Mango farmers in Dindigul district have been facing severe financial distress after market prices fell sharply during the 2026 harvest season. On June 17, 2026, growers in areas such as Natham reported that prices had dropped so low that some farmers began dumping harvested mangoes in waste yards because selling them would not even cover transportation and handling costs. Dindigul is known for several popular mango varieties, including Alphonso, Banganapalli, Imam Pasand, Sendhuram and Malgova. Farmers said production was higher than usual this season, but demand from other states remained weak. Export movement had also slowed, contributing to an oversupply in local markets and putting further downward pressure on prices. Growers reported that mangoes which sold for around ₹10–₹20 per kilogram the previous season were fetching only about ₹5–₹10 per kilogram in recent weeks. Lower-grade fruit was reportedly being purchased for as little as ₹4 per kilogram, while higher-quality varieties such as Banganapalli and Imam Pasand received somewhat better prices depending on demand. Farmers also said that reduced rainfall affected fruit size and quality, making it more difficult to sell produce at profitable rates. With harvesting, labour and transportation expenses continuing to rise, some growers concluded that leaving mangoes unharvested or discarding them was financially preferable to taking them to market at extremely low prices. The crisis has renewed demands for government intervention, better procurement arrangements, cold-storage facilities and mango-processing infrastructure. Growers and agricultural representatives have argued that facilities such as pulp-processing units could absorb surplus production during peak harvest periods and help prevent sudden price collapses. Similar concerns had already been raised by Dindigul farmers over weak procurement prices and the lack of sufficient storage infrastructure. Overall, the situation has highlighted the vulnerability of Dindigul’s mango farmers to oversupply, weak demand, export disruptions, changing weather conditions and inadequate post-harvest infrastructure. Farmers have urged both the Union and Tamil Nadu governments to introduce measures that provide more stable and remunerative prices for mango growers.