Substantial Hike in MSP for Coarse Cereals—Except for Maize
15-May-2026 05:28 PM
New Delhi: Although the Central Government has announced a substantial hike in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Jowar (Sorghum), Bajra (Pearl Millet), and Ragi (Finger Millet)—all falling under the coarse cereals category—for the 2026-27 Kharif marketing season, it has raised the support price for the most prominent member of this group—Maize—by a mere ₹10 per quintal.
Maize is a highly versatile coarse cereal. Historically—and indeed to this day—it has been utilized extensively for human consumption, as well as for poultry feed, livestock fodder, and starch manufacturing. Furthermore, over the past two to three years, the government has actively encouraged and incentivized its use for boosting ethanol production—an initiative that has yielded tangible results, leading to a remarkable surge in domestic maize production.
However, the government's recent announcement sends a clear signal that efforts are now being made to discourage maize production. The domestic market price for maize has already plummeted significantly below the MSP, yet the Central Government appears to be making no serious effort to extend the benefits of the Price Support Scheme to farmers. Moreover, ethanol manufacturers are also attempting to procure maize at rock-bottom prices. This situation could have an adverse impact on both the sowing and yield of maize during the upcoming Kharif season.
For the 2026-27 season—compared to the 2025-26 season—the Central Government has raised the MSP for Hybrid Jowar from ₹3,699 to ₹4,023 per quintal, and for Maldandi Jowar from ₹3,749 to ₹4,073 per quintal. Thus, the support price for Jowar has witnessed an increase of ₹324 per quintal. Similarly, the MSP for Bajra has been hiked by ₹125—from ₹2,775 to ₹2,900 per quintal—while the support price for Ragi has been raised by ₹319—from ₹4,886 to ₹5,205 per quintal. However, a marginal increase of merely ₹10 has been made to the MSP for maize, raising it from ₹2,400 to ₹2,410 per quintal.