Mango farmers stage protest demanding payment of dues from pulp industries

A protest by mango farmers from Chittoor and Tirupati districts, demanding payment of long-pending dues from pulp processing industries, ended on a positive note on Monday. District Collector Sumit Kumar assured the agitating farmers of fresh negotiations with pulp unit operators to resolve the issue.

More than 300 mango farmers participated in the “Chalo Collectorate” programme, pressing for immediate clearance of pending payments. Protest organisers representing the District Mango Farmers’ Association deplored that several pulp industries had failed to clear dues for mango supplies made over the past seven months, despite directives from the government.

“The delay was unjust and exploitative, especially as farmers we are preparing for the upcoming season. The farmers urgently required capital for pruning, fertilisers and other operations for the ensuing season,” said CPI(M) district secretary Vada Gangaraju.

The protestors asked whether the government would side with the “40 errant industries or 40,000 mango farmers,” and demanded immediate release of all pending amounts, noting that some industries had paid only ₹2-₹5 per kg so far, as against the government’s assurance of ₹8.

Their demands included early commencement of pulp units by May 2026, government-run urban outlets for the sales of table varieties, support for cold storage and cottage industries, and linkage of mango cultivation operations with the MGNREGS scheme.

After the protest, a memorandum was submitted to the Collector, who assured the farmers that discussions with pulp industry representatives would be held at the earliest.