Karnataka seeks five-fold increase in Totapuri mango procurement under price support scheme

The Karnataka Cooperation Department has formally requested the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to expand the approved quantity of Totapuri mangoes covered under the Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) from the current 1.30 lakh metric tonnes to 5.20 lakh metric tonnes.

The request follows a protest by Totapuri mango farmers at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Kolar district on July 2, and an overwhelming response to farmer registrations under the scheme. According to the Cooperation Department’s letter, more than 12,000 farmers registered within four days of the registration process beginning on June 26, exhausting the entire approved quantity of 1.30 lakh metric tonnes.

“In view of the overwhelming response from farmers and to ensure that all remaining eligible Totapuri mango growers are covered under the scheme, it is requested that the quantity approved under the PDPS be enhanced,” the department stated.

The letter warned that failure to increase the approved quantity could lead to widespread dissatisfaction among farmers, potentially sparking protests and law-and-order issues in major mango-growing districts of Karnataka.

S. R. Kumaraswamy, Deputy Director of the Horticulture Department in Kolar district, said that the Totapuri mango yield has been better this year compared to last year. He noted that approximately 12,700 farmers have registered under the support price scheme so far, but registrations have been halted because the approved quantity is exhausted. Last year, nearly 15,000 farmers registered, and procurement reached a maximum of 1.015 lakh metric tonnes.

Neelatur Chinnappa Reddy, representing the Mango Growers Welfare Association in Kolar district, said that the association had also met Union Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy, requesting him to write to the Union Agriculture Minister for an expansion of the PDPS quantity.

“This year, due to the seasonal glut and subdued market demand, the prevailing market prices have fallen significantly below recovery levels. This has caused severe financial distress among mango growers. As a result, there has been an overwhelming response from farmers seeking registration under the PDPS. A large number of eligible Totapuri mango growers are still awaiting registration and would be deprived of the benefits of the scheme if the approved quantity is not enhanced,” he said.