Karnataka CM Urges Intervention for Distressed Mango Farmers

Bengaluru, June 13 (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has urgently called upon Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Shivaraj Singh Chouhan, to implement a Price Deficiency Payment and Market Intervention Scheme to assist mango farmers in Karnataka. He has highlighted the severe distress currently being experienced by mango farmers due to a significant drop in market prices this harvest season.

Mangoes are a major horticultural crop in Karnataka, covering approximately 1.39 lakh hectares and yielding an estimated 8-10 lakh metric tonnes this Rabi season, especially in districts like Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru Urban, Chikkaballapura, Kolar, and Bengaluru South. Siddaramaiah's letter outlines how the peak harvest months of May to July have led to heavy market arrivals, causing a drastic fall in prices.

Prices, previously about Rs 12,000 per quintal, have plummeted to a mere Rs 3,000 per quintal, which is far below the Karnataka State Agriculture Price Commission's recommended cultivation cost of Rs 5,466 per quintal. This disparity has severely impacted the financial well-being of mango farmers.

The Chief Minister pointed out that small and marginal mango growers are struggling to even cover basic input costs, leading to protests and increased agrarian unrest. He warned that without prompt intervention, the situation could have severe socio-economic consequences for the region.

In his appeal, Siddaramaiah requested the swift implementation of a Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for mangoes. He also urged central procurement agencies like NAFED and NCCF to begin purchasing operations at a price that covers at least the basic cost of cultivation.

Such measures, he emphasized, would help stabilize prices and prevent further escalation of rural distress, ultimately safeguarding the interests of the farming community.

The Chief Minister is also seeking the intervention of his Andhra Pradesh counterpart, Chandrababu Naidu, requesting the withdrawal of a ban on the entry of "Totapuri Mangoes" from Karnataka into Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh. This issue has led to protests, including a taluk-level bandh by farmers in the Srinivasapura area, a key mango growing region in Kolar district.

Siddaramaiah concluded by expressing anticipation for empathetic and swift action in favor of thousands of affected farmers in Karnataka.