A high-level expert committee constituted by the Ministry of Agriculture has recommended making 22-25% real mango pulp mandatory in all mango-based beverages and imposing higher GST on products containing less than the prescribed pulp content, in a move aimed at increasing demand for Totapuri mangoes and improving farmers' incomes.
The recommendations were reviewed by Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during a high-level meeting to address the sharp decline in prices received by Totapuri mango growers in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
According to the committee, one of the key reasons behind the crash in Totapuri mango prices this season was the low quantity of real mango pulp used in beverages, coupled with inadequate processing capacity, delayed procurement by processors and fluctuations in export demand.
The panel suggested that only beverages containing more than 22-25% natural mango pulp should continue to enjoy the 5% concessional GST rate, while products with lower pulp content should attract a higher GST. It said the move would increase the use of Totapuri mango pulp by beverage manufacturers while ensuring consumers get more nutritious fruit-based drinks.
Taking note of the proposal, Chouhan directed officials to convene an inter-ministerial meeting involving the FSSAI, GST Council, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Health to examine the required food standards and taxation framework.
The committee also recommended setting up a Central Coordination and Price Stabilisation Committee to monitor production, processing, exports and market conditions before every mango season and suggest indicative procurement prices for farmers and reference prices for mango pulp.
To improve productivity, the committee proposed rejuvenating ageing Totapuri orchards in Andhra Pradesh through top-working techniques, under which high-value mango varieties such as Alphonso, Banganapalli, Neelam and Himayat can be grafted onto existing trees. It also recommended promoting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), demonstration orchards and farmer training.
Other recommendations include providing fruit bags to improve fruit quality, developing zonal procurement and processing plans involving FPOs and processors, and making it mandatory for registered processing units in Andhra Pradesh to begin procurement from May 15 every year.
The committee also advocated promoting farmer-led value addition by producing mango butter and other products from mango seed kernels using technologies developed by ICAR institutions.
Emphasising that the report would not remain on paper, Chouhan said the government would take concrete steps at the policy, technology and market levels. He added that the Centre would prepare an integrated roadmap by aligning GST, food safety standards, exports and state policies to make the Totapuri mango value chain more farmer-centric. The minister expressed confidence that implementing the recommendations would lead to a sustained increase in farmers' incomes while strengthening India's position in the global mango market.