Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, asking him to cancel the ban on Totapuri mangoes from Karnataka being sent to Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh.
In his letter dated June 11, Siddaramaiah said this kind of decision—made without talking to Karnataka—goes against the idea of working together between states. He warned that such moves could cause unnecessary tension between states, lead to possible retaliation, and disturb the smooth flow of goods between them.
Earlier, on June 10, Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh also wrote to her Andhra counterpart, requesting the ban be withdrawn. Meanwhile, farmers from Srinivasapura in Kolar district (which borders Andhra Pradesh) held protests and a local shutdown on Wednesday. They demanded that the ban be lifted and a support price be given for their mangoes.
In his letter, Siddaramaiah expressed concern over an order issued on June 7 by the Chittoor District Collector that banned Totapuri mangoes from other states. Enforcement teams, including police and other officials, were placed at border check-posts to stop the mangoes from entering.
He explained that this sudden restriction is causing big problems for Karnataka farmers, especially those who grow Totapuri mangoes near the border. These farmers depend on buyers and pulp factories in Chittoor to sell their produce.
“The ban has broken this long-standing trade connection and is now putting farmers at risk of losing their crops after harvest. Their livelihoods are in danger,” Siddaramaiah said.
He also mentioned that such actions could stir up anger and lead to blockages of other fruits and vegetables being transported between states.
Siddaramaiah has requested Naidu to step in and order the Chittoor authorities to cancel the ban immediately. He ended his letter by saying he hopes Naidu will take the issue seriously and ensure that farmers can continue selling their produce without any trouble.
