Centre approves price deficiency payment scheme for AP's Totapuri mangoes

The Centre has approved a Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) for 162,500 metric tonnes of ‘Totapuri’ mangoes from Andhra Pradesh under its Market Intervention Scheme (MIS).

 

The proposal was approved following Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and key NDA ally Chandrababu Naidu writing to Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to intervene.

 

The scheme is meant to benefit farmers in Chittoor, Tirupati, and Annamayya districts of Andhra Pradesh, where prices of ‘Totapuri’ mangoes have plummeted due to a bumper harvest.

 

Earlier, in June, the Union Agriculture Ministry approved the procurement of 0.25 million metric tonnes of mangoes in Karnataka under the PDPS, fixing the Market Intervention Price (MIP) at ₹1,616 per quintal. PDPS compensation was capped at 25 per cent of the MIP in case of a price shortfall.

 

As per the Andhra Pradesh scheme, the central government has fixed the market intervention price, or the floor rate, of ‘Totapuri’ mangoes at ₹1,490.73 per quintal or around ₹15 per kg.

 

If the prices fall below the floor, the government will directly transfer a payment of up to ₹372.68 per quintal or ₹3.73 per kg into the bank accounts of farmers.

 

However, this relief will be limited to 162,500 tonnes of mangoes, which is 25 per cent of the total ‘Totapuri’ production in major districts of Andhra Pradesh.

 

The deficiency payment of ₹372.68 per quintal or ₹3.73 per kg will be shared equally between the Centre and the Andhra Pradesh state government.

 

The MIS guidelines state that farmers willing to avail themselves of the benefits under the scheme must mandatorily trade their produce with traders who have proper documentation and verification as notified by the APMCs, or mango processing units and ramps, as duly notified by the district collectors of the state under the state Acts.

 

The Price Deficiency Payment Scheme will be operational for 30 days in the 2025-26 season, starting from the date of the first transaction after the issue of this letter.

 

The state government will be responsible for notifying all traders for coverage of ‘Totapuri’ mangoes under the PDPS scheme in Andhra Pradesh.

 

The price differential between the MIP and the sale price will be listed on the Agmarknet portal of the state government.

 

The scheme is expected to bring price stability, protection from market volatility, and reinforce the commitment to doubling farmers’ income.

 

Earlier, a team of senior officials from the Andhra Pradesh government, led by its Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, met Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to request intervention following the sharp drop in prices of ‘Totapuri’ mangoes in the state. He sought central support of ₹2 per kg for the mangoes.