Farmers in Thoothukudi Demand MSP for Rabi Maize Amid Price Drop
Chennai, Feb 7: Farmers in the rain-fed regions of Thoothukudi district are calling on the Union government to expand the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system to include maize cultivated during the Rabi season. They are expressing concerns that a significant drop in market prices has led to severe financial strain.
Currently, private traders are purchasing maize at approximately ₹1,800 per quintal, a notable decrease from last year's Rabi season price of around ₹2,500 per quintal, which is insufficient to cover production costs.
As harvesting is expected to ramp up in the upcoming weeks, farmers are worried that prices may decline even further. This year, the area dedicated to maize cultivation has increased significantly, with nearly 1.85 lakh acres planted, compared to 1.5 lakh acres last season.
The surge in production has created an oversupply in local markets, further driving down prices. Harvesting activities are ongoing in various taluks, including Ottapidaram, Ettayapuram, Vilathikulam, Pudur, Kovilpatti, and Kayathar.
R. Muthuraj, a farmer from a village near Kovilpatti, stated that the current prices do not even cover essential production costs such as seeds, fertilizers, labor, and irrigation.