Anantapur: The mango breeding community in India is struggling to cope with an unprecedented crisis, despite rising market prices for fruit kings, due to the combination of seasonal rainfall and pests.
Farmers worked hard for six months to grow fruits. But at peak times, non-seasonal rainfall and pests damage crops. Fruits failed to meet traders and consumers’ expectations in terms of quality and price, respectively.
Dr. Asha Devi, vice president of the Gumouth Buddha Association, concluded that not only the mango orchards, sweet lemons, pomegranates, sapota, papaya, watermelon, Musk Mellon and Guava plantations were also severely affected. “Extreme weather conditions and pest infestations have destroyed farmers,” she said.
India is the world’s leading mango producer. The severe heat between January 2025 and February 2025. In addition to pest attacks, various diseases including fungi, bacteria and viruses further reduce crop yields. In areas like Rayalaseema, damage is particularly important, where mangoes lack rain until the first week of April and are now susceptible to worms and diseases.
Worse, brokers are taking advantage of this situation to buy mangoes from farmers at low prices and resell them at high prices, making the average person unable to bear fruit. The widespread use of carbides, sprayed and immersed in acetylene solution, leads to the arrival of artificially mature, unqualified mangoes on the market.
Professor GV Siva Reddy of Anantapur said the price of mangoes has soared to Rs 1,800 per box in the wholesale market, leaving most consumers out of reach. He said the middleman came at the expense of the peasants.
The government has little support for these major challenges facing farmers. Over the past decade, farmers have been struggling to obtain adequate storage facilities, affordable transportation and fair market prices.
Farmer K. Suresh from Abbedoddi called on the Minister of Agriculture K. Atchannaidu to take immediate action to resolve the peasant’s plight. He seeks to build dedicated storage facilities, better market access and compensation prices to ensure farmers get fair returns for their efforts. “We can maintain the quality of mangoes that reach consumers only with immediate support.”
The Mango crisis this season highlights the need for systematic reforms. This will ensure that the horticulture sector receives the necessary support to survive and thrive in the face of unpredictable weather and market pressures.
