Mango growers in Dindigul district are grappling with substantial losses this season as prices have plummeted, compelling some farmers to discard their produce in garbage yards. A farmer from Natham dumped harvested mangoes at a waste yard on Wednesday, underscoring the distress among cultivators as market rates continue to decline.
Premium varieties hit hard
Dindigul is renowned for its premium mango varieties such as Alphonso, Banganapalli, and Imam Pasand, along with native varieties like Sendhuram and Malgova. Farmers report that this year has seen an unusually high yield, but demand from other states has remained weak. Exports have also slowed, which growers attribute to disruptions in international trade.
Sharp price decline
Consequently, prices have fallen sharply. While mangoes fetched Rs 10 to Rs 20 per kg last season, rates have dropped to Rs 5 to Rs 10 per kg in recent weeks. Farmers say the returns are insufficient even to cover transportation costs. “We have stopped selling mangoes for now. Reduced rainfall has caused fruits to shrink and lose quality over time,” said Y Siddiq Raja, secretary of the Natham Mango Sellers Association.
He noted that lower-grade varieties are being procured for as little as Rs 4 to Rs 10 per kg, while better-quality varieties such as Banganapalli and Imam Pasand fetch higher prices depending on demand. Farmers have urged the Union and state governments to intervene and ensure remunerative prices to prevent further losses.
Crisis spreads to other districts
The crisis is not limited to Dindigul. Mango growers in Krishnagiri, one of Tamil Nadu’s largest mango-producing districts, have also reported heavy losses due to poor prices, adverse weather, pest attacks, and rising cultivation costs. A meeting convened by the district administration in May failed to reach a consensus on procurement prices.
BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran, in a post on X, urged the state government to fix a fair price for mangoes, citing reports of farmers dumping produce in Dindigul, Krishnagiri, and Vellore districts.
