Madurai, June 25 -- Mango farmers in the Melur Taluk of Madurai district are facing severe financial distress as the farm-gate price for the 'Kili Mooku' (Totapuri) variety has crashed to a record low of Rs 3 per kilogram, forcing many to leave their harvest to rot on trees or cut down plantations to avoid further losses.

The crisis has hit farmers across more than a thousand acres of farmland in the region, where production costs and labour charges have now far exceeded the market value of the fruit. While farmers receive a mere Rs 3 per kg, the same produce is being sold in retail markets for over Rs 40 per kg, highlighting a massive price disparity.

Speaking to ANI, Jeeva, a local farmer, detailed the unsustainable nature of the curr...