Farmers demand immediate opening of maize procurement centres

Members of the All India Kisan Khet Mazdoor Sangathan (AIKKMS) staged a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Friday, demanding the immediate opening of government procurement centres and a support price of ₹3,000 per quintal for maize.

Addressing the protest, E. Hanumantappa, a State committee member of the organisation, said that a large number of farmers in Ballari and other parts of Karnataka had cultivated maize this year. He noted that in recent years, farmers growing chillies had incurred heavy losses due to poor market prices, which pushed many of them to switch to maize cultivation this season. Although maize fetched a good price at the beginning of the monsoon, rates have now dropped sharply.

Mr. Hanumantappa said that the rising cost of cultivation had put farmers in severe distress. “At a time when production expenses are soaring, an assured support price from the government could have provided some relief. Instead, delays in opening procurement centres have only helped private traders,” he said, urging the authorities to begin procurement without further delay.

District president Govind stressed that the support price for maize should be fixed on the basis of the C2+50% formula recommended by agricultural economists.

Farmer leader Kallukamba Pampapati demanded the immediate launch of maize procurement centres and insisted that the government itself should purchase the produce at a support price of ₹3,000 per quintal. He also urged the removal of quantity restrictions so that every farmer’s entire harvest could be procured. Pampapati called for the creation of a revolving fund to ensure timely procurement of crops across the State.

Organisation leaders Guralli Raj, H.N. Basavaraj, and members Mabusab, D. Kalingappa, Mahalingappa, Nataraj, Danappa, and several other farmers participated.