Centre panel recommends 22–25% natural mango pulp in mango beverages.
Proposal links 5% GST benefit to higher fruit content to support Totapuri farmers.
Highlights
- Expert panel recommends 22–25% natural mango pulp in mango-based beverages.
- Only products meeting the pulp threshold may continue to get 5% GST.
- Move aims to boost demand for Totapuri mango pulp and improve farmer incomes.
- Centre plans consultations with FSSAI, GST Council and key ministries.
- Panel also suggests price stabilisation mechanism and orchard rejuvenation.
- APEDA to expand domestic and export markets for Totapuri mangoes.
The Centre is considering major changes to boost demand for Totapuri mangoes and improve farmers’ incomes. An expert committee has recommended making it mandatory for mango-based beverages to contain at least 22–25% natural mango pulp. It has also proposed that only beverages meeting this requirement should qualify for the concessional 5% GST rate.
The recommendations were submitted to Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan by a committee headed by T. Damodaran, Director of ICAR-Central Institute of Subtropical Horticulture (CISH), Lucknow. The panel was formed after Totapuri mango prices fell sharply this season in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the country’s main producing states.
According to the committee, delays in procurement by processing units, low fruit content in mango beverages and fluctuations in global prices have reduced demand for Totapuri pulp, hurting farmers. By increasing the mandatory pulp content, the government hopes to raise consumption of genuine mango pulp while also improving the nutritional quality of beverages.
The Agriculture Ministry will now hold discussions with the FSSAI, GST Council and the Ministries of Finance, Food Processing, Health and Agriculture to finalise the proposed standards and tax structure.
The panel has also recommended creating a Central Coordination and Price Stabilisation Committee. This body would estimate crop production, assess processing and export demand, and announce indicative procurement prices before each season, helping both farmers and processors plan better.
To improve productivity, the committee suggested rejuvenating ageing Totapuri orchards in Andhra Pradesh through top-working, where existing trees are grafted with premium mango varieties such as Alphonso, Neelam, Himayat and Banganapalli. It also proposed expanding good agricultural practices, farmer training and demonstration projects.
Other recommendations include mandatory procurement by registered processing units from May 15 every year, better coordination among farmers, FPOs and processors, and promotion of value-added products such as mango butter made from seed kernels.
APEDA has also proposed expanding exports of Totapuri mangoes and processed products through cost-effective sea freight, while the government plans a coordinated strategy to strengthen India’s position in global mango markets. The Centre believes these measures will create a stronger, farmer-centric value chain and provide long-term income stability for Totapuri growers.
