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. According to traders and market reports, maize is currently being sold at rates significantly lower than the government-declared MSP, with some mandis recording prices that are 20–30% below cost levels. This sharp drop has created widespread concern among farmers who were expecting stable returns due to steady demand from feed manufacturers, starch industries, and the poultry sector.
Farmers say that despite good quality produce and higher yields this season, the mandi prices remain unexpectedly depressed. Many are blaming oversupply, delayed procurement, and reduced demand from certain industrial sectors for the price collapse. A few traders also attribute the fall to increased imports and stockpiling by large buyers earlier in the year. Agricultural experts warn that prolonged price suppression could discourage farmers from sowing maize in the next season, potentially impacting domestic supply chains.
They are urging the government to intervene through timely procurement, better market monitoring, and extended support mechanisms to stabilize prices. As uncertainty grows, farmers hope for relief measures and a quick recovery in maize rates to ensure they can at least cover their production costs and sustain their livelihoods.
