Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has urged the Central Government to extend financial assistance to Totapuri mango farmers facing a sharp decline in market prices. In a letter to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Mr Naidu sought 281 crore rupees under the Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) to help farmers tide over the ongoing crisis.
The Chief Minister said the price slump was caused by the suspension of mango pulp exports and reduced procurement by processing industries. He informed the Centre that the State Government has already begun procuring 7.03 lakh metric tonnes of Totapuri mangoes under the Market Intervention Scheme. It has also decided to provide an additional four rupees per kilogram to farmers.
Seeking Central support for the procurement programme from June to August, Mr Naidu said the assistance would provide much-needed relief to thousands of Totapuri mango growers, particularly in the Rayalaseema region.
