NewzVille Desk
Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has directed the constitution of a high-level expert committee under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research to examine the challenges being faced by Totapuri mango growers in Andhra Pradesh and recommend appropriate measures for the long-term development of the sector.
The decision follows the Union Minister’s recent visit to Andhra Pradesh, during which he interacted with Totapuri mango growers. During these interactions, farmers informed the Minister that prices of the Totapuri mango variety, which is cultivated extensively for the processing industry, have declined significantly in recent months.
They highlighted that the sustained fall in prices has adversely affected their incomes and created considerable financial stress among mango-producing farmers in the state.
Taking immediate cognisance of the matter, Chouhan directed ICAR to constitute an expert committee comprising scientists and representatives of concerned institutions to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the Totapuri mango sector.
The committee has been entrusted with examining the entire value chain from cultivation and processing to marketing, domestic trade and exports and recommending suitable interventions to improve farmers’ returns and strengthen the sector on a sustainable basis.
In a statement, Chouhan said that safeguarding the income and livelihoods of Totapuri mango growers is a priority for the Government.
He stated that appropriate measures would be taken on the basis of the committee’s recommendations to provide sustainable support to mango growers, strengthen the value chain and create new opportunities for value addition, exports, investment and employment in the sector.
