TIRUPATI: The escalating war situation in West Asia is casting a shadow over the export prospects of Totapuri mangoes from the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, raising serious concerns among farmers and exporters ahead of the upcoming harvest season.
Farmers in the erstwhile Chittoor district comprising Chittoor, Tirupati and Annamayya districts fear a major price crash as shipping consignments of mango pulp and juice products bound for Gulf countries have reportedly been stalled due to disruptions in international trade routes.
According to farmers and exporters, several consignments that were ready for export have either been halted at Indian ports or remain stuck in the middle of the sea amid uncertainty caused by the ongoing Iran-USA conflict in West Asia.
As a result, exporters are reluctant to commit to fresh procurement contracts for the upcoming season beginning in April.
The combined Chittoor region is one of India’s largest mango-producing belts and is widely known as the “Mango Pulp Capital of India.”
Nearly 65-75 percent of mango pulp produced in the Chittoor region is exported to international markets including the Middle East, Europe, the United States of America (USA), Japan and South Korea.
Large quantities of mangoes exported to Gulf
Horticulture officials estimate that the region has around 2.8 to 2.87 lakh acres under mango cultivation, with Totapuri mango accounting for nearly 90 percent of the area.
Around 76,700 farmers depend on mango orchards for their livelihood.
The region produces about 7.5 lakh metric tonnes of mangoes annually, with Totapuri alone contributing 5 to 5.5 lakh tonnes.
For the upcoming season, the yield is expected to touch around 8 lakh tonnes, raising concerns about oversupply if exports slow down.
Farmers are already recovering from last year’s difficult season when corporate bulk buyers such as beverage and juice manufacturers reduced procurement due to unsold pulp stocks from earlier purchases.
To prevent a market collapse, the Andhra Pradesh government had announced a Rs 4 per kg subsidy on Totapuri mangoes and directed juice factories to procure the fruit at Rs 8 per kg apart from announced Rs 4 subsidy.
However, farmers allege that several factories paid only Rs 6 per kg, while some are yet to fulfil the government assurance.
Speaking to TNIE, T Hari, a mango farmer from Bangarupalem, said the situation could worsen this year.
“A large portion of Totapuri mango pulp and juice is exported to Gulf countries. If the war continues and shipments are disrupted, exporters may reduce procurement. That will definitely affect prices in the upcoming season,” he said.
The region also hosts a large mango processing industry with about 45 pulp factories, including 36 in Chittoor district and nine in Tirupati district.
Major processing clusters are located in Chittoor industrial area, Tirupati region, Puttur belt and Bangarupalyam industrial corridor. These units together process 5.5 to 6.5 lakh tonnes of mangoes annually, most of which is converted into pulp for export.
While speaking to TNIE , Tirupati District Horticulture Officer Dasaratha Rami Reddy said the government has not yet issued any specific directions regarding the emerging export situation.
“We are monitoring the developments. If shipping disruptions continue, it may impact exports because a large share of mango pulp from this region is shipped to Arab countries. That could eventually influence domestic prices,” he said.
With the mango sector generating an annual turnover of over `1000 crore, the uncertainty surrounding export markets has left farmers anxious.
Rayalaseema mango trade hubs
Malacheruvu Mango Market One of the largest mango markets in South India with 2,000-5,000 tonnes per day during peak season
Bangarupalyam Mango Market A key hub supplying to pulp factories
Puttur Mango Yard - Supplies mangoes to traders from Tamil Nadu
Tirupati Mango Market - Attracts traders from Karnataka, Maharashtra, UP, Punjab and MP