Totapuri mango prices in Andhra Pradesh have fallen sharply to ₹4-6 per kg, while Konkan's Alphonso exports struggle with climate damage and shipping delays. The government has introduced support schemes for exporters, but farmers face ongoing demand and pricing challenges.
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Indian mango growers are currently navigating a difficult season marked by sharp price drops and supply chain disruptions. In Andhra Pradesh, farmers cultivating the Totapuri variety are facing a severe price collapse, with rates currently hovering between ₹4 and ₹6 per kilogram. This is a significant decline from the ₹18 to ₹20 per kilogram range seen in recent years, placing immense pressure on the income of small-scale growers.
To address this, a committee involving experts from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Dr. YSR Horticulture University has proposed long-term solutions. These include rejuvenating aging orchards and transitioning to better-performing fruit varieties. The panel also suggested short-term measures, such as blending 20% Totapuri pulp into commercial juices to increase demand, alongside building better local procurement and cold storage centers to manage seasonal supply gluts.
Export Challenges for Premium Alphonso Varieties
While Totapuri growers face domestic price pressure, the premium Alphonso sector is struggling with international trade hurdles. Producers in Maharashtra’s Konkan belt, particularly in districts like Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, reported significant crop damage caused by unseasonal heatwaves and erratic weather patterns. This has limited the supply of high-quality fruit suitable for international markets.
Exporters are also battling logistical problems that increase the final cost of the product. These include rising freight rates, surcharges related to geopolitical tensions in West Asia, and a shortage of shipping containers. These factors have complicated the export process, making it difficult to maintain competitive pricing in global markets. In response, the government has launched the RELIEF scheme, which provides financial assistance to insured exporters and offers reimbursements for eligible MSMEs dealing with the sharp rise in freight and insurance expenses.
For investors and stakeholders, the key monitorables will be the actual implementation of orchard rejuvenation programs and whether the proposed pulp blending initiatives succeed in stabilizing domestic prices. On the export front, the focus remains on the frequency and cost of shipping routes, as well as the extent to which government schemes can offset the rising logistics expenses caused by ongoing geopolitical issues in the West Asian trade corridors.