Amid continuous complaints of falling incomes of farmers producing Totapuri mangoes in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, and falling prices in mandis, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has issued comprehensive directives for wide-ranging improvements in the cultivation, processing and marketing system of Totapuri mangoes after detailed discussions on the recommendations of a high-level committee constituted by him.

Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan today held a high-level review meeting at Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi, to assess the problems faced by Totapuri mango-producing farmers of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, and took important decisions to strengthen the entire value chain of Totapuri mangoes based on the report of a high-level expert committee. The committee visited fields, mandis and pulp-making units and presented the ground conditions, on the basis of which Union Minister Shri Chouhan made it clear that the file will not simply be closed after preparing a report, but concrete steps will be taken at all three levels – policy, technology and market.

Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired the high-level meeting to review the problems of Totapuri mango-producing farmers of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, which was attended by all senior officials including Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Director General Dr. M.L. Jat. The committee chairman, Director of ICAR–CISH (Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow), Dr. Damodaran T., presented the report. This meeting was focused on the report of the expert committee constituted under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research to examine issues related to decline in cultivation and prices of Totapuri mangoes and to suggest solutions. The committee was constituted under an order dated 2 July 2026, which included scientists from ICAR–CISH (Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow), ICAR–IIHR (Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru), ICAR–CISH, experts from Dr. YSR Horticultural University, Andhra Pradesh, and officials from the State Horticulture Department.

On the directions of Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the committee conducted field visits from July 8 to 10 in the Tirupati and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh, where it met farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), mandi representatives, pulp-making units, exporters and the district administration, and reviewed all stages of the Totapuri mango value chain.

Presenting its report in the meeting, the committee stated that the major reasons behind the decline in Totapuri mango prices this year include lack of timely coordination in processing capacity and procurement arrangements, low quantity of real pulp in mango-based beverages in the domestic market, and fluctuations in the global market. The committee also highlighted that in many places, factories are unable to make timely purchases at the beginning of the season, while farmers’ produce reaches mandis and processing units simultaneously, causing sudden price crashes and leaving farmers at a loss.

On the issue of mango-based beverages, the committee suggested that all such products should be made to contain 22-25 per cent of real natural mango pulp. In the committee’s view, if only those beverages which contain more than the prescribed limit of pulp are kept in the 5 per cent concessional Goods and Services Tax (GST) category, and higher GST rates are applied to low-pulp products, then on the one hand consumption of Totapuri mango pulp will increase, and on the other hand consumers will get more nutritious and genuine fruit-based beverages.

Considering this proposal, Union Minister Shri Chouhan directed the convening of an inter-ministerial meeting among the relevant Ministries – Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), GST Council, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Health – so that consensus can be reached on necessary standards and tax structure.

To stabilise and systematise the Totapuri mango value chain, the committee recommended the constitution of a Central Coordination and Price Stabilisation Committee, which will function as an apex institutional mechanism for major producing States such as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Before every mango season, this committee will review crop estimates, processing and export demand, agricultural costs and market conditions, and will help in determining indicative profitable farm-gate procurement prices for farmers and reference prices for mango pulp, so that clear signals are available in advance to both farmers and the industry.

It was also informed in the meeting that a large area of Totapuri mango cultivation in the Chittoor, Tirupati, Annamayya and Kadapa districts of Andhra Pradesh consists of old orchards whose productivity and quality have both declined. To deal with this situation, the committee recommended rejuvenation of orchards through the top-working technique, under which scions of high-value varieties such as Neelam, Alphonso, Himayat, Banganapalli and others can be grafted onto existing trees, and a new, more valuable crop can be obtained in two to three years. Along with this, emphasis was also laid on implementing Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) at the cluster level and providing training, demonstration gardens and technical assistance to farmers.

To improve fruit quality and increase access to premium domestic markets, the committee suggested that fruit bags (fruit covers) be provided in the initial phase in an area of about 23,333 hectares in the Chittoor, Tirupati, Annamayya and Kadapa districts, so that the external texture of the fruit remains better, pest damage is reduced, and Totapuri mangoes can reach higher-priced mandis. Along with this, it was recommended to develop zonal procurement and initial processing arrangements, under which the Horticulture Department, processing industry and Farmer Producer Organizations will jointly prepare an annual procurement plan.

It was also recommended for the Andhra Pradesh Government that it should issue a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) making it mandatory for all registered processing units to begin procurement and pulp production from May 15 every year.

During the meeting, there was also discussion on farmer-led processing units and FPO (Farmer Producer Organisation)-based value addition models. Using technologies developed by ICAR–CISH and IIHR, emphasis was laid on the possibilities of making ‘mango butter’ and other value-added products from the seed kernel of mangoes, so that Totapuri mango seeds and by-products can also become a source of additional income for farmers.

In the meeting, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) representatives informed about efforts to expand domestic and international markets for Totapuri and other Indian mangoes, especially through sea routes to reduce costs and increase access to new destinations. In this context, Shri Shivraj Chouhan said that an integrated export and marketing strategy will be prepared for Totapuri-based processed products and fresh table mangoes with the cooperation of APEDA, ICAR and State Governments.

During the meeting, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan made it clear that the Central Government wants to make the entire Totapuri mango value chain farmer-centric. He said that the Central and State Governments, ICAR, APEDA, Farmer Producer Organisations and the processing industry will all share responsibility, and a clear roadmap will be prepared by coordinating GST, food safety standards and State policies. He expressed confidence that if the suggested measures are implemented in a comprehensive manner, there will be a permanent increase in the income of Totapuri mango-producing farmers in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, and Indian mangoes will be able to establish an even stronger identity in the global market.

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RC/MS/MK