Centre approves procurement of 2.5 lakh tonnes of mangoes from Karnataka

The Centre on Tuesday approved the procurement of up to 2.5 lakh metric tonnes of mangoes from farmers in Karnataka under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for 2025-26 after Union Heavy Industries Minister HD Kumaraswamy appealed for it as mango growers are battling surplus production this mango season leading to a price fall.

The Centre has set the procurement price at ₹1,616 per quintal under the scheme.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan conveyed the decision in response to Kumaraswamy’s letter, which highlighted plummeting mango prices, falling from around ₹2,12,000 per quintal to about ₹23,000. Kumaraswamy attributed the crisis to adverse weather, disease outbreaks, and a disrupted supply chain. Andhra Pradesh’s ban on the entry of Totapuri mangoes from Karnataka into Chittoor also affected mango trade in the state’s border districts.

Mango is a major horticultural crop in Karnataka, cultivated across approximately 1.39 lakh hectares, with the state typically producing 8-10 lakh tonnes each season. This year, however, yields dropped to less than 30%.

“This drastic drop has caused significant financial distress, particularly among small and marginal farmers, many of whom are unable to recover even their input costs, resulting in widespread protests,” Kumaraswamy said in his letter.

Chouhan in his reply to Kumaraswamy,on Tuesday said, “This intervention will provide relief and address the genuine concerns raised by you for the welfare of mango farmers of Karnataka.”