Panel Recommends 5 Key Measures to Revive Mango Sector
A comprehensive assessment of entire Totapuri mango value chain was conducted to have long term solutions for price stabilization
Hyderabad: A high-level expert committee constituted to examine the challenges faced by Totapuri mango growers in Andhra Pradesh made five crucial recommendations including rejuvenation and top-working of old and senile mango orchards and replacement of old varieties with new and improved varieties.
The three other recommendations include blending of 20 per cent pulp in juice, RTS, nectar etc. to enhance pulp usage, zonal procurement and storage infrastructure for prolonged processing duration and export promotion.
The panel consisted of senior level scientists from ICAR, Dr YSR Horticulture University and officials of Andhra Pradesh State Horticulture department.
The committee undertook an intensive field visit to major Totapuri producing districts of Andhra Pradesh including Chittoor and Tirupati. During the field visit, consultations were held with mango growers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), pulp processing industries, traders and commission agents, officials of horticulture department, district magistrates and other stakeholders.
A comprehensive assessment of entire Totapuri mango value chain was conducted to have long term solutions for price stabilization.
The price of Totapuri mangoes for processing has declined to Rs.4 and Rs.6 per kg this year as against Rs.18 and Rs.20 per kg in previous years. With a view to mitigate the distress, the government has approved financial assistance of Rs 1,747 per quintal under the market intervention scheme via price deficiency payment system for Totapuri growers.
This was stated by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in Lok Sabha on Tuesday while responding to a question raised by Congress MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy and BJP MP Eatala Rajender on “challenges faced by mango growers.”
The two MPs sought to know whether the government has constituted a high-level expert committee or a panel to examine the challenges being faced by Totapuri and other mango growers in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh.
