NEW DELHI, 5 July 2026: The Centre has constituted a high-level expert committee under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to examine the sharp decline in Totapuri mango prices in Andhra Pradesh and recommend long-term measures to strengthen the sector and improve farmers' incomes.
The decision was taken by Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan following his recent visit to Andhra Pradesh, where Totapuri mango growers raised concerns over falling prices and mounting financial stress.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the expert committee will undertake a comprehensive assessment of the entire Totapuri mango value chain, covering cultivation, processing, marketing, domestic trade, and exports, to identify structural challenges and recommend sustainable solutions.
The committee will be chaired by Dr. T. Damodaran, Director of ICAR–Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH), Lucknow. Other members include experts from ICAR–Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru, Dr. YSR Horticultural University, and the Government of Andhra Pradesh's Horticulture Department.
The expert team has been directed to visit major Totapuri mango-growing regions in Andhra Pradesh within ten days. During the field assessment, the panel will interact with farmers, processors, exporters, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), and state horticulture officials to understand the challenges affecting the sector.
The committee will assess production costs, farmer incomes, processing capacity, demand-supply dynamics, domestic and export market trends, and the factors responsible for the recent decline in Totapuri mango prices.
It will also identify opportunities to improve value addition, processing efficiency, export competitiveness, and market access while strengthening coordination among farmers, processors, exporters, and FPOs.
Based on its findings, the committee will submit a comprehensive report to the Union Agriculture Minister recommending measures for price stabilisation, value addition, export promotion, processing infrastructure, and policy reforms to ensure the long-term sustainability of Andhra Pradesh's Totapuri mango industry.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan said protecting the incomes and livelihoods of Totapuri mango growers remains a priority for the government, adding that appropriate policy measures would be taken based on the committee's recommendations to strengthen the mango value chain and create new opportunities for investment, exports, employment, and farmer prosperity.
Image credit: plantskingdom.in
