States » SouthPosted at: Jun 23 2025 12:23AM


Deve Gowda seeks Centre’s help for mango farmers

Bengaluru, June 22 (UNI) Former Prime Minister and Rajya Sabha MP, H D Deve Gowda, has urged Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to initiate immediate Central procurement of mangoes through agencies like NAFED and NCCF, as mango growers in Karnataka reel under a deepening agrarian crisis.
In a letter dated June 22, Gowda highlighted a sharp crash in mango prices, crop damage due to erratic weather, and inter-state trade disruptions that have pushed thousands of small and marginal farmers into financial distress.
He called for the invocation of the Price Deficiency Payment (PDP) and Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) to protect farmers' incomes.
“Karnataka is one of India’s leading horticulture-producing states,” he wrote, saying that mango cultivation spans over 1.39 lakh hectares, especially in districts such as Bengaluru Rural, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, and Ramanagara. However, this year’s mango production has fallen drastically due to climate-related factors and disease outbreaks, dropping to less than 30 percent of the expected yield of 8–10 lakh tonnes.
Gowda noted that heavy market arrivals during May and June led to a price crash — from Rs 12,000 per quintal last year to as low as Rs 3,000, which is far below the average cultivation cost of Rs 5,466. “This has severely affected the financial stability of smallholders, who are now struggling to recover even basic input costs,” he said.
The situation has been further aggravated by Andhra Pradesh’s decision to ban the entry of Totapuri mangoes into the Chittoor district, a move that Gowda warned could lead to massive post-harvest losses for farmers in bordering districts of Karnataka.
The disruption has already sparked protests in Kolar and Chikkaballapura, he added.
Appealing for urgent Central action, Gowda requested the government to direct NAFED and NCCF to begin direct procurement from growers, including through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).
“This intervention will help stabilize prices, prevent distress sales, and safeguard the livelihoods of our farmers,” he pointed.
He expressed hope that the Ministry of Agriculture would respond swiftly, ensuring financial support and fair pricing mechanisms are activated in time to mitigate the ongoing crisis.
“The lives and livelihoods of mango farmers in Karnataka depend on immediate support,” Gowda concluded.
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