Tirupati, June 26: Expressing deep concern over the unprecedented crisis gripping mango farmers in Andhra Pradesh, particularly in the Chittoor and Tirupati districts, Member of Parliament from Tirupati, Maddila Gurumoorthy, has made a strong appeal to the Union Government seeking immediate intervention.
In a detailed representation to Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the MP highlighted that Andhra Pradesh holds the largest mango cultivation area in the country with over 12.35 lakh acres, accounting for 16.5% of India’s total mango-growing area. Despite this, the state ranks only second in production, exposing long-standing issues in productivity and market access.
The MP pointed out that the distress among mango farmers has reached alarming levels. While the official Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the Thothapuri variety is Rs 12 per kg, farmers are being forced to sell at a throwaway price ranging from Rs 1 to Rs 4 per kg, which does not even cover basic labour costs. As a result, many farmers are leaving their crops unharvested, leading to both economic ruin and massive food wastage.
Adding to the crisis, 28 out of 52 mango processing units in the Chittoor-Tirupati region have shut down, resulting in severe job losses and a broken mango value chain.
MP Gurumoorthy strongly demanded that the Union Government immediately start procurement of Thothapuri mangoes at the notified MSP of Rs 12 per kg to stabilize prices and provide relief to struggling farmers. He also proposed the establishment of a National Mango Board headquartered in Tirupati, which would handle price stabilization, procurement, export promotion, and market development for mango farmers across the country.
Additionally, he sought the creation of a National Mango Research Station in Chittoor district, under ICAR, to focus on research in yield improvement, climate-resilient farming, post-harvest technologies, and pest management.
The MP emphasized that these measures align perfectly with the Government’s stated objective of doubling farmers’ income and promoting horticulture-led growth under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
“The situation is extremely serious. Thousands of farmers are on the brink of collapse. The Union Government must step in immediately to rescue them, stabilize the market, and build a sustainable future for mango farmers,” said Maddila Gurumoorthy.
MP Maddila Gurumoorthy urges Centre to rescue mango farmers
