Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to extend support to safeguard the state’s mango farmers and boost the national economy through enhanced exports and value addition. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Stalin emphasised the need for infrastructure development to strengthen Tamil Nadu’s mango export policy, which focuses on increasing exports of table varieties and diversifying mango-based products. He said these goals could be achieved only by improving infrastructure and ensuring compliance with export standards.The Chief Minister requested that the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Union Commerce Ministry, be directed to support Tamil Nadu in establishing facilities such as Integrated Pack Houses, Inland Container Depots, cold ports, and quality testing laboratories. He also sought APEDA’s help in organising buyer-seller meets, identifying prospective international buyers, and conducting capacity-building programmes on export standards. Stalin said such measures would enhance the quality and market value of Tamil Nadu’s mangoes while reducing the dependence on pulp-based industries.
Recalling his earlier communication dated June 24, 2025, Stalin pointed out that mango farmers cultivating processable varieties had faced a severe price crash last season due to low demand for mango pulp. To prevent a repeat of that crisis, he sought timely central intervention this year. The Chief Minister expressed concern that packaged juice manufacturers were setting fruit pulp content in mango beverages without adhering to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) norms.
Stalin urged the Union Government to ensure strict compliance with FSSAI standards by directing beverage manufacturers to maintain a minimum pulp content of 18–20% in mango-based drinks. He said this step would increase pulp procurement, improve beverage quality, and provide price stability to mango farmers. Highlighting the importance of consumer welfare, he noted that such measures would also enhance the credibility of Indian fruit beverages in global markets.
Reiterating Tamil Nadu’s commitment to strengthening its agro-export base, Stalin said the state’s mango export policy aims to combine quality enhancement with equitable economic growth. “Your timely and kind intervention in this issue will not only safeguard the interests of mango farmers but also significantly contribute to the national economy through enhanced exports and value addition,” he wrote in his letter to the Prime Minister.