YSRCP seeks relief for mango growers hit by low prices

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The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) general secretary and former Andhra Pradesh State Agriculture Mission Vice-Chairman, M.V.S. Nagi Reddy, has urged the State government to intervene immediately to address the deepening agrarian crisis, particularly the difficulties faced by Totapuri mango growers.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Mr. Nagi Reddy said farmers cultivating chickpea, maize, banana, tobacco, aquaculture products and mangoes were reeling under falling market prices and rising input costs. Andhra Pradesh, which has around 3.99 lakh hectares under mango cultivation and is expected to produce nearly 53 lakh tonnes of the fruit this year, has suffered significant losses owing to unseasonal weather and fungal diseases, he said.

He said Totapuri mango growers in Chittoor, Tirupati and Annamayya districts had been hit especially hard. Lower yields, weak demand from pulp industries and poor procurement prices have left many farmers unable to recover their cultivation costs.

Mr. Nagi Reddy alleged that although the government had announced a support price mechanism last year with an assurance of ₹12 per kg, pulp factories paid only ₹5-₹6 per kg instead of the promised ₹8.

Expressing concern over a reported decline in mango acreage in several districts, he said recurring losses appeared to be forcing farmers to abandon orchards. While cultivation expenses have increased substantially, procurement prices have dropped to ₹5-₹6 per kg this season, he added.

Demanding a minimum procurement price of ₹16-₹17 per kg, Mr. Nagi Reddy called for immediate government intervention, financial assistance for affected farmers and the constitution of a high-level committee to recommend relief measures and protect the livelihoods of mango growers.