Farmers in Telangana Concerned as Maize Prices Drop Below MSP

18-Apr-2026 12:43 PM

Hyderabad: Farmers in Telangana—a key maize-producing state in South India—are anxious and distressed as the market price for this major coarse grain has plummeted below the Minimum Support Price (MSP); consequently, they are demanding that the state government commence procurement operations. The Telangana government has urged the Centre to sanction a sum of ₹4,000 crore to facilitate the procurement of 1.5 million tonnes of maize.

According to farmers' organizations, the Central Government has fixed the MSP for maize at ₹2,400 per quintal for the 2025-26 season, whereas current wholesale market rates are hovering 30–35 percent below this benchmark.

According to trade analysts, robust production in top exporting nations—such as the United States and Brazil—has significantly boosted the global supply and availability of maize, thereby exerting downward pressure on prices. This trend has, in turn, caused maize prices to fall within the domestic market as well.

In most *mandis* (wholesale markets) across Telangana, prices have dropped to a range of ₹1,600–₹1,800 per quintal, resulting in substantial financial losses for the producers.

In Khammam—a major maize-producing region within Telangana—aggrieved farmers are organizing sit-ins and protest demonstrations. Their primary demand is that the government immediately establish procurement centers and commence purchasing maize at the MSP.

Under the prevailing regulations in the state, the government is authorized to procure a maximum of 26 quintals of maize per acre from farmers; the farmers are also demanding the abolition of this specific restriction. The state government has appealed to the Centre to provide assistance regarding the maize procurement process.