Centre announces support for mango under Market Intervention Scheme

A delegation from Tamil Nadu, led by Food Minister R. Sakkarapani, met Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi on Wednesday, urging the Centre to implement the Market Intervention Scheme (a component of PM-AASHA) to support mango farmers in the State who were severely affected by falling prices.

The delegation handed over a letter from Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, highlighting the plight of mango growers in the State who have been severely impacted by a sharp drop in procurement prices. DMK MPs Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and Tiruchi Siva, along with MLAs D. Mathiazhagan, Y. Prakash, and senior officials, were part of the delegation.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mr. Sakkarapani said the delegation had submitted a series of demands, including implementation of MIS to protect farmers’ interests and release of pending subsidies to the Department of Food. He pointed out that the procurement price for mango pulp had fallen by ₹5 per kg.