Date:16/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/16/stories/2008031650500100.htm

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Perambalur maize growers hit hard

S. Ganesan

Sharp fall in yield, procurement price
Middlemen corner the profits

PERAMBALUR: A large number of farmers in Perambalur and Ariyalur districts have been hit hard by a sharp fall in yield and the procurement price of maize this year.

The fall in prices has come as a double blow as they were faced with a poor yield this year owing to insufficient rains in the rain-fed areas of composite Perambalur district, which has the largest area of about 60,000 hectares under the crop in the State. The fall in market prices is attributed to the decline in demand from the poultry industry, a major consumer of maize, reportedly owing to bird flu outbreak in some parts of the country. Maize is largely used as chicken and cattle feed.

A bumper harvest brought in good returns to farmers in 2006-07, when even the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) offered a minimum of Rs.750 (based on moisture content). The open market prices have gone up to Rs.850 a quintal owing to a huge demand from upcountry markets.

But now, only Rs.680 is offered in the open market. Strangely, the fall in yield had not resulted in better prices for farmers, said R. Raja Chidambaram, State secretary, Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam.

Farmers claim that they have to invest a minimum of Rs.5,000 an acre for raising the crop. The yield has fallen drastically this year from 2,500 kg an acre to just about 300 kg this year.