According to information shared by CM Siddaramaiah, maize price has come down in the market, while the production has increased.
Published Dec 06, 2025 | 3:34 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 06, 2025 | 3:34 PM
Representational image. Credit: iStock
Synopsis: Karnataka’s record maize harvest has triggered price crash to Rs 1,550–1,800/quintal against Rs 2,400 MSP, sparking massive protests in North Karnataka districts like Bagalkot. Farmers demand immediate procurement centres. Meanwhile, BJP has slammed Congress government. On the other hand, CM Siddaramaiah blames Centre’s inaction and maize imports while allowing direct sales to poultry and ethanol units with state subsidy support.
With Karnataka recording a “very high” maize production this year, the prices have fallen to levels that are hurting farmers especially in North Karnataka.
Good rain brought them good yields but with that the sudden price crash has pushed farmers into despair. Farmers are now demanding that the government immediately open maize procurement centres. Massive protests are going on in many maize-growing districts of Karnataka.
For instance, in Bagalakote, where maize is cultivated on 88,376 hectares, an estimated 6,47,820 tonnes of production is expected this season.
At present, APMC markets are offering only ₹1,550–1,800/quintal, far below, the ₹2,400 MSP fixed by the Centre in 2025-26. This is leading to major losses.
Basavantappa is a famer leader South First spoke to regarding this issue in his district. He says, “This time maize production has been high in Karnataka. Till now, the rates they are offering is very low. This is affecting us. Farmers have invested in seeds, pesticides, manure, machinery, and need to recover these costs.”
On 4 December, BJP state president BY Vijayendra participated in a protest supporting the farmers in his constituency. He posted on X, “Insisting on providing support prices for paddy and maize jowar and establishing procurement centers, and condemning the Congress government’s anti-farmer policies, state president Shri @BYVijayendra participated in the protest organized by the farmers’ front in Shikarpur today. On this occasion, officials, leaders, farmers, and workers were present.
ಭತ್ತ ಮತ್ತು ಮೆಕ್ಕೆ ಜೋಳಕ್ಕೆ ಬೆಂಬಲ ಬೆಲೆ ನೀಡಿ ಖರೀದಿ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸುವಂತೆ ಒತ್ತಾಯಿಸಿ, ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ರೈತ ವಿರೋಧಿ ನೀತಿಯನ್ನು ಖಂಡಿಸಿ ಇಂದು ಶಿಕಾರಿಪುರದಲ್ಲಿ ರೈತ ಮೋರ್ಚಾ ವತಿಯಿಂದ ನಡೆದ ಪ್ರತಿಭಟನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಜ್ಯಾಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ @BYVijayendra ಅವರು ಪಾಲ್ಗೊಂಡರು.
ಈ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಪದಾಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳು, ಪ್ರಮುಖರು,… pic.twitter.com/Qqf3dKkAdC
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) December 4, 2025
Recently, the Karnataka government permitted poultry feed manufacturers to directly purchase maize from farmers at Minimum Support Price (MSP) rates for the 2025-26 kharif season. A government order to this effect was issued.
Furthermore, the State government also issued an order, enabling the Karnataka State Cooperative Marketing Federation (KSCMF) to procure maize from farmers and supply it to distilleries for production of ethanol.
Distillers had initially argued that they would have to pay a high cost of ₹2,639 per quintal, if they had to purchase maize from NAFED or NCCF. KSCMF will hence, supply maize at ₹2,400 per quintal, and the State government will foot additional financial burden.
CM Siddaramiah has stated that though the minimum support price (MSP) for maize is ₹2,400/quintal, the Centre has not started procuring the grain.
According to information shared by the CM, maize price has come down in the market, while the production has increased. It is also estimated that the state has produced 55 lakh metric tonnes of maize this year.
But the problem is that the Centre is still importing 70 lakh tonnes of maize and the reason why central agencies like National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd and National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Ltd, are not yet procuring maize.
(Edited by Amit Vasudev)
