The mango export season has officially begun in the Nuzvid region, marking the start of shipments from March 15. Although mangoes arrived earlier than usual this year, exporters initially hesitated to procure them due to bitter taste caused by early harvesting.
Nuzvid is renowned for producing 36 varieties of mangoes, with Banginapalli, Chinna Rasalu, Pedda Rasalu, and Tothapuri being the most sought-after. Among these, Banginapalli and Chinna Rasalu have a strong export market. Last year, despite a poor crop yield, around 15,000 metric tonnes of Banginapalli mangoes were exported from the Nunna Mango Market.
Favourable weather conditions in 2025 resulted in early arrivals of Banginapalli and Chinna Rasalu mangoes at local markets by January. However, exports only picked up after the start of summer, with traders from Haryana, Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai rushing to farms to purchase fresh mangoes.
Despite high demand, the price of Banginapalli mangoes has dropped significantly compared to 2024. Top-quality Banginapalli mangoes, which were sold for 80,000 per tonne in March 2024, are now priced at just 58,000 per tonne.
Farmers blame middlemen for the price drop. “We have a good crop this year, and demand from traders is strong. But middlemen are lowering prices. Many traders are harvesting mangoes directly from farms, further reducing rates,” said D Sama Siva Reddy, a farmer from Agiripalli.
On the other hand, traders argue that high production is the reason behind the price fall.