The State government has begun the process of procurement of maize by opening centres, specially in the districts of North Karnataka, said Co-operation Minister H S Mahadeva Prasad.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Thursday, Mahadeva Prasad said though the procurement centres have been opened since December 23, there has not been much response from the farmers as the minimum support price (MSP) has been fixed at Rs 1,100 per quintal, when compared to Rs 1,300 per quintal, last season.
Mahadeva Prasad said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had met Union Food and Civil Supplies Minister Ram Vilas Paswan recently and had requested him to fix the MSP for maize at Rs 1,300 per quintal.
The MSP for maize is fixed by the Centre.
The minister said the State government had recently auctioned 10,000 tonnes of maize procured during the previous season at an average price of Rs 900 per quintal.
There was a possibility of the auctioned maize being sold back to the government.
“Hence, we have sought proof from the sellers that they are selling standing maize crop,” Mahadeva Prasad said.
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