Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan orders ICAR-led committee to assess price crash, strengthen processing, exports and value addition for Totapuri mango growers.

Key Highlights

• Centre constitutes a high-level ICAR expert committee to address falling Totapuri mango prices.
• Decision follows Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s interaction with farmers in Andhra Pradesh.
• Committee to assess the entire mango value chain, from cultivation to exports.
• Field visits to major Totapuri-growing districts to begin within 10 days.
• Focus on price stabilisation, processing capacity, exports, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and market linkages.
• Recommendations to guide coordinated policy action by the Centre and Andhra Pradesh Government.

Centre Launches Comprehensive Plan to Revive Andhra Pradesh’s Totapuri Mango Sector

The Central Government has initiated a comprehensive intervention to support Totapuri mango growers in Andhra Pradesh, following a sharp decline in market prices that has affected thousands of farmers dependent on the processing-grade mango variety.

Union Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has directed the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to constitute a high-level expert committee to undertake a scientific assessment of the sector and recommend long-term measures to improve farmer incomes and strengthen the mango value chain.

The decision comes after the Minister’s recent visit to Andhra Pradesh, where growers highlighted the financial stress caused by falling prices for Totapuri mangoes, a variety widely used by the food processing industry for pulp, juices and processed fruit products.

ICAR Expert Team to Study Complete Value Chain

The committee, chaired by Dr. T. Damodaran, Director of the ICAR–Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH), Lucknow, will examine every stage of the Totapuri mango ecosystem, including cultivation, processing, domestic marketing, exports and value addition.

Other members include experts from the ICAR–Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru, Dr. YSR Horticultural University, the Government of Andhra Pradesh and senior horticulture scientists.

The panel has been instructed to visit major Totapuri-growing regions within the next 10 days to interact with farmers, processors, exporters, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), state horticulture officials and other stakeholders.

Focus on Sustainable Price Recovery

The committee will assess production costs, processing capacity, utilisation levels, domestic and export demand, supply trends and the factors responsible for the recent decline in prices.

Based on field observations and stakeholder consultations, it will recommend measures for:

• Price stabilisation
• Expansion of value addition
• Strengthening mango processing infrastructure
• Improving export competitiveness
• Better coordination between FPOs, processors and exporters
• Long-term policy support for the mango sector

The final report will be submitted to the Union Agriculture Minister and is expected to form the basis for coordinated action by both the Central and Andhra Pradesh Governments.

Shri Chouhan said protecting the livelihoods of Totapuri mango growers remains a government priority and that sustainable interventions will be implemented to improve returns while creating new opportunities for investment, exports and employment.

Hospitality, Food & Tourism Impact

The Centre’s intervention is significant for India’s hospitality, food processing and beverage industries, as Totapuri mangoes are among the country’s most important varieties for producing mango pulp, juices, concentrates, desserts, ice creams, smoothies and processed food products widely used by hotels, restaurants and cafés.

Stabilising prices and strengthening processing capacity could improve raw material availability for food manufacturers and hospitality businesses while supporting consistent quality and supply for domestic consumption and exports.

For Andhra Pradesh, India’s leading mango-producing state, the proposed reforms may also boost agri-tourism and mango tourism, particularly during the harvest season, creating opportunities for farm visits, fruit festivals and culinary experiences centred on regional mango varieties.

Enhanced export competitiveness and stronger value addition could further reinforce India’s position in the global processed fruit market, benefiting food exporters, beverage manufacturers and hospitality brands sourcing Indian mango products.