Totapuri mango growers get subsidy transparently, no favoritism: Chittoor Collector

Chittoor District Collector Sumit Kumar. File | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Collector Sumit Kumar on Friday (July 10, 2026) reiterated that all Totapuri mango growers in Chittoor affected by crop losses would receive state government subsidies in a transparent and reliable manner and there would be no room for irregularities or favoritism in the selection of beneficiaries.

Addressing a press conference here, the Collector said specially constituted official teams will identify eligible beneficiaries based on gram sabha resolution, field level inspection, previous cultivation records, farmer verification and mandatory e-KYC of crops. “The entire exercise will be carried out strictly in accordance with the guidelines of the state government. All genuine farmers will receive financial assistance without delay,” he said.

Mr. Sumit Kumar said the State Government intervened after Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu drew attention to the plight of Totapuri growers. “Farmers are facing severe financial difficulties due to weak international demand, stagnant exports and sharp decline in procurement by the mango pulp processing industry. To provide immediate relief, the government has announced a minimum support price of ₹ 4 per kg of Totapuri mango,” the Collector said.

The Collector said that Totapuri mango is grown in nearly 51,736 hectares in Chittoor district with an estimated production of about 5.17 million tonnes this season. “More than 35,000 families depend on the mango crop for their livelihood. As Totapuri is largely used for pulp production and has limited demand in the fresh fruit market, growers are particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in industrial procurement,” Sumit Kumar said.

“An expert panel set up by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research is touring Chittoor district to examine the challenges faced by the Totapuri mango sector. The team has begun interacting with farmers, district officials, mango pulp producers and exporters to assess issues related to production, processing, quality improvement, marketing and export. After completing similar studies in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil, the committee will make recommendations to the Union for long-term policy measures. mango sector,” said the Collector.

Published – 10 Jul 2026 16:11 IST