Tirupati: Amid falling mango prices and lower yields this year, the Tirupati district administration has cracked the whip on mango processors, ripening chamber owners, and market yard operators, warning them of strict action if they do not pay farmers a minimum price of Rs 30,000 per tonne for the Totapuri variety of mangoes.
Addressing a meeting with horticulture and marketing officials on Sunday, collector Pravin Kumar said mango cultivation is undertaken on 52,000 acres in the district. However, this year's yield has plummeted, with some areas reporting as low as 2 tonnes per acre, compared to the normal range of 4 to 6 tonnes per acre. "With reduced yields, farmers were expecting better prices for their produce. But mango prices have been declining for the last four to five days," the collector said.
To protect the interests of farmers, the collector has directed all mango pulp processing unit owners, ripening chamber owners, and market yard owners in the district to pay a minimum of Rs 30,000 per tonne for the Totapuri variety of mangoes. "Mango is a major crop in the district, and the administration is keen to ensure farmers receive remunerative prices, especially in a year of lower yields. Strict action will be taken against anyone paying farmers less than this price," he warned.
