Even as mangoes continue to sell at over ₹100 per kg in Bengaluru, farmers in the mandis of Kolar and Ramanagara districts are selling it at as low as ₹7-8 per kg. While this was already an off-year for mango farmers as the yield dropped to just 8 lakh-10 lakh metric tonnes against the usual 14 lakh-16 lakh metric tonnes, the fruits have now been infected by hoppers (jigi) and thrips leading to a huge decrease in the quality of the remaining yield.
Farmers in both these districts, which are the major mango-producing regions of Karnataka, said that hoppers — which suck the sap out of mango plants — have resulted in blackened mangoes.
“As the sap is sucked out, the fruits and the stem starts turning black. In the begining of the season, we had sprayed pesticides to prevent disease, but when the temperature started going up, many fruits dropped and the overall quality took a hit,” explained Dharanish Kumar, president, Kanakapura and Channapatna Mango Growers’ Association.
He added “We are selling badami (alphonso) at ₹27 per kg and sendhoora for a mere ₹7-8 per kg at the mandis. With not enough supply to the market, retailers are selling it for higher prices.” He also mentioned that mangoes are cultivated on 32,000 hectares in Ramanagara and 30,000 families are dependent on it.
Repeat of 2018
In Kolar district, farmers are selling totapuri and sendhoora varieties at ₹10 per kg and badami at ₹25 per kg. “The quality (of mangoes) has taken a huge hit in the last few days. We had only seen about 20% of fruit formation this time and now even that is affected by thrips and hoppers. We have nothing left to even export this time,” said Neelaturu Chinnappa Reddy, president, Kolar District Mango Growers’ Association
According to farmers, they had last seen such low prices only in 2018. “Back then, we had held a lot of protests, and the government had declared a support price of ₹2,500 per tonne. This time, we requested the Horticulture Department to send a technical committee to scientifically assess the problems in the fields and they paid us a visit,” Mr. Reddy said.
Mr. Kumar also said that the farmers had approached the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Ramanagara and requested crop inspection for crop insurance.
Taking action
The officials of Horticulture Department said that they had taken cognisance of the situation and sent a team to Kolar for inspection. “We are waiting to see what the team says, and, in the meantime, we will also be assessing the severity of the situation,” said Ramesh D.S., director, Horticulture Department.
When asked about insurance, he said, “Insurance for horticulture crops is dependent on the term sheet. It basically means that there are certain parameters and if the weather conditons either cross or are extremely below those parameters, then insurance is decided based on that. Our Mango Board has already issued advisories to the farmers and are assessing these parameters.”
Bengaluru retail rates
Meanwhile, in Bengaluru, totapuri is selling at ₹35-₹40 per kg, badami at ₹110-₹125 per kg and sendhoora at ₹80-₹100 per kg in retail markets.
“At wholesale markets, we are selling mangoes for anywhere between ₹10-₹50 per kg after we grade them based on size and quality. The last few days, business has also been dull due to rain and the prices might pick up a little more once weather stabilises,” said Ragunath, a wholesale mango seller at Electronics City fruit market.
He added, “Retailers are selling grade 1 fruits at double the prices as mangoes are perishable. One day later, they will be selling the same fruits at lower prices. As the mangoes change at least three to four hands by the time it reaches the consumer, the retail prices will be quite high.”
Published – May 21, 2025 06:08 pm IST
