The wholesale prices of maize fell across the benchmark markets of India, according to the data from the Agmarknet portal run by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. As of April 6, 2024, the on-month average wholesale prices of maize fell by Rs 77.81 to Rs 2,256.57 per quintal. Amongst all the regions, Punjab saw the largest fall of 20% to Rs 2,000 per quintal, followed by Uttarakhand with a fall of around 8.2% to Rs 2,350 per quintal.
Other states and union territories where the wholesale prices of maize slumped are Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan. In Chhattisgarh, the prices fell by almost 6% to Rs 1,938 and in Gujarat by around 4.8% to Rs 2,267. In Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the prices fell by almost 5.2% to Rs 1,960 and by around 5% to Rs 2,134, respectively.
However, the wholesale prices of the staple rose in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh. In Andhra Pradesh, the prices increased by 3.8% to Rs 2,142 per quintal, and in Tamil Nadu by around 2.4% to Rs 2,272. In Karnataka, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh the prices rose marginally by 1.1%, 0.4%, and 0.3% to Rs 2,251, Rs 2,136, and Rs 2,201.
Maize is not only consumed by humans but is also used as poultry feed across the globe. The minimum support price of maize for the 2023-24 season is set at Rs 2,090 per quintal. Maize is majorly grown in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar. It is prominently a Kharif crop, but can also be grown in the rabi season.
For those interested in exploring the prices of various crops in their respective state markets, the official website agmarknet.gov.in provides a comprehensive list. Understanding the price dynamics of different crops and their quality assessment remains pivotal in navigating market fluctuations for farmers and traders alike.
