Fall in mango prices irks farmers

Vijayawada: As many as 17, 000 tonnes of mangoes worth Rs 16 crore were exported from Nunna Mango Market located near Vijayawada from April to May. This year Nunna Mango Market transactions were started from March 22, and in an average 400 tonnes to 500 tonnes of mangoes arrived in the market. Gradually, it was increased to 600 tonnes per day. Buyers from New Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Ahmedabad, Madhya Pradesh and other parts of the country were purchasing mangoes and exporting.

This year prices of mangoes not only dropped at Nunna Mango Market, but also in Hyderabad Gaddi Annaram Market, said traders. Nunna Mango Market transactions, this year till date about 17, 000 tonnes of mangoes were exported and it was only 13,120 tones by this time last year, said mango market trader K Rama Krishna. Moreover, prices of mangoes fell when compared to last year. Last year the price of Banginapalli mangoes per tonne was Rs 25,000 and Collector variety was sold for Rs 15,000 per tonne. But, this year price fell to 50 per cent and most of the buyers, Rama Krishna said.

He further stated that that Karnataka state mangoes were also came into the market and they are more attractive than Krishna district mangoes. Karnataka mangoes had much demand and consumers buy Rs 800 per kg in New Delhi while AP’s mangoes were sold Rs 400 per kg, he said. From last two weeks, mango prices at Nunna Mango Market have come down.
Banginapalli variety is being sold for Rs 10,000 to Rs 17,000 per tonne and Collector variety for Rs 5, 000 to 7, 000, said mango farmer K Siva Ramaiah of Nunna. He alleged that buyers and traders colluded and reducing the mango price.