9 months ago
Farmers Demand Maize Control Order for MSP Like Sugar Sector
Imagine you grow apples, and the government says apples are important for juice!
They promise you'll get a good price, like $10 for a basket.
But when you try to sell your apples, people only offer you $5.
Meanwhile, the juice makers are happy because they can sell juice for a lot of money.
Farmers who grow maize (like corn) feel the same way.
They want the government to make rules, like they have for sugar cane, so that companies buying maize for making fuel (ethanol) have to pay the farmers the fair price the government says is the 'minimum support price'.
They say this is not happening, and they're selling their maize for much less than the promised price.
They also worry that if the government allows other countries to sell their maize here, prices will drop even more.
Farmers demand a Maize Control Order to enforce Minimum Support Price (MSP) for maize, drawing parallels with the sugar sector.
Farmer leader Rampal Jat alleges distilleries benefit from the ethanol program while farmers receive prices far below the declared MSP.
Maize prices in some markets are reported to be as low as ₹1,121 per quintal, compared to the declared MSP of ₹2,400 per quintal.
Farmers are forced to sell maize at significantly lower rates outside of regulated markets.
Concerns are raised about potential price drops due to anticipated government approval of maize imports from the US.
- Who
- Farmer leader Rampal Jat and the Kisan Mahapanchayat
- What
- Demanding a Maize Control Order to ensure ethanol producers pay the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for maize, similar to the sugar sector.
- Where
- New Delhi (media address)
- When
- Sunday, November 16, 2025
- Why
- Farmers allege they are not receiving the declared MSP for maize, with prices falling significantly below it, while distilleries benefit from the ethanol blending program.
Farmer Demands
Government/Industry Stance (Implied)
Price Guarantees
Farmer Demands
Farmers demand a Maize Control Order to ensure ethanol distilleries purchase maize at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), similar to how sugarcane is managed in the sugar sector.
Government/Industry Stance (Implied)
The government has fixed a purchase price for ethanol (₹71.86 per litre) based on MSP, but this has not translated into farmers receiving the declared MSP for maize. Distilleries are alleged to be benefiting disproportionately.
Ethanol Blending Benefits
Farmer Demands
Farmers have not been enriched by the ethanol blending scheme as promised in 2014; they struggle to get even the MSP for maize.
Government/Industry Stance (Implied)
The ethanol blending target was achieved ahead of schedule, indicating success for the scheme from an energy and import reduction perspective, though farmer benefit is questioned.
Import Impact
Farmer Demands
The reported move to allow maize imports from the US could further depress domestic maize prices, harming farmers.
Government/Industry Stance (Implied)
No specific stance is provided, but the government's consideration of imports suggests a focus on ensuring supply for industries, potentially at the expense of domestic producers' prices.
Key facts
- Farmer Leader
- Rampal Jat, President of Kisan Mahapanchayat
- Demand
- Introduction of a Maize Control Order to ensure MSP for maize
- Comparison Sector
- Sugar sector (for sugarcane procurement)
- Ethanol Purchase Price
- ₹71.86 per litre (based on MSP)
- Average Maize Mandi Price
- ₹1,821 per quintal (mentioned in context of calculating ethanol price)
- Maize Price in Nasrullaganj (MP)
- ₹1,121 per quintal
- Maize Price in Nahargarh (Rajasthan)
- ₹1,510 per quintal
- Declared MSP for Maize
- ₹2,400 per quintal
Quotes
Rampal Jat
Farmer leader and president of Kisan Mahapanchayat
“While farmers remain seeking at least the MSP for their maize after 10 years, the distilleries have definitely benefitted from the scheme.”
thehindubusinessline.com
“Why such a target to ensure MSP for farmers could not be fixed and achieved.”
thehindubusinessline.com
Sources
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