Maize farmers across the country are facing one of the steepest price declines in recent years, raising alarms within the agricultural sector. According to farmer groups, the sudden crash in maize prices has left many producers unable to cover their basic production costs, pushing them toward financial distress. 📉Producers say the government’s intensified push for ethanol manufacturing is distorting the domestic grain market. With more maize being redirected toward ethanol plants 🚗⚡, farmers argue that traditional buyers have reduced their procurement, leaving them with unsold stock and falling prices.
Adding to their worries is the increasing fear of large-scale maize imports from the United States 🇺🇸. Farmers believe cheaper imports could further depress domestic prices, making locally produced maize even less competitive.
“We are being squeezed from all sides,” one farmer said. “If prices keep falling and imports rise, many of us will not survive this season.” 😟Agricultural experts warn that the continued decline in maize prices could have long-term consequences for rural livelihoods and national food security 🌾. Farmer unions are urging the government to intervene with market support measures, import controls, or minimum price guarantees to prevent a deepening crisis.
