TNAU Advised Maize Sowing In Thai Pattam
The harvest season of May-June 2009 is expected to fetch a price of Rs. 825 – Rs. 875 for a quintal of maize. Hence, farmers are advised to take up maize sowing during the ‘Thai Pattam’ (January 15 onwards) by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. According to the Domestic and Export Market Intelligence Cell (DEMIC) of the university, high maize prices have prevailed in May and June.The Central Government has fixed a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs. 840 a quintal for the kharif crops, while the market price ranged from Rs. 790 to Rs. 820. Unless the government intervened, there were chances for further decline in the maize prices, it noted.DEMIC has advised the farmers to sow varieties / hybrids with bold grains to fetch better price. If the approximate number in 100 gm of maize grain was less than 350, higher price could be fetched by the farmers. The team consisting of N. Raveendaran and P. Murugananthi have made the maize pricing forecast based on the past 15 year analysis of maize price in the Udumalpet market. Maize is mainly grown in Perambalur, Dindigul, Coimbatore, Salem, Erode and Virudhunagar.
The other crop, namely gingelly, which is expected to come into the market in May and June would fetch Rs. 54 – 57 a kg for the red variety and Rs. 60 for the white one. Based on the pricing, farmers are asked to decide on cultivation of gingelly. The team consisting of N. Raveendaran and D. Sriakila have made the gingelly pricing forecast based on the past 15 year analysis of gingelly price in the Sivagiri and Anthiyur regulated markets.
