Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan has directed the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to depute a high-level expert committee to study the challenges faced by Totapuri mango growers in Andhra Pradesh, according to a statement released on July 3, 2026. The minister asked the council to submit a set of recommendations to support mango farmers in the long term.
Price Decline and Farmer Distress
The decision follows the Union Minister’s recent visit to Andhra Pradesh, where farmers informed him that Totapuri mango prices have declined significantly in recent months, adversely affecting their incomes. The source did not specify exact price levels or percentage declines, but the price drop triggered the government intervention.
Committee Composition and Mandate
The ICAR committee will comprise scientists and representatives of concerned institutions to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the crisis. 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.
| Committee Members | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| T Damodaran (Head) | Director, ICAR–Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow |
| M Shankaran | Head (Fruit Crops Division), ICAR–Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru |
| D Srinivasa Reddy | Professor, College of Horticulture, Anantharajupeta, Dr YSR Horticultural University, Andhra Pradesh |
Field Visits and Stakeholder Engagement
The committee members will visit the Totapuri mango-growing areas in Andhra Pradesh and interact with:
- Farmers
- Representatives of the processing industry
- Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)
This on-the-ground assessment aims to gather firsthand information on the challenges at each stage of the value chain.
Implications for Commodity Markets
For commodity traders and procurement teams, the formation of this committee signals potential policy changes that could affect domestic mango supply, processing capacity, and export dynamics. While specific price data is not detailed in the source, the significant decline in Totapuri mango prices highlights supply-demand imbalances in India’s horticulture sector. The committee’s recommendations may lead to market interventions such as minimum support prices, improved storage infrastructure, or export incentives. Traders should monitor the committee's findings for possible impacts on mango futures and contract specifications for Indian mango grades.
The committee's analysis of the entire value chain – from farm gate to export markets – will provide critical intelligence on production costs, post-harvest losses, processing margins, and trade barriers. This could affect sourcing strategies for both domestic processors and international buyers of Indian mangoes, particularly the Totapuri variety used extensively in the processing industry for pulp, juice, and concentrates.
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