Inactivity in Karnataka’s mangomarket sends ripples in Chittoor

Growers have been unable to send their produce to the hub in the neighbouring State

A major fruit processing hub in Karnataka, considered the largest of its kind in Asia, has fallen silent this year thanks to the COVID-19 lockdown. Mango growers in Chittoor district are now worried that they might incur steep losses. The Srinivaspur mango market, considered the mango capital of Karnataka, handles close to two lakh tonnes of produce every season. Over 60 varieties of the fruit are also distributed from here to several parts of the country. Mango growers from Punganur, Ramasamudram, Piler, Somala, and Chowdepalle mandals send their produce every year to this market as there are no fruit pulp/juice processing units in north-western Chittoor district. However, the lockdown imposed in the neighbouring State to curb COVID-19 has had a drastic impact on the sector, with goods carriers staying off the roads. Many farmers also decided against harvesting the ripe fruit in view of the low prices.