Farmers in Thoothukudi are requesting the government to expand the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system to include maize grown in the Rabi season. They express concerns over the significant decrease in market prices, currently at around ₹1,800 per quintal compared to ₹2,500 last year. The increased maize cultivation area, now at 1.85 lakh acres, has led to oversupply and further price reductions.
Harvesting activities are escalating in various taluks like Ottapidaram, Ettayapuram, and Vilathikulam, among others. Farmers, such as R. Muthuraj and S. Rajendran, emphasize that the current prices do not cover production costs, leaving them with losses. They fear prices may drop even lower with the upcoming peak arrivals in March.
Farmers’ associations in Tamil Nadu are advocating for the inclusion of Rabi maize under the MSP scheme to enable government agency procurement, similar to pulses. Local leaders highlight the need for regulatory support to shield growers from market exploitation. The proposal for MSP coverage for Rabi maize has been submitted to the Union government, awaiting formal approval to commence procurement.
