COVID-19 forced countries around the world to shut down and India too had to follow the same path imposing two-month long lockdown. The government import of maize, lockdown slowing movement of farmers produces, and decrease in demand affected the prices of maize leading to price crash in Madhya Pradesh.
Farmers who are now facing crisis are forced to sell their maize produce for half the price of minimum support price (MSP) the central government ensured for them in 2019. The Centre decided MSP rate of maize at Rs 1,760 per quintal, However farmers selling their produce in the mandis are getting the price of Rs 800-1000 per quintal.
Maize produce prices were increasing from 2018 in markets which brought high returns for farmers, December 2019 saw the highest MSP at Rs 2,500 per quintal.
Later the government took a decision to import maize from other countries, including Myanmar, Russia, and Ukraine forced a dip in prices.
COVID-19 outbreak led to prevailed rumours that the consumption of meat can cause the spread of Coronavirus, this rumours also affected the prices as Poultries who are the main source for the consumption of maize reduced buying it due to lack of meat sale in the market.
Maize is popular crops as it doesn’t need huge water amounts like paddy. Due to uncertain rains and high demand in market farmers turn to maize.
In Senoi district, maize cultivation is around 4,35,00 acres while in Chhindwara district the cultivation of the crop is around 8,14,00 acres. Sivani, Chhindwara, Betul, Narsinghpur, Harda, Hoshangabad, Mandla, and Sagar districts also have high production of the crop.
Farmers in the state send a memorandum to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on May 26, 2020. They also requested the government to purchase maize produce under a scheme that is meant to promote millets.
This price crisis will force farmers to an uncertain future and other lockdown affects agriculture due to lockdown to worsen the situation further in a state where the new cultivation season is near.
