Mango farmers in Melur Taluk of the Madurai district are facing a severe financial crisis after the farm-gate price of the Kili Mooku (Totapuri) mango variety dropped to just Rs 3 per kilogram.
The sharp fall in prices has made mango cultivation unprofitable for many growers. As a result, several farmers have stopped harvesting their crop, while others have begun cutting down mango trees to reduce future losses.
Farmers Say Production Costs Are Much Higher Than Returns
The crisis has affected more than 1,000 acres of mango orchards across the region.
According to local farmer Jeeva, growers spend nearly Rs 1 lakh per acre every year on cultivation, maintenance, and orchard management. However, the income they receive no longer covers even the basic cost of production.
He said farm-gate prices have steadily declined over the past two years. The price fell from around Rs 5 per kg to Rs 4 per kg, and has now reached an all-time low of Rs 3 per kg.
Meanwhile, consumers continue to pay much higher prices in retail markets, where the same mangoes are sold for more than Rs 40 per kilogram.
Labour Costs Make Harvesting Unviable
Farmers say harvesting the crop has become economically impossible because labour charges alone exceed the value of the fruit.
According to Jeeva, hiring a worker costs around Rs 700 per day. Besides labour expenses, farmers must also pay transportation costs, commission charges and other operational expenses.
At the current market price, the income from harvested mangoes is often not enough to recover these costs.
Consequently, many labourers are unwilling to work in mango orchards because farmers cannot afford to pay them.
Huge Gap Between Farm and Retail Prices
Growers have also questioned the large difference between the price they receive and the price consumers pay.
While farmers earn only Rs 3 per kilogram for raw mangoes, processed mango products such as juices and beverages continue to sell at significantly higher prices.
For example, Jeeva pointed out that a small bottle of mango juice costs around Rs 10, even though the raw fruit used to make it is purchased from farmers at extremely low prices.
Farmers Demand Minimum Support Price
Facing mounting debts and continuous losses, several farmers in the Kottampatti Union have reportedly started removing their mango plantations altogether.
Farmers’ associations are now urging the Tamil Nadu government to introduce a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for mangoes.
They have proposed an MSP of at least Rs 20 per kilogram, arguing that this would help make mango cultivation financially sustainable.
According to farmers, neighbouring states such as Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have already introduced support measures. In some regions, growers reportedly received around Rs 8 per kilogram as a support price last year.
Industry Partnership Suggested to Protect Farmers
Besides introducing an MSP, farmers have also appealed to the state government to coordinate with fruit pulp companies and juice manufacturers.
They believe direct procurement from farmers at fair prices would reduce the role of middlemen and improve their earnings.
Although the crisis is most visible in Madurai district, farmers warned that similar conditions exist in other major mango-producing districts, including Krishnagiri, Salem, Dharmapuri and Dindigul.
They say immediate government intervention is essential to protect the livelihoods of thousands of mango growers across Tamil Nadu.