Bengaluru, 12 June 

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has urged Andhra Pradesh counterpart Chandrababu Naidu to revoke the ban on Totapuri mangoes from Karnataka entering Chittoor district. In a letter dated 11 June, Siddaramaiah criticised the unilateral decision, calling it contrary to the spirit of cooperative federalism and warned of possible retaliatory measures that could disrupt inter-state trade.

The ban, reportedly imposed on 7 June by the Chittoor District Collector, has led to multidisciplinary enforcement teams being deployed at inter-state checkposts with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to block mango shipments.

Karnataka’s Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh had already written to her Andhra counterpart K Vijayanand on 10 June, seeking revocation of the order. Meanwhile, mango farmers in Srinivasapura, a key growing area in Karnataka's Kolar district, held protests and a taluk-wide bandh demanding both a support price and withdrawal of the ban.

Siddaramaiah highlighted that Totapuri mango growers in Karnataka have long relied on Chittoor’s pulp processing units, and the restriction is causing major supply chain disruptions. The ban, he warned, could lead to post-harvest losses and severely affect the livelihoods of thousands of farmers in Karnataka’s border regions.

Expressing concern over escalating tensions, Siddaramaiah called on Naidu to take swift action and direct Chittoor authorities to lift the restriction. “This issue warrants urgent attention to ensure seamless movement of agricultural produce and safeguard farmer welfare,” the letter stated.