1.30 lakh tonnes to 5.20 lakh tonnes under the shortfall payment scheme. However, no response was received.

Currently, more than 12,000 farmers have registered to receive the support price. According to the Horticulture Department, another 4,000 farmers are likely to register if the government expands the scheme.

More supply low demand

TS Ravi Kumar, secretary, Agricultural Produce Market Committee, Kolar, highlighted the lack of demand amid huge supply. “The prices have come down due to huge supply and low demand in the market. In 2024, the same Totapuri mango was priced at ₹ 20 per kg. It has come down to ₹ 3-4 per kg since last year. The maximum quantity of Totapuri mango grown in Kolar goes to pulp mills, which is further used in the processing industry.

Mr. Ravi added, “There were four mango processing units in Kolar district, which have now reduced to three. One of the owners shut down the processing unit due to excessive loss. Currently, the factory owners said that at least 30% of the pulp processed last year from Totapuri is still in stock.”

The government provides price support for mangoes up to 200 quintals, limited to five acres for each farmer. It has announced to provide ₹437 per quintal.

Low sales of processed mango juice

K. Surya Chandra Rao, owner of a mango pulping unit in Kolar district, said, “In 2022 and 2023, we bought Totapuri mangoes at ₹ 50 to ₹ 70 per kg. In the last two years, the prices have come down mainly because the sale of mango juice in the market has not decreased compared to other fruit flavored bottles in recent years.

Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation Limited is in talks with the state government to set up a government pulp processing unit.

A senior official said, “If everything goes according to plan, then a government pulp processing unit will be announced and set up soon.”

Published – 7 Jul 2026 23:35 IST