Disappointing Season for Mango Farmers in Chittoor, Prices Drop due to Black Spots

Tirupati: Mango farmers in Chittoor district who had entertained high hopes of a rewarding mango season this year are facing disappointment as the prices for certain varieties have significantly declined.

The table varieties of mangoes like 'Benisha', 'Khadar', 'Phulera', 'Mallika' etc have been affected by black spots on their skins due to untimely rains, leading to a drop in prices.

Benisha mangoes are sold at Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 per tonne, and the price might go up to Rs 28,000 for good quality produce by the season’s end. Phulera mangoes are priced between Rs 13,000 and Rs 20,000 per tonne, while the price of Khadar ranges from Rs 35,000 to Rs 45,000 per tonne. The Mallika variety is being sold for Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 per tonne.

Compared to the prices last year, the prices have dipped by nearly 30-40 per cent.

Other local varieties, initially priced at Rs 10,000 per tonne, have dropped to Rs 6,000 per tonne. The decline in prices is not limited to the table varieties. Even the highly sought-after Totapuri mangoes have experienced a decline in value.

The farmers were already grappling with the adverse effects of windstorms during this critical period.

“Last year, the sale of Totapuri mangoes started at Rs 20,000 per tonne and the price reached Rs 50,000 by the season’s end. However, the current scene for the Totapuri pulp industry is quite different. The price has fallen to Rs 14,000 per tonne, or Rs 16,000 to Rs 22,000 per tonne if the mangoes are of a desirable colour.

“Despite the district collector's announcement of the minimum support price of Rs 19 per kg, pulp factories are offering us a meagre price of Rs 14-15 per kg,” lamented farmer Muni Sekhar.

Farmers are in a mood to fight for better prices. They are reducing the cuts in their production so as to force traders to give better prices to them. They are urging district collector Shan Mohan to take proactive steps to ensure that pulp industries procure the mangoes at reasonable rates.

Chittoor district, with 1.5 lakh hectares under mango cultivation and having a projected production of over 5 lakh tonnes, begins full-fledged harvesting of mangoes in June for supply to pulp factories in Chittoor and Annamayya districts.