AP Government Announces ₹4/Kg Subsidy to Support Totapuri Farmers
To support struggling Totapuri mango farmers in Chittoor, Tirupati, and Annamayya districts, the Andhra Pradesh government has launched a ₹4 per kg subsidy. This initiative helps growers overcome low market prices offered by pulp factories, with an estimated total expenditure of ₹160 crore.
Highlights
- •Government introduces ₹4/kg subsidy for Totapuri mango farmers in AP.
- •Support targets districts of Chittoor, Tirupati, and Annamayya.
- •Subsidy aims to offset low procurement prices offered by pulp factories.
- •Program expected to cost ₹160 crore due to reduced seasonal yields.
The state government has officially introduced a Totapuri farmers subsidy program, offering a financial incentive of ₹4 per kilogram to support growers of this popular mango variety. This initiative is designed to provide critical relief to agriculturalists in Chittoor, Tirupati, and Annamayya districts who have been struggling with procurement rates that fall significantly below their production costs.
For many local farmers, the current market situation has been challenging, with pulp processing units offering prices as low as ₹5 to ₹6 per kilogram. By providing this additional ₹4 subsidy, the government aims to boost the effective price to approximately ₹10 per kilogram. This financial intervention serves as a necessary safety net for producers during the height of the procurement season.
Impact of the Totapuri Farmers Subsidy on Local Agriculture
Totapuri mango cultivation spans roughly two lakh acres across the affected districts, marking it as a vital horticulture crop for the regional economy. However, the sector has faced significant hurdles this year, primarily due to unfavorable weather patterns that have hampered overall output. Horticulture officials have estimated the current year's yield at five lakh tonnes, a noticeable decline from the six lakh tonnes harvested in the previous year.
Agricultural experts highlight that the costs associated with maintaining these orchards range between ₹30,000 and ₹35,000 per acre. To achieve true financial viability, growers argue that a minimum price of ₹9 per kilogram is essential just to cover operational investments, while a fair and remunerative price would ideally fall between ₹12 and ₹16 per kilogram.
Currently, procurement activities are actively moving forward throughout the mango-growing belt. Among the 44 operational mango pulp factories within the three districts, the majority have already begun processing. Specifically, in Chittoor district, 28 out of 31 factories are engaged in the procurement process. The Horticulture Department is now systematically gathering data from these facilities to streamline the disbursement of the Totapuri farmers subsidy directly to the growers.
While this announcement is a welcome development, it is noted that a portion of the harvest—nearly one lakh tonnes—had already been sold prior to the policy change. Reflecting on past support, local leadership, including MLA K. Murali Mohan, noted that similar government initiatives in 2025 were instrumental in stabilizing the market, with over 40,000 farmers receiving approximately ₹187 crore in direct bank transfers. With the expected lower production volumes this season, officials anticipate that the total expenditure for this subsidy program will reach roughly ₹160 crore.
