Totapuri mango ban by Andhra hits Karnataka farmers hard

A trade blockade imposed by the Andhra Pradesh government on Totapuri mango imports from Karnataka has triggered a major crisis for mango growers in Srinivaspur, Kolar district — the mango belt of the state.

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With the market collapsing at peak harvest time, farmers are now demanding Minimum Support Price (MSP) and state intervention.

Although demand for Totapuri mangoes typically peaks during the June harvest season, this year’s market has taken an unprecedented hit. Farmers allege that Andhra Pradesh has restricted the entry of Totapuri mangoes from Karnataka, leaving truckloads of produce stranded at border checkpoints, especially near Chittoor. While trucks from Andhra continue to enter Karnataka, those heading the other way are being turned back or delayed for days.

As a result, mango growers — many of whom depend entirely on seasonal earnings — have been pushed to the brink. They staged a protest this week demanding a government-declared MSP for Totapuri and other mango varieties.