Govt. to get more maize, jowar and sunflower this season to help the ryots: minister
Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao explained that maize is grown in an area of about 16.37 million acres and with an average yield of 26.57 quintals per acre, the production is estimated at about 43.49 million tonnes. | Photo credit: Rao GN
HYDERABAD
Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao said on Sunday that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had taken the decision to allocate ₹1,800 crore for the purchase of maize in addition to the ₹4,000 crore already allocated for the purpose as the Center did not respond to the state’s pleas to take over the purchase of maize and include the crop in the price support scheme.
He said in a statement that Saturday’s cabinet meeting also decided that sunflower procurement would be increased to more than 25% of the total production this season, the amount fixed by the Centre, and also complete purchase of jowar so that farmers are not left at the mercy of traders.
He explained that maize is cultivated in an area of about 16.37 million acres and with an average yield of 26.57 quintals per acre, production is estimated at about 43.49 million tonnes. To ensure the support price for farmers, the government has already given a guarantee of ₹ 4,173 crore to banks for taking loans from Markfed and it has been decided to extend the guarantee to another ₹ 1,867 crore for procurement of another 6.53 crore tonnes. About 12.85 million tonnes of maize have already been procured from 2.33 million farmers with the help of 354 shopping centres.
Tummala Nageswara Rao | Photo credit: NAGARA GOPAL
Stating that the BRS government spent ₹ 5,063 crore on the purchase of maize during its 10-year rule, Mr. Nageswara Rao said the Congress government spent about ₹ 6,000 crore in this season alone. Against the open market price of up to ₹ 1,850 per quintal, the government was providing a support price of ₹ 2,400 per quintal.
On the purchase of jowar (hybrid), he said the government has so far opened 81 shopping centers in Adilabad, Sangareddy, Kamareddy, Medak and Vikarabad to ensure production of ₹1,100 crore with a support price of ₹3,699 per quintal against ₹2,000 offered by traders.
The previous government spent only ₹ 374 crore in 10 years on buying jowar, but the Congress government spent ₹ 800 crore last season (Kharif) and another ₹ 1,100 crore this season. The minister said the state has decided to procure 10,175 tonnes itself over and above the quota of 3,690 tonnes approved by the Center at a support price of ₹7,721 per quintal against the open market price of ₹5,376 per quintal.
Published – 24 May 2026 20:13 IST