Amid the economic crisis posed by coronavirus outbreak, maize farmers in Bihar too are at the receiving end as they have failed to get remunerative prices for the produce this year. Farmers have been forced to sell maize at half the prices compared with last year.
It comes at a time of record production of maize, but absence of any demand from the industry.
Palat Prasad Yadav, a resident of Maharajganj in Madhepura district, said he had sold his maize crop for Rs 1,050 per quintal five days ago, compared with Rs 1,600 to Rs 2,200 per quintal price prevailing last year.
"Those who cultivated wheat are at an advantage as it is selling for Rs 1,850 to Rs 2,000 per quintal. Maize has proved to be a loss-making proposition this year as we are barely recovering our costs," he said.
The central government had fixed Rs 1,760 per quintal as minimum support price for maize during the 2019-20 Kharif season
( With inputs from IANS )