CM seeks PM’s intervention “to avert widespread farmer distress in Karnataka”

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention “to avert widespread farmer distress in Karnataka” and uphold the strength and stability of nation’s agricultural backbone.

In a November 21, 2025 letter to the Prime Minister, which was handed over to Mr. Modi by Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Dakshina Kannada in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao at the Mangaluru International Airport on Friday, the Chief Minister said that prices of maize and green gram (moong) in Karnataka have crashed far below the minimum support price (MSP) declared by the Union government.

The letter said that Karnataka cultivated maize in over 17.94 lakh hectares and green gram in over 4.16 lakh hectares in this Kharif season, and the State is expecting a tentative production of more than 54.74 lakh tonnes of maize and 1.983 lakh tonnes of green gram. “Though this should have been an opportunity for prosperity, the current market conditions have turned it into a crisis,” the letter said.

While the Government of India has declared an MSP of ₹2,400 per tonne for maize and ₹ 8,768 per tonne for green gram, the prevailing prices in Karnataka are ₹1,600 to ₹1,800 per tonne for maize and ₹5,400 per tonne for green gram, which is a severe and unprecedented fall. Shockingly, even the modal prices over the previous three years were higher than the MSP. But this year, due to external pressures and supply-demand distortions, the prices have dropped to record lows, Mr. Siddaramaiah said.

Karnataka currently has an estimated marketable surplus of 32 lakh tonnes of maize, which is far beyond the absorptive capacity of local industries, the letter said.

The Chief Minister said that since Karnataka does not include maize in its PDS distribution, FCI, NAFED and other procurement agencies must be directed to immediately commence procurement of maize and green gram at MSP under the Price Support Scheme or an appropriate market intervention mechanism, thereby ensuring price stability for farmers.

The letter said that the Union government should direct the ethanol plants to procure maize directly from farmers or farmer-producer organisations (FPOs). If direct procurement is not ensured, the incentive given to ethanol producers should be reconsidered, as it is not reaching farmers.

The letter sought to increase Karnataka’s ethanol allocation and impose restriction in the import of maize.

The letter was handed over to Mr. Modi on his way to Udupi from Mangaluru International Airport.