Karnataka is clearly heading for a bumper maize crop in the ongoing kharif season. According to data available, acreage under maize has already touched the 9.59-lakh-hectare-mark, indicating 100% of the targeted acreage.
It is estimated that the state's acreage would easily cross the 10 lakh hectare mark with production zooming past the 20-lakh-tonne level. The state's productivity is pegged around 30 quintals (100 kg) per hectare.
According to state agriculture department official, Maize has gained in acreage as farmers have been buoyed by the 35 per cent rise in the minimum support price (MSP) last year. Farmers across all the major producing districts be it Davangere, Haveri, Belgaum or Hassan are showing a preference for maize this year. Maize MSP was revised upwards to Rs 840 per quintal against Rs 620 per quintal.
Potato farmers in the state’s Hassan district have, for instance, shown preference for maize after the outbreak of the dreaded "potato blight" last year. Potato acreage is barely 50 per cent of the targeted acreage in the ongoing kharif season.
The state which accounts for 8 per cent to 10 per cent of the national maize output is also expected to benefit from the possible lower output in the other major producing states like Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Estimates indicate that the production shortfall in these three states could be between 20 per cent and 30 cent this kharif season. Collectively, these three account for about 40 per cent of India’s 20 million tonnes of maize production.
Traders, who are keeping a close tab on the maize acreage in the state, say that if the Union government decides to hike the MSP once again, procurement could be hit. The last hike itself made local maize pricey and impacted buyers.
While poultry units account for close to 50 per cent of the national offtake, about 30 per cent to 35 per cent is procured by starch makers with the balance being either used for human consumption or is carried forward.
No comments:
Post a Comment