Kolar mango growers' bandh: Kumaraswamy vows Centre's help on price crisis
Synopsis
Kolar's mango growers didn't just protest — they dumped their harvest on the streets. With prices at ₹3,000–₹4,000 per tonne against a demanded MSP of ₹10,000, and the Karnataka government yet to even formally write to the Centre, the crisis exposes a familiar gap between farmer distress and government response time.
Key Takeaways
Mango growers in Kolar district, Karnataka observed a district-wide bandh on 22 June , demanding an MSP of ₹8,000–₹10,000 per tonne .
Current market prices have fallen to just ₹3,000–₹4,000 per tonne , far below production costs.
Srinivaspur town saw a near-complete shutdown; RTC bus services were suspended in several areas.
Kumaraswamy said he has written to the Union Agriculture Minister and pledged priority action.
The Karnataka government has reportedly not yet sent any official communication to the Centre on the issue.
Andhra Pradesh has already announced mango support measures; Karnataka growers are urging similar intervention.
Mango growers in Kolar district, Karnataka, brought normal life to a halt on Monday, 22 June, observing a district-wide bandh to demand a remunerative minimum support price (MSP) for mangoes as market rates crashed to a fraction of production costs. Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy responded swiftly, saying he had already written to the Union Agriculture Minister and that the matter would be taken up on a priority basis.
Why Farmers Are Protesting
According to protesting growers, mangoes in Kolar are currently fetching only ₹3,000 to ₹4,000 per tonne in the open market — well below what it costs to grow them. Farmer organisations, led by the Mango Growers' Association, are demanding that the government fix an MSP of ₹8,000 to ₹10,000 per tonne (equivalent to ₹10 per kilogram) to prevent further losses. Cultivators allege the current season mirrors the distress of the previous year, which they say went unaddressed until late intervention.
How the Bandh Unfolded
Protests erupted early in the morning across Kolar and Srinivaspur taluks. Demonstrators blocked roads and dumped mangoes on the streets in a visible display of anger. Srinivaspur town witnessed a near-complete shutdown, with shops and commercial establishments pulling down shutters in solidarity. RTC bus services were taken off roads in several parts of the district, disrupting commuters and daily trade.
What the Centre Has Said
Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy acknowledged the crisis and said he had already written to the Union Agriculture Minister. '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. Kumaraswamy appealed to growers in Kolar and Ramanagara not to worry, citing the Centre's compensation in the previous season as a precedent.
Local Leaders Weigh In
Kolar's Janata Dal (Secular) MP Mallesh Babu, who visited the protest site, confirmed that he and Kumaraswamy had jointly raised the issue with the Centre. He noted that the announcement of a support price was being delayed because the Union Agriculture Minister was away in Bhopal, and expected a decision once the minister returned to New Delhi. Mallesh Babu also pointed to Andhra Pradesh, which has already announced support measures for mango growers, and urged both the Centre and the Karnataka government to extend comparable relief.
What Happens Next
With the Union Agriculture Minister expected back in New Delhi shortly, growers and their representatives are watching for a formal MSP announcement. Notably, the Karnataka government has yet to send an official communication to the Centre on the issue, according to Kumaraswamy — a gap that could slow the relief process. If the Centre follows the precedent set last season, a support price or compensation package may be announced in the coming days.
Point of View
Street protests, ministerial assurances — but the detail that the Karnataka government has yet to formally write to the Centre is telling. It suggests the state's own response has lagged, leaving farmers dependent on central politicians from their region to carry the message upward. Kumaraswamy's intervention is politically convenient — he represents the JD(S)-BJP combine in a region that matters electorally — but the structural problem remains: mango, like most horticultural produce, sits outside the statutory MSP framework, making any 'support price' a discretionary act rather than a legal entitlement. Until horticulture gets the same procurement architecture as paddy and wheat, these seasonal crises will keep recurring.
NationPress
22 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did mango growers in Kolar observe a bandh on 22 June?
Mango growers in Kolar, Karnataka, called a district-wide bandh on 22 June to demand a government-fixed minimum support price for mangoes after market rates crashed to ₹3,000–₹4,000 per tonne, well below production costs. Farmers allege they have suffered similar losses in consecutive seasons without adequate government intervention.
What MSP are Kolar mango growers demanding?
Growers are demanding a minimum support price of ₹8,000 to ₹10,000 per tonne, or ₹10 per kilogram, to cover their production costs and ensure a viable income. Current market prices of ₹3,000–₹4,000 per tonne are cited as causing heavy losses.
What has Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy promised?
Kumaraswamy said he has written to the Union Agriculture Minister about the crisis and that the matter will be taken up on a priority basis. He also assured growers in Kolar and Ramanagara that the Centre would extend support similar to the compensation provided in the previous season.
Why has the Centre's response been delayed?
According to Kumaraswamy, the Union Agriculture Minister was in Bhopal and the Centre had not yet received any official communication from the Karnataka state government on the issue. An announcement on support price is expected once the minister returns to New Delhi.
Has any other state announced mango support measures?
Yes, Andhra Pradesh has already announced support measures for mango growers this season. Kolar MP Mallesh Babu cited this as a precedent and urged both the Centre and the Karnataka government to extend comparable relief to farmers in Karnataka.
