Maize farmers deprived of fair price in Srikakulm district

Srikakulam: Maize farmers are facing problem in selling their produce at reasonable price. In the wake of Covid-19 lockdown, the farmers are unable to transport their produce to purchasing centres though the government opened 39 centres procure maize from the farmers through AP Marketing Federation. The State government has been promoting cultivation of maize during rabi season to reduce water consumption. Subsidy is also being provided to farmers for seed.

The acreage under maize cultivation has gone up to 40,000 acres in the district. The government fixed Rs 1,750 as minimum support price (MSP) for maize per quintal. But local traders and middlemen are paying only Rs 1,450 to farmers on the pretext of low quality. "With the government encouragement, we started cultivation of maize crop, but unable to get reasonable price," said P Tammayya and Ch Lakshunnaidu, farmers from Ponduru mandal. "We purchased maize from farmers and receiving requests from farmers for purchase of maize and we will procure it," said AP Marketing Federation Manager K Ramani.