Uttar Pradesh News: Compared to other districts in UP, maize farmers of Shahjahanpur have suffered huge losses, know the reason

Uttar Pradesh News: Orders have been issued to purchase maize in 22 districts of Uttar Pradesh, but the farmers of Sahajpur are disappointed. Compared to previous years, this time the area of maize in the Pua area of Shahjahanpur is much larger. 

But no maize has been produced under government operation in the district, due to which farmers are disappointed due to not getting the right price. 

This time the area of maize in the Puwaiyan area of Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh is more than last year, but no government purchasing center has been set up in the district. Farmers are disappointed due to not getting the right price for maize. 

Weather damage to crops 

Last year, farmers in Puwaiyan area of Shahjahanpur had made huge profits from the maize crop, so farmers have increased the area of maize crop. Big companies did not show interest in purchasing because the crop could not grow properly due to weather conditions. Shahjahanpur was also not selected for government procurement. 

Therefore, the prices of maize are very low. The moisture content of the districts where government procurement is to be done should be 12 percent. Farmers selling maize in Shahjahanpur sometimes have up to 50% moisture. Maize with less than 15 percent moisture is also being sold at around two thousand rupees per quintal.

Cost of government maize purchase 

Deputy RMO Rakesh Mohan Pandey said that Shahjahanpur could not be selected for government procurement due to less area of maize. 

Orders have been given to buy maize at the rate of Rs 2225 per quintal in 22 districts, but Shahjahanpur is not in it. Maize is being sold at only eleven to twelve hundred rupees per quintal at the mandis. Last year, maize was 16 to 18 hundred rupees per quintal at the mandis. Farmers are upset with the low rates. 

Maize was sown in about 13332 acres

The administration had banned Satha paddy in Puwaiyan tehsil area to reduce the ground water level. When the potato fields became empty, farmers started replacing Satha paddy with maize. 

In 2023, many farmers had sown maize; although it did not give any special benefit, but farmers liked some profit from good maize by keeping the field empty. 

In 2024, the area of maize increased by 4925 acres. Farmers benefited a lot by getting good rates as well. The Agriculture Department said that this time maize has been sown in about 13332 acres. 

On the other hand, due to the delay in ripening of the main crop of paddy, farmers started getting maize harvested even after moisture. Big companies have chosen other districts to buy maize due to moisture and poor quality. Only a few liquor companies and ethanol companies are buying maize.

Weather impact, crop moisture and distance from purchasing companies

Maize proves to be most useful for making ethanol, due to which its demand is very high. Due to increased demand, maize gets a good price. Companies that make food products also buy maize at good prices. Farmers say that maize production is good. For this, the weather should be favorable. 

Maize grows fine if the westerly wind keeps blowing and the weather remains dry, but this time the easterly wind blew more and it rained intermittently, due to which the maize crop did not grow properly. 

There is a reduction of 20 thousand rupees per acre compared to last year

Last year, 60-65 quintals of maize were produced per acre. Due to good prices, the price of maize increased from 90 thousand rupees per acre to one lakh rupees. 

Even today, the price of maize per acre is 60 to 65 quintals, but due to the rate being 11 to 12 hundred rupees per quintal, the average price per acre is only 70 thousand rupees.