The price of Totapuri mangoes, a key processing variety, has collapsed to ₹4–6 per kg in 2025–26 from ₹18–20 per kg in previous years, according to The Hindu BusinessLine. In response, a high-level expert panel constituted by the Union Ministry of Agriculture has proposed rejuvenating old and senile orchards in Andhra Pradesh, replacing them with improved varieties and enhancing processing infrastructure.
Price collapse and government intervention
The severe price decline has prompted the government to approve financial assistance of ₹1,747 per quintal under a market intervention scheme via a price deficiency payment system, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The panel, comprising senior scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Dr YSR Horticulture University, and officials of the State Horticulture Department, Andhra Pradesh, conducted intensive field visits to major Totapuri-producing districts.
Their recommendations include:
- Rejuvenation and top-working of old mango orchards
- Replacement of old varieties with new, improved cultivars
- Blending 20% pulp in juice, nectar, and similar products to enhance pulp usage
- Establishment of zonal procurement and storage infrastructure for prolonged processing duration
Supply-side challenges: Alphonso and export disruptions
On the Alphonso mango front, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada reported in a written Lok Sabha reply that the Maharashtra government has documented crop damage in the Konkan region, especially Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts, due to unseasonal heatwaves and erratic climatic conditions. This has reduced the availability of quality produce for exports.
Exporters also face logistical headwinds stemming from the geopolitical situation in West Asia, including:
| Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| Freight rates | Increased significantly, with war-risk surcharges imposed |
| Container availability | Shortages reported |
| Shipment schedules | Delays and congestion at ports |
To support exporters, the government has implemented the RELIEF (Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) scheme under the Export Promotion Mission, operated through the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India. It covers insured exporters, facilitation of insurance cover for upcoming shipments, and reimbursement assistance for eligible MSME exporters facing extraordinary freight and insurance surcharge burdens on shipments to the affected West Asia region.
White Revolution 2.0: dairy cooperatives expanding
In the dairy sector, Union Minister for Cooperation Amit Shah announced that milk procurement by cooperatives has risen from 660 lakh kg per day in 2023–24 to 697 lakh kg per day in 2025–26, as part of the cooperative-led ‘White Revolution 2.0’ initiative. The target is to reach 1,007 lakh kg per day by 2028–29 — a 50% increase. Since the programme's launch, 24,097 new multi-purpose dairy cooperative societies were registered during 2024–25 and 2025–26, and 31,394 existing societies were strengthened, providing market access to smallholder dairy farmers and upgrading procurement, testing, chilling, logistics, and processing infrastructure.
| Metric | 2023–24 | 2025–26 | Target 2028–29 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily milk procurement (lakh kg) | 660 | 697 | 1,007 |
| New dairy cooperatives registered | — | 24,097 (cumulative two years) | — |
| Existing societies strengthened | — | 31,394 | — |
Milk production in India has increased to 24 crore tonnes, though the source does not specify the exact year. The White Revolution 2.0 aims to boost the share of dairy cooperatives in the organised sector while promoting sustainability and circular practices.
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