Totapuri mango growers to get subsidy transparently, no favouritism: Chittoor Collector

Published 10 July 2026 · politics

Collector Sumit Kumar on Friday (July 10, 2026) reiterated that all Totapuri mango growers in Chittoor affected by crop losses would receive the State government’s

Collector Sumit Kumar on Friday (July 10, 2026) reiterated that all Totapuri mango growers in Chittoor affected by crop losses would receive the State government’s subsidy in a transparent and foolproof manner, and that there would be no room for irregularities or favouritism in the selection of beneficiaries. Addressing a press conference here, the Collector said specially formed official teams would identify eligible beneficiaries based on gram sabha resolutions, field-level inspections, previous 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,” he said. Sumit Kumar said the State government intervened after the plight of Totapuri growers was brought to the attention of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. “Farmers are facing severe financial distress due to weak international demand, sluggish exports, and a sharp decline in procurement by mango pulp processing industries. To provide immediate relief, the government has announced a minimum support price of ₹4 a kg for Totapuri mangoes,” the Collector said.

The Collector said Totapuri mango is cultivated across nearly 51,736 hectares in Chittoor district, with an estimated production of about 5.17 lakh metric tonnes this season. “Over 35,000 families depend on the mango crop for their livelihood. Since Totapuri is largely used for pulp manufacturing and enjoys limited demand in the fresh fruit market, growers have been particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in industrial procurement,” Mr. Sumit Kumar said. “An expert committee constituted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research is touring Chittoor district to study the challenges confronting the Totapuri mango sector.

The team has initiated interaction with farmers, district officials, mango pulp manufacturers and exporters to assess issues related to production, processing, quality improvement, marketing and exports. After completing 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,” the Collector said.