Ensure Fair Prices for Maize Farmers: Chandrababu Writes to Centre

Amid a steep decline in maize prices, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has urged the Centre to step in and shield farmers from heavy losses . In a communication to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, he called for the rollout of a Price Deficiency Payment Scheme in the state to ensure farmers receive fair compensation .

He suggested implementing the scheme through central and state agencies like NAFED and AP Markfed to provide timely financial relief at the grassroots level.

The Chief Minister pointed out that maize cultivation has expanded significantly this Rabi season , with crops grown over nearly 4.83 lakh hectares. Production is projected to touch a record output of 3.8 million tonnes. However, the surge in output has led to a sharp fall in market prices .

Despite the Minimum Support Price being fixed at ₹2,400 per quintal, farmers are currently selling their produce for as low as ₹1,500–₹1,700 in the open market, leaving them unable to recover production costs .

To mitigate the crisis, Naidu requested the Centre to extend the Market Intervention Scheme and introduce a dedicated price compensation mechanism for the state. He also urged that the coverage limit be increased from the existing 25% to 100% of the cultivated area, considering the severity of the situation.

Additionally, he appealed for the Centre to fully bear the cost of compensating farmers for the gap between MSP and prevailing market prices, and to continue these measures until June 2026.

The appeal follows a report from State Agriculture Minister Atchannaidu, who highlighted the distress sales among maize farmers and warned that prices could fall further as fresh arrivals enter the market.

Acting promptly, the Chief Minister escalated the issue to the Centre, emphasizing the need for immediate measures to safeguard farmers’ livelihoods .