The Centre has constituted a high-level expert committee under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to examine the sharp decline in Totapuri mango prices in Andhra Pradesh and recommend measures to strengthen the sector and improve farmers’ incomes.
The decision was taken by Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan following his recent visit to Andhra Pradesh, where Totapuri mango growers raised concerns over the sustained fall in prices of the variety, which is widely cultivated for the processing industry. Farmers told the minister that the price slump had significantly affected their earnings and placed them under financial stress.
Acting on the issue, Chouhan directed ICAR to constitute a committee of scientists and sector experts to assess the entire Totapuri mango value chain, covering cultivation, processing, marketing, domestic trade and exports. The panel has been tasked with identifying the reasons behind the price decline and recommending long-term measures to improve farmers’ returns and ensure sustainable growth of the sector.
The committee will be chaired by Dr T. Damodaran, Director of ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH), Lucknow. Other members include experts from ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Dr YSR Horticultural University, the Andhra Pradesh Horticulture Department and CISH.
The panel has been asked to visit the major Totapuri mango-growing regions of Andhra Pradesh within the next 10 days. During the field study, it will interact with farmers, processors, exporters, officials of the State Horticulture Department, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and other stakeholders to assess the challenges across the value chain.
The committee will evaluate cultivation practices, production costs, farmers’ incomes, processing capacity, demand-supply trends and factors contributing to the recent decline in domestic and export prices. It will also identify opportunities to improve efficiency, competitiveness and market access before submitting a comprehensive report to the Union Minister.
The report is expected to recommend measures for price stabilisation, value addition, expansion of processing and export capacity, stronger coordination among FPOs, processors and exporters, and policy interventions for the long-term development of the Totapuri mango sector.
Chouhan said protecting the income and livelihoods of Totapuri mango growers remains a priority for the government, adding that appropriate action would be taken based on the committee’s recommendations to strengthen the value chain and create new opportunities for value addition, exports, investment and employment.
