Chittoor: The recent ban imposed by the Chittoor district administration in Andhra Pradesh on the import of Totapuri mangoes from other states has escalated into a significant interstate trade dispute. At the heart of the conflict lies the impact on Karnataka’s mango growers, who heavily rely on Chittoor’s processing and pulp units for marketing their produce. This ban has created a significant disruption in the annual trade of approximately 3 lakh tonnes of Totapuri mangoes, a substantial volume that contributes significantly to the livelihoods of numerous farmers in both states.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has strongly condemned the ban, describing it as “abrupt” and “unilateral” in a letter addressed to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. He expressed deep concern about the considerable hardship faced by Karnataka’s mango growers, particularly those in border districts. Siddaramaiah’s letter explicitly warned of potential retaliatory measures if the ban isn’t lifted, emphasising the importance of cooperative federalism and the need for prior consultation before implementing such trade restrictions. The Chief Secretary of Karnataka, Shalini Rajneesh, had previously written to her Andhra Pradesh counterpart, K. Vijayananad, urging the immediate revocation of the order.
Defending the ban, Chittoor District Collector Sumit Kumar stated that the measure was necessary to protect local Andhra Pradesh farmers following a bumper crop that led to a steep decline in mango prices. He argued that allowing mangoes from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu would further depress prices, causing undue hardship to Andhra Pradesh growers. While acknowledging a team from Karnatakas Kolar district was in Chittoor to assess the situation, Kumar emphasised that Andhra Pradeshs aim was not to entirely halt trade, but rather to mitigate distress sales among its own farmers. Andhra Pradesh has also requested production data from Karnataka to better understand the scale of the issue.
The current price offered by processing units in Andhra Pradesh is only Rs 4 per kg, significantly lower than the ₹8 minimum support price (MSP) fixed by the state government (half of which is subsidised). This price discrepancy adds another layer of complexity to the situation, exacerbating the concerns of Karnataka’s mango farmers facing potential substantial post-harvest losses. The ongoing conflict highlights the challenges of balancing the interests of farmers in different states and the need for effective mechanisms to resolve interstate trade disputes in a collaborative and transparent manner.
