Kumaraswamy seeks PDPS support for Karnataka mango growers amid price slump
Synopsis
With mango prices in Karnataka crashing well below the ₹3,951 per quintal cost of cultivation, Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has formally written to Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan seeking PDPS relief for growers across 1.45 lakh hectares — a distress call that exposes the persistent gap in India's farm support architecture for horticultural crops.
Key Takeaways
Kumaraswamy wrote to Shivraj Singh Chouhan on 17 June seeking PDPS support for Karnataka mango growers.
Karnataka produces around 10 lakh metric tonnes of mangoes annually across 1.45 lakh hectares .
The Karnataka Agricultural Price Commission pegs the Cost C-3 of mango cultivation at ₹3,951 per quintal — well above current market prices.
Worst-affected districts include Kolar , Chikkaballapur , Ramanagara , Dharwad , Tumakuru , and Haveri .
Relief is being sought through the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) under the PDPS framework for the 2026-27 season.
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday, 17 June wrote to Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, urging the Centre to extend relief to Karnataka's mango growers under the Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) through the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS). The intervention is being sought to cushion farmers from mounting losses during the 2026-27 season, as depressed market prices and a seasonal glut continue to erode incomes across the state's horticulture belt.
Scale of Karnataka's Mango Sector
Karnataka ranks among India's leading mango-producing states, with cultivation spread across nearly 1.45 lakh hectares and an estimated output of around 10 lakh metric tonnes this season. Districts including Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Ramanagara, Bengaluru Rural, Dharwad, Tumakuru, and Haveri are home to thousands of farming families whose livelihoods depend substantially on horticulture income.
The Price Crisis Facing Growers
According to estimates cited by Kumaraswamy from the Karnataka Agricultural Price Commission, the Cost C-3 of mango cultivation stands at ₹3,951 per quintal. Prevailing market prices, however, remain considerably below this threshold, leaving growers exposed to significant financial losses despite their investments in irrigation, labour, and harvesting. Oversupply conditions and seasonal market fluctuations have compounded the distress, compelling many farmers to sell well below remunerative levels.
What Kumaraswamy Has Requested
In his letter, Kumaraswamy argued that activating the PDPS mechanism would help bridge the gap between market realisations and remunerative returns without distorting market dynamics. He specifically highlighted Kolar — where mango cultivation forms a critical pillar of the rural economy — as a district where such support would be most impactful. He also requested that the proposal be examined in coordination with the Government of Karnataka and that the Union Agriculture Ministry initiate the necessary administrative process at the earliest.
Broader Context and What Comes Next
This appeal comes amid a recurring pattern of horticulture distress in Karnataka, where perishable crop farmers frequently face price crashes during peak harvest periods without the benefit of minimum support price (MSP) coverage that extends to foodgrain cultivators. The PDPS, designed specifically for horticultural commodities, offers a targeted mechanism to compensate growers for the shortfall between market and benchmark prices. Whether the Centre acts on the request — and how quickly — will determine the extent of relief reaching farmers ahead of the season's close.
Point of View
Leaving millions of farmers exposed every harvest season to the very price crashes the PDPS was designed to address. The scheme exists, the mechanism is clear, yet activation requires inter-ministerial coordination that has historically been slow. If the Centre responds swiftly, it sets a useful precedent; if it delays, Karnataka's mango growers will have lost the season before the paperwork clears.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) and how does it help mango farmers?
The PDPS is a Central government mechanism that compensates farmers for the difference between a benchmark price and the actual market price they receive for their produce. For mango growers in Karnataka, activation through the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) would help bridge the gap between the ₹3,951 per quintal cultivation cost and the depressed prices currently prevailing in the market.
Why are Karnataka mango farmers in distress during the 2026-27 season?
Farmers are facing a combination of seasonal oversupply, market fluctuations, and rising cultivation costs. According to the Karnataka Agricultural Price Commission, the cost of growing mangoes stands at ₹3,951 per quintal, but market prices have fallen significantly below this level, pushing growers into financial losses despite investments in irrigation, labour, and harvesting.
Which districts in Karnataka are most affected by the mango price crisis?
The districts most affected include Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Ramanagara, Bengaluru Rural, Dharwad, Tumakuru, and Haveri — all of which have large farming communities that depend substantially on mango and broader horticulture income.
What has H.D. Kumaraswamy specifically asked the Centre to do?
Kumaraswamy has urged Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to extend support under the PDPS framework through the MIS, examine the proposal in coordination with the Government of Karnataka, and initiate the necessary administrative process at the earliest to provide timely relief for the 2026-27 season.
How large is Karnataka's mango cultivation area?
Karnataka's mango cultivation spans nearly 1.45 lakh hectares, with an estimated production of around 10 lakh metric tonnes in the current season, making it one of the country's leading mango-producing states.
