Relief for Mango Farmers in Tamil Nadu District After AIKS Protest

Mango farmers of Tamil Nadu’s Dindigul district received some reliefwith the administration assuring them of procuring 400 tonnes daily at a priceacceptable to both parties following a protest by the All India Kisan Sabha(AIKS).

With the mango season about to end, the price of mangoes had fallen to Rs 7,000-Rs 14,000 per tonne compared to Rs 30,000-Rs 70,000 last year. Farmers will get Rs 6,500 per tonne even as the syndicate controlling the prices is pushing it down, leaving them in deep distress.

With mango cultivation in 15,800 hectares (ha), the AIKS and mango cultivators have demanded cold storages in, at least, four places in Dindigul, a company to produce mango-based products and a minimum support price.

The steep fall in mango prices badly hurt farmers as the cost

of fertilisers and harvesting has increased. Farmers, led by the AIKS, protestedbefore the district collector’s office the district administration and the stategovernment’s intervention.

“Farmers spend around Rs 20,000 per ha, including the cost of production, fertilisers, pesticides, harvesting andtransportation to market.Since the price had fallen drastically, we protested to highlight the problem,”AIKS Dindigul district secretary Ramasamy told Newsclick.

 Prices are controlled by bulk purchasers, who have formed a lobbyand procured mangoes from neighbouring districts, leaving farmers with no buyers.

“After a dialogue between farmers and the district administration onJune 27, the company operating in the district has agreed to procure 400 tonnes daily till the end of the season. Farmers and the company will agree at a price,”

Ramasamy added. 

Companies profit by procuring mangoes at a lower price from

farmers and selling products, including juice, squash and jam, at a higher price.

The AIKS demanded that the government procure mangoes through the agriculture cooperativesocieties to ensure farmers receive a guaranteed price. 

The area under mango cultivation in Dindigul has reduced from 16,284 ha in 2013-14 to 15,801 ha. Mango is mainly cultivated in Natham (6,758 ha), Sanarpatty (4,680 ha), Pazhani (1,257 ha) and Athoor (1,041 ha) blocks.

The yield rate per ha also fell from 7,313 kg/ha in 2011-12 to 3,774kg/ha in 2021-22 while the production rate per ha decreased from 1,14,253 MT to 59,690 MT during the same period due to climate change and invasive diseases. 

“The sprouts start falling off at the beginning of the season andunseasonal rains result in less production. Besides, new diseases result inmassive losses. The agricultural department should immediately control crop diseasesand introduce new methods to improve productivity,” Ramasamy added.

He said cold storages across the district are the need of the hour.“Farmers can store mangos when the price falls and sell them later. Though thedistrict administration promised to convey our demand to the state government,this infrastructure must be provided soon.”