MILLET MAIZE ETHANOL

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene urgently as farmers across the state grapple with a sharp decline in maize and green gram prices.

Every year, as winter sets in, wheat fields begin their journey—tiny green shoots carpeting vast stretches of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. Farmers prepare their land with precision, relying on experience passed down through generations.

Farmers have raised concerns over persistent technical issues occurring during the registration process for the ongoing maize procurement drive. According to the applicants, glitches in the system are preventing them from completing their registration, causing delays and uncertainty.

Maize farmers across several regions are facing severe distress as market prices have plunged drastically, falling far below the Minimum Support Price (MSP) as well as the basic cost of production. The sudden price crash has left cultivators worried about recovering even their input expenses such as seeds, fertilizer, labour, and transportation.

A total of 350 farmers have registered for the government’s Minimum Support Price (MSP) maize procurement process in Deola. Since early morning, farmers were seen standing in long queues at the registration center, hoping to secure their slot for selling maize under the support-price scheme.

This move is expected to benefit small and medium-scale farmers who often struggle to sell their produce at fair prices in the open market.

In a move aimed at supporting farmers and stabilizing maize prices, the Karnataka government has announced an increase in the maize procurement limit to 50 quintals per farmer.

Maize prices, however, remained unchanged 🌽⚖️, as balanced supply and demand kept the market stable. Adequate arrivals and lack of fresh buying interest prevented any major price movement in maize.

Maize prices in the Indore market moved higher on Tuesday, supported by increased demand from ethanol manufacturers. Traders said steady buying from distilleries has tightened local supplies, leading to an upward trend in prices.

A delegation of industry representatives from Bihar met the Union Petroleum Secretary to represent key concerns of ethanol producers from the state. During the meeting, the delegation highlighted operational, pricing, and policy-related challenges affecting ethanol manufacturing units, particularly those linked to feedstock availability and procurement mechanisms.

In a major breakthrough for agriculture, hybrid maize seed production has shown remarkable success in recent field trials. Researchers reported high germination rates, robust plant growth, and promising yield potential, making these seeds a strong candidate for large-scale farming.

This has created a steady market for farmers in Nellore, where irrigation facilities and suitable soil conditions support large-scale maize production.