The state government has come to the aid of the Totapuri farmer who was facing a price crisis. Like last year, this time it has announced a subsidy of Rs. 4 per kg. The announcement made by Agriculture Minister Atchannaidu on Thursday evening has caused joy among mango farmers.
Totapuri is cultivated in about 2 lakh acres in Chittoor, Tirupati and Annamaya districts. Last year, the yield was 6 lakh tonnes. This time, due to adverse conditions, it is estimated that the yield will be 5 lakh tonnes. With the cost of cultivation per acre ranging from Rs. 30 thousand to Rs. 35 thousand, the farmer will only get the real profit if he sells at least Rs. 9 per kg. In this context, farmers are demanding a price of Rs. 12 to Rs. 16. Factories are paying an average of Rs. 6. There are 44 pulp factories in the three districts, and all but four are working. 28 out of 31 factories in Chittoor district have started processing. 80 percent of these factories put up boards outside and are paying Rs. 6 per kg. Only another 20 percent of factories are paying Rs. 5. Including the subsidy, the farmer will get a total of Rs. 10 per kg. This will provide a lot of relief to the farmers. Farmers who go to the ramps to get their bills paid quickly are only getting Rs. 3 to Rs. 4.
This time, the horticulture department officials are estimating that the yield will be around 5 lakh tonnes. This time, the government has been a bit late in announcing the subsidy. Farmers have already sold around one lakh tonnes of the fruit. Officials have to collect the details of the farmers at the respective factories and ramps so that the sellers get the subsidy. This time, the harvest is likely to continue till the first week of August. The details of the remaining 4 lakh tonnes will be collected by the staff at the factories and ramps, just like last year.