Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Nov 28: State health minister and Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stated that he handed over the letter written by chief minister Siddaramaiah to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the severe distress faced by farmers in Karnataka.
Prime Minister Modi arrived at the Mangaluru International Airport on Friday morning to participate in the programme scheduled in Udupi. He was accorded a warm welcome at the airport. On this occasion, minister Gundu Rao submitted the chief minister’s letter, explaining that farmers are in deep distress due to the lack of support prices for their crops. He informed the Prime Minister that the central government must show willingness to implement procurement based on support prices. He added that he had brought the farmers’ issues to the Prime Minister’s attention.
Minister Gundu Rao further shared on social media that he warmly welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon his arrival in Mangaluru. During the Prime Minister’s visit, he submitted the letter written by chief minister Siddaramaiah, highlighting the severe distress faced by farmers due to the absence of support prices for their crops. He clarified that the letter urges the central government to establish a procurement system based on MSP. He said he explained the situation to the Prime Minister in detail.
As stated in the letter, the minister explained the difficulties faced by Karnataka’s farmers to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Farmers in Karnataka are suffering due to the drastic fall in prices of maize and green gram (moong). Hence, the chief minister has written to the Prime Minister, drawing attention to the issue and requesting the creation of a system to procure farmers’ produce at MSP.
The letter highlights that the prices at which crops are being purchased in the open market are much lower than the Minimum Support Price (MSP) announced by the central government, causing severe hardship for lakhs of farmers who depend on these crops for their livelihood.
During the current monsoon season, Karnataka has cultivated maize on more than 17.94 lac hectares and green gram on more than 4.16 lac hectares. The state is expecting an estimated production of over 54.74 lac metric tons of maize and 1.983 lac metric tons of green gram. While this should have been a sign of prosperity, the present market conditions have turned it into a crisis.
The central government has announced an MSP of Rs 2,400 per metric ton for maize and Rs 8,768 per metric ton for green gram. However, in Karnataka, the prevailing market prices are only Rs 1,600–1,800 per metric ton for maize and Rs 5,400 per metric ton for green gram—an extremely steep and shocking decline.
Karnataka currently has an estimated 32 lac metric tons of maize ready for sale. Therefore, the state has urged the central government to intervene immediately and take the following measures:
1. Direct NAFED, FCI and NCCF to begin procurement at MSP without delay
Since Karnataka does not distribute maize through the Public Distribution System (PDS), price stability could not be ensured for farmers. Therefore, agencies such as FCI, NAFED and others must immediately begin procurement of maize and green gram at MSP under the Price Support Scheme or suitable market intervention mechanisms.
2. Ensure fair participation of Karnataka farmers in the ethanol supply chain
Although ethanol from maize has a base price of Rs 66.07 per litre and an additional incentive of ?5.79 per litre (excluding GST), many ethanol units in Karnataka bypass farmers and purchase maize from intermediaries. This defeats the purpose of MSP and the incentives intended for farmers. The letter states that ethanol units must be directed to procure maize directly from farmers or Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). If not, the incentive provided to ethanol producers must be reconsidered.
3. Increase Karnataka’s allocation of ethanol
Despite Karnataka having the capacity to produce 272 crore litres of ethanol across 49 units and possessing a large surplus of maize, only a small share has been allocated to the state under the 2025–26 tender. This is disproportionate to its production strength and surplus availability. The letter stresses that Karnataka deserves a higher allocation, which would create assured demand for maize at MSP and shield farmers from market fluctuations.
4. Restrict maize imports
Large-scale maize imports from Myanmar, Ukraine and other countries last year significantly reduced domestic prices and harmed farmers’ income. To prevent Indian farmers—who produce some of the world’s best maize—from being forced into distress sales, the letter urges the central government to immediately halt maize imports.
5. Relax quality standards for green gram procurement
Due to unseasonal rains, 6–10% of Karnataka’s green gram crop has minor discoloration. While the central government allows up to 4% discoloured produce under MSP, the slightly discoloured crop is completely edible and usable. The letter requests that the permissible limit be raised to 10% so that farmers do not suffer due to weather-related issues.
The letter stresses that MSP is a guarantee of dignity and fair earnings for every farming family in Karnataka. When market prices fall below MSP, timely intervention by the central government is essential to restore farmers’ confidence.
The letter concludes that Karnataka’s farmers contribute immensely to national food security, ethanol capacity expansion, and economic development. Ensuring fair procurement and equitable ethanol allocation is not only their right but also the nation’s responsibility. The chief minister urges the Prime Minister to safeguard the interests of farmers, prevent this severe crisis, and ensure stability in the lives of those who form the backbone of India’s agriculture.