Bengaluru/Kolar (Karnataka), June 22 (IANS) Mango growers in Karnataka’s Kolar district observed a district-wide bandh on Monday, demanding that the government announce a remunerative support price for mangoes amid a sharp fall in market rates.

Meanwhile, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy said the issue would be taken up on a priority basis by the Centre.

Farmers, under the leadership of the Mango Growers’ Association and various other organisations, staged protests across the district, alleging that the current market price of mangoes has resulted in heavy losses for cultivators.

According to the protesting farmers, mangoes are currently fetching only Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 per tonne in the market, far below production costs. They have urged the government to fix a minimum support price of Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 per tonne to safeguard the interests of growers.

Protests began early in the morning in several parts of the district, including Kolar and Srinivaspur taluks. Demonstrators blocked roads and dumped mangoes on the streets to express their anger over the low prices.

The bandh disrupted normal life in parts of the district, with RTC bus services remaining off the roads in some areas. Srinivaspur town witnessed a near-complete shutdown as shops and commercial establishments remained closed in support of the agitation.

Farmers said they had suffered similar losses during the previous season and alleged that the situation had recurred this year due to the government’s failure to intervene in the market.

The protesters urged both the state and the Central governments to come to the aid of mango growers and announce immediate measures to ensure fair prices for their produce.

Responding to the agitation, Union Minister Kumaraswamy said he had already taken up the matter with the Centre.

“I have written to the Union Agriculture Minister regarding the problems faced by mango growers in Kolar. The minister has been in Bhopal for the last five days. According to the information available to me, the Centre has not yet received any official communication from the Karnataka government on this issue. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has also written a letter. The matter will be taken up on a priority basis this afternoon,” he said.

He appealed to mango growers in Kolar and Ramanagara not to worry, recalling the Centre’s intervention in the previous season.

“I want to assure mango growers in Kolar and Ramanagara that they need not worry. The Centre provided substantial compensation last time, and similar assistance will be extended this year as well,” he said.

Kolar’s JD-S MP Mallesh Babu, who visited the protest site, said efforts were underway to secure a support price for mango growers.

“We have already requested the government to announce a support price for mangoes. Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and I have jointly taken up the matter with the Centre. The process has been delayed because the Union Agriculture Minister is away in Bhopal. We expect an announcement regarding the support price once he returns to New Delhi,” he said.

Mallesh Babu said growers were demanding a support price of Rs 10 per kilogram and noted that a similar intervention had been made in the past.

“Last year too, a support price was announced following Kumaraswamy’s intervention. This time as well, he has raised the issue with the minister concerned. Andhra Pradesh has already announced support measures for mango growers, and we expect both the Centre and the Karnataka government to extend similar support to farmers in the state,” he added.

–IANS

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