Bengaluru, June 17 (IANS) Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday took up the concerns of mango growers in Karnataka with the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, seeking consideration of support under the Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) through the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) to mitigate the distress faced by farmers during the 2026-27 season.

In a letter addressed to Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Kumaraswamy highlighted the challenges faced by mango cultivators due to depressed market prices, seasonal gluts and rising cultivation costs, and requested sympathetic consideration of the matter in the larger interest of farmers and the horticulture sector.

Observing that Karnataka is among the country’s leading mango-producing states, Kumaraswamy noted that the cultivation extends over nearly 1.45 lakh hectares, with an estimated production of around 10 lakh metric tonnes during the current season.

Districts such as Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Ramanagara, Bengaluru Rural, Dharwad, Tumakuru and Haveri support the livelihoods of thousands of farming families who depend substantially on horticulture for their income.

The Union Minister pointed out that many growers are being compelled to sell their produce at prices significantly below remunerative levels owing to market fluctuations and oversupply conditions.

Citing estimates of the Karnataka Agricultural Price Commission, he said the Cost C-3 of mango cultivation has been assessed at Rs 3,951 per quintal, while prevailing market prices remain substantially below this level, exposing farmers to considerable financial losses despite substantial investments in irrigation, labour and harvesting operations.

Kumaraswamy observed that extending support through the PDPS mechanism would help bridge the gap between market prices and remunerative returns, while ensuring income protection for growers without distorting market dynamics. He noted that such assistance would be particularly beneficial in horticulture-dependent districts such as Kolar, where mango cultivation forms an important component of the rural economy.

Requesting that the proposal be examined in coordination with the Government of Karnataka, Kumaraswamy urged the Union Agriculture Ministry to consider extending appropriate support to mango growers under the PDPS framework and initiate the necessary administrative process at the earliest.

–IANS

mka/dpb