After the Centre approved financial assistance for Totapuri mango, farmers in Kolar district expressed displeasure over the State and Central government’s Market Intervention Price (MIP).

Following the protest by thousands of farmers in Kolar on June 22 over the low prices for Totapuri mango, the State government had sent a proposal to the Centre seeking to issue MIP to support farmers.

Meanwhile, Minister for Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy met Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Agriculture Minister, seeking financial assistance for mango farmers in Karnataka.

Prahlad Joshi, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, announced the approved package by the Centre on Thursday, according to which growers of Totapuri mangoes will receive the MIP of ₹1,750 per quintal, covering procurement of up to 1.30 lakh tonnes of produce. The selling price will be decided by the committee constituted under the Chairmanship of the Principal Secretary Agriculture Horticulture Cooperation of the Karnataka government.

However, the maximum quantum of differential payment between the MIP and selling price will be up to 25% of the MlP. It means that the State and Centre together will pay only 25% of ₹1,750 which comes down to ₹4,375 per tonne and finally ₹4.37 per kg for Totapuri mangoes.

This price has upset farmers who claim that they cannot recover the money they have spent for cultivation.

Neelataru Chinappa Reddy, president, Kolar District Mango Growers’ Welfare Association, said, “The State and Centre have served water instead of serving food to a hungry farmer. I urge the State and Union government to reconsider the MIP and provide us with what we asked. We demanded ₹10 per kg only for Totapuri variety and no other mango. They should have at least given us ₹8 per kg which would come up to ₹8,000 per tonne. Last year, we received ₹4.20 per kg from the State and the Centre for Totapuri. This year, they have increased 17 paise more.”

Mr. Reddy added, “ We will submit another memorandum to the State government and Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation Limited soon.”

Keeping in mind the loss to farmers who have grown Totapuri mangoes this year, the State government had recommended ₹17.50 per kg as cost of cultivation, which is ₹4.37 per kg as MIP only for this variety and sent a proposal to the Union government.

Meanwhile, the Union government has released guidelines to the State government for the implementation of MIP. The Price Deficiency Payment scheme will remain operational for one month during the marketing season. Farmers seeking benefits will be required to sell their produce through notified Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) markets in the State.

The Karnataka government has been directed to publish a list of authorised traders dealing in Totapuri mangoes under the MIS framework. Compensation for price losses will be transferred directly to eligible farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.