Bumper maize crop leads to distress sale in Odisha

While maize production has crossed 7-lakh tonne mark in the State, the farmers are facing the problem of plenty as they are not able to sell their products with the decline of price in the market. Large numbers of farmers in major maize growing areas of the State are facing a tough time as they are forced to sell their products much less than the Minimum Support Price (MSP). While the MSP is Rs 1,425 per quintal, they are selling at less than Rs 1,100 per quintal and losing heavily. Districts of Nabarangpur, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar are the areas, where maize is produced more than 7 lakh tones per annum. Earlier, maize production was much less and as the Department of Agriculture took up various promotional programmes to boost production of commercial crops, instead of paddy, so the production has gone up. However, as the consumption in the household level is low, though in hilly regions, maize is a major food security item. The farmers prefer selling away their products in the market as it is a commercial crop; however, there is a glut in the market.