New Delhi, July 22, 2026: 

The Central Government has announced a series of policy, technology and market interventions to address the challenges faced by Totapuri mango growers in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The decisions were taken following a high-level review chaired by Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan after examining the recommendations of an expert committee constituted to study the declining prices and incomes of Totapuri mango farmers.

The committee was formed under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and was tasked with assessing the problems affecting Totapuri cultivation and marketing. Between July 8 and 10, 2026, the expert team conducted field visits across Tirupati and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh, interacting with farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), market representatives, mango pulp processing industries, exporters and district officials before submitting its report.

During the review meeting held at Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi, attended by senior officials including Dr. M.L. Jat, Director General, ICAR, the committee's findings were presented by Dr. Damodaran T., Director, ICAR–Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (ICAR-CISH), Lucknow. The committee attributed the sharp decline in Totapuri mango prices to inadequate coordination between processing capacity and procurement, fluctuations in global demand and the low quantity of real mango pulp used in many mango-based beverages available in the domestic market.

One of the committee's key recommendations was to make 22–25 percent real mango pulp mandatory in mango-based beverages. It further suggested retaining the concessional 5 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST) only for beverages meeting the prescribed pulp content, while applying higher GST rates to products containing lower quantities of natural pulp. The proposal is expected to increase demand for Totapuri mango pulp while encouraging the production of healthier fruit-based beverages.

Taking note of the recommendation, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan directed that an inter-ministerial meeting involving the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), GST Council, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Health be convened to examine the proposal and develop an appropriate regulatory framework.

To stabilise the Totapuri mango market, the committee recommended establishing a Central Coordination and Price Stabilisation Committee for major producing states. The proposed body would review annual crop estimates, processing capacity, export demand, production costs and market conditions before each mango season and recommend indicative farm-gate procurement prices and reference prices for mango pulp.

The report also highlighted the need to rejuvenate ageing Totapuri orchards in Chittoor, Tirupati, Annamayya and Kadapa districts through the top-working technique, which involves grafting premium mango varieties such as Neelam, Alphonso, Himayat and Banganapalli onto existing trees. The approach is expected to improve productivity and fruit quality within two to three years. The committee also recommended cluster-based implementation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) supported by farmer training, demonstration orchards and technical assistance.

To improve fruit quality and access to premium markets, the committee proposed distributing fruit bags (fruit covers) across nearly 23,333 hectares in major Totapuri-growing districts to reduce pest damage and enhance the appearance of harvested fruits. It also recommended creating zonal procurement systems through coordinated annual procurement plans involving the Horticulture Department, processing industries and Farmer Producer Organisations.

Among the operational recommendations, the committee advised the Government of Andhra Pradesh to introduce a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) requiring all registered processing units to begin procurement and pulp production from May 15 each year, helping avoid market gluts and sudden price crashes during the harvest season.

The meeting also explored opportunities for expanding farmer-led value addition through FPO-based processing units. Using technologies developed by ICAR-CISH and the ICAR–Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (ICAR-IIHR), Bengaluru, the committee highlighted the commercial potential of producing mango butter and other value-added products from mango seed kernels, creating additional income opportunities from by-products.

Representatives of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) informed the meeting about ongoing efforts to expand domestic and international markets for Totapuri and other Indian mangoes, including increased use of sea routes to improve export competitiveness. Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan directed that an integrated export and marketing strategy for both fresh and processed Totapuri mango products be developed jointly by APEDA, ICAR and the concerned state governments.

Concluding the meeting, the Union Minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to creating a farmer-centric Totapuri mango value chain through coordinated efforts involving the Central and State Governments, ICAR, APEDA, Farmer Producer Organisations and the processing industry. He expressed confidence that the proposed reforms would improve price stability, increase farmers' incomes and strengthen the global competitiveness of Indian mangoes.

Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB), Government of India.