Chittoor district Collector Sumit Kumar reaffirmed on Friday that every Totapuri mango farmer affected by recent crop losses will obtain the state’s financial assistance in a fully transparent manner, leaving no room for irregularities or favoritism.

Transparent Beneficiary Identification

He explained that specially constituted official teams will vet eligible beneficiaries through gram sabha resolutions, field‑level inspections, historic cultivation records, farmer verification and mandatory crop e‑KYC. “The entire exercise will be carried out strictly in accordance with the State government’s guidelines. All genuine farmers will receive financial assistance without delay,” Kumar said.

Support Price Announcement

Facing a sharp decline in international demand, sluggish exports, and reduced procurement by mango‑pulp processors, the growers’ plight was escalated to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. In response, the government fixed a minimum support price of ₹4 per kilogram for Totapuri mangoes, aiming to provide immediate relief to over 35,000 families reliant on the crop.

Scale of Production and Market Dynamics

Totapuri mangoes are cultivated across roughly 51,736 hectares in Chittoor, yielding an estimated 5.17 lakh metric tonnes this season. Since the variety is primarily used for pulp manufacturing and sees limited demand in the fresh‑fruit market, growers are especially vulnerable to fluctuations in industrial procurement.

ICAR Expert Committee’s Intervention

An expert committee formed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is touring the district to study the sector’s challenges. The team has begun interacting with farmers, district officials, mango‑pulp manufacturers, and exporters to assess issues related to production, processing, quality improvement, marketing, and exports. After similar studies in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, the committee will submit recommendations to the Union government for long‑term policy measures to strengthen the mango sector.