Mango Season Starts Well; Prices And Procurement Concerns Remain
Farmers say these rates will support them only if they remain stable through the season
TIRUPATI: Arrival of mangoes has started picking up in Tirupati and Chittoor districts, with prices early in the season offering some relief to growers. However, concerns over price stability and their procurement are continuing.
The Benisha variety has opened the season on a strong note. In Puttur, it is fetching ₹30,000 to ₹40,000 per tonne, while in Tirupati prices have gone up to around ₹43,000 per tonne. Covered Benisha is reportedly fetching ₹50,000 to ₹60,000 per tonne. Farmers say these rates will support them only if they remain stable through the season.
In contrast, the Totapuri variety is currently priced between ₹15,000 and ₹22,000 per tonne. Traders indicate that these rates may decline once arrivals increase and the season peaks. Growers remain cautious, as Totapuri accounts for a major share of produce supplied to pulp industries. The Rumani variety is trading at around ₹20,000 per tonne.
Over the past week, Benisha arrivals have been reported at Puttur and Tiruchanoor market yards, where prices have remained around ₹40,000 per tonne. The produce is being transported to markets in Delhi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Mumbai, with around 10 truckloads moving daily from these centres.
Despite the positive start, farmers and stakeholders have called for early coordination between the government and mango pulp processing units to avoid a repeat of last year’s situation, when delayed opening of pulp factories had led to heavy losses, particularly for Totapuri farmers.
Panati Madhusudhan Reddy, a representative of a growers’ group, said advance meetings with processing unit owners would help ensure timely procurement and avoid distress sales. “If discussions are held before the peak season, both farmers and industry can plan better and avoid losses", he said.
At the same time, pulp industry representatives have expressed concern over reduced exports in recent months due to ongoing global tensions. They said unsold pulp stocks remaining with them may influence their procurement decision this season, especially when arrivals increase in the coming weeks.
