In the cereals sector, Paddy and Jowar have emerged as the market leaders, consistently trading well above their designated support levels. With the MSP for Common Paddy set at 2,369 per quintal, the market has seen prices soar as high as 3,639, even as massive arrival volumes exceeding 22,000 metric tonnes hit the mandis. Similarly, Jowar has reached a peak market price of 5,491 per quintal, dwarfing its 3,699 MSP. These figures suggest a robust demand that the government’s baseline failed to fully anticipate. Ragi and Wheat have followed a similar, albeit more stable, upward trajectory, with Wheat maintaining a steady presence in the market slightly above its 2,425 floor, supported by high arrival figures that underscore its role as a cornerstone of the national food security apparatus.
However, the data also uncovers a more sobering narrative for cultivators of Maize and Groundnut. Despite a set MSP of 2,400, Maize prices have languished as low as 1,528 per quintal—a significant deficit that occurs even as nearly 25,000 metric tonnes of the commodity flood the markets. Groundnut farmers face a similar predicament, with market prices hovering around the 7,000 mark against a support price of 7,263. In the fibre and oilseed categories, the situation remains mixed; Cotton is trading in a tight corridor very close to its 7,710 MSP, while Copra remains a high-value outlier, fetching over 21,000 per quintal despite its relatively low arrival volume.
This widening gap between official mandates and the ground reality in the mandis reflects the broader challenges of Indian agricultural policy. While the high prices for Paddy and Jowar provide a windfall for some, the sub-MSP trading of Maize and Groundnut highlights the persistent gaps in procurement infrastructure and market intervention. As the season progresses, the administrative focus will likely shift toward addressing these price shortfalls to prevent rural distress, particularly in regions where arrival volumes are high but the financial returns for farmers remain below the promised safety net.
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