Business · Energy & Commodities · 16 hrs ago
Prices for most Indian kharif crops exceed minimum support levels
Prices for most kharif crops in India are above government support levels as traders expect weather damage to reduce supplies.
Kharif crops are grown during India’s monsoon season, and the government sets minimum support prices, or MSPs, for many crops.
Drought and untimely rain have affected yields, while recent cyclones in southern India are also part of the production assessment.
The Agriculture Ministry is still working on its estimate of this season’s output.
Urad production is now expected at 8–9 lakh tonnes, down from an earlier expectation of 15 lakh tonnes, according to a trader quoted in the story.
Maize prices have risen 30–40 per cent in four to five weeks, with buyers reporting historically high prices.
Higher market prices can mean more income for farmers, but some varieties of moong and bajra are still selling below MSP.
The story says urad and tur prices are expected to remain high, while paddy prices may fall as arrivals peak.
Prices for most Indian kharif crops are above government-set minimum support prices, as traders anticipate lower production after drought and untimely rain.
Groundnut is among the exceptions, and some varieties of moong and bajra are also reported below support prices.
Stakeholders say rice and maize prices have reached record or historic highs.
India’s Agriculture Ministry is still assessing kharif production, including the effects of El Niño-related drought and recent cyclones in the South.
- Who
- Indian farmers and agricultural traders are affected; the Agriculture Ministry is assessing crop production.
- What
- Prices for most kharif crops are above minimum support prices, amid concerns about lower production.
- When
- The report was published on November 9, 2026. Maize prices rose over the preceding 4–5 weeks.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- Traders fear production may be lower because of drought, untimely rain and other climate impacts.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Maize prices jumped by 30–40 per cent amid a shortfall in the domestic crop.
Hindu BusinessLine reported that the Agriculture Ministry was still assessing kharif production, taking account of climate impacts.
- Most kharif crops
- Prices reported above minimum support prices
- Moong
- Best variety reported at around ₹7,800 per quintal, ₹980 below MSP
- Bajra
- Best variety reported at ₹2,700 per quintal, below MSP
- Urad crop estimate
- Expected production revised from 15 lakh tonnes to 8–9 lakh tonnes
- Maize
- Prices rose 30–40 per cent in 4–5 weeks
- West Bengal maize purchases
- Around Rs 31,000-32,000 per tonne
What people are saying
Mandi prices are slightly higher than the MSP of various crops due to lower production hit by El Nino.
At an all-India level, market prices for agricultural produce are being reported as higher than the MSP. This is a positive development.
In my more than 30 years of career in this (livestock feed) industry, I have never seen these kinds of prices in maize.