TNAU's Forecast
The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has forecast that prices of maize, gingeLly and groundnut, produced during the kharif season, will rule firm to steady in the market from September to December. The forecast was made by TNAU's Domestic and Export Market Intelligence Cell,involved in price analysis and market survey of important agricultural commodities to help farmers on crop or combination of crops to plants during kharif season.
It said expected production of maize during the season was 16.3 million tonnes from 8.3 millon hectares, an increase of 10 per cent compared to last year. Better price realised in the last season and increase in minimum support price favoured this crop over other crops, resulting in increased production. Quoting trade sources, the study said that 2.5 lakh tonnes of maize was produced in Tamil Nadu, mainly in Perambalur, Dindigul, Virudhunagar, Coimbatore, Salem, and Erode districts .
Indian Maize exports were estimated at 2.4 million tonnes this year, a 380 per cent increase compared to the previous year. Increased export estimates, lesser arrivals from July to September and increased demand from the poultry industry would make a supply crunch in the domestic market, the study said.
As the export was suspended up to October 15, the price may rule around Rs.900 per quintal upto September. Sowing was progressing in major maize growing states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. New crop arrivals would hit the market from September after which the prices would slowly decrease and rule steady, the study said.
