Mango prices fall sharply, farmers demand compensation

The Hindu

06-06-2025

As mango farmers in Madurai district face a roadblock in selling their produce to traders due to the abysmally low prices fixed by them, they are demanding compensation or a solution for procurement of fruits at a better price.
Though the farmers witnessed lower yields in the last few years, this year farmers enjoyed a good harvest, but they could not reap the benefits, said Jeeva, a farmer from Kesampatti near Melur.
He added that the good cultivation could have benefitted them if a fixed and regularised procurement system was in practice.
'I have about 100 trees in three acres of land, and the cultivation was about 25 tonne this year,' he stated.
But, the traders, who went to procure the produce wanted them for just Rs.4 per kg, he added.
When the procurement price was about Rs.25 per kg last year, this year, the drastic drop in the price has put the farmers in a tight spot, Mr. Jeeva said.
'We hear that as big corporate which procure the kizhimooku variety of mangoes for juices and other products does want to procure them this year, the traders refuse to procure them at good price,' he stated.
Opposing the dependence on corporates, he said that when the entire market was dependent on corporate companies, they would be the one to fix prices and manipulate them based on their needs.
The Tamil Nadu Farmers Association has urged the Tamil Nadu government to immediately fix a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for mangoes to ensure that growers were not exploited by market forces.
Further, they have also demanded compensation for farmers who have suffered losses due to the price crash.
Madurai district agricultural officials cited the over production of mangoes as reason for the price crash.
As the climate for the growth of mangoes was conducive, the farmers witnessed a good yield, but that has in turn reduced the demand for the fruit, the official stated.
However, their demands for compensation and fixation of MSP would all be discussed with the government for further action, the official added.