With maize prices ruling far below the minimum support price, the Telangana government has decided to intervene and procure at least one-third of the estimated output of 43.20 lakh tonne (lt).

The government would spend ₹4,173 crore to procure 14.89 lt of maize at the MSP of ₹2,400 a quintal. The Cabinet has cleared the proposal and agreed to provide the required guarantee to help Telangana State Cooperative Marketing Federation Limited (TS MARKFED) raise the required funds.

Telangana, which is among the top maize-producing States in the country, has grown the crop on about seven lakh hectares, with an estimated yield of 65.66 quintals per hectare.

Though the MSP stands at ₹2,400 per quintal, maize prices fell to ₹1,600 in most mandis due to softening global prices, resulting in a loss of ₹800 per quintal for farmers.

Farmers in areas like Khammam have organised protests, demanding that the State government step in and procure the commodity to bail them out. The government has so far procured 2.42 lt from over 45,000 farmers through 209 centres by spending ₹580.80 crore.

In view of falling maize prices, the State government recently appealed to the Union government to provide financial support to farmers. 

Published on April 24, 2026