Topic
maize
Commodities Lower maize acreage and sugar stock uncertainty shift focus to rice for ethanol in India
With maize acreage in top five producing states falling over 13% and sugar stocks expected very low at season end, India's ethanol blending programme is likely to depend more on rice. The government's target of 20% ethanol blending requires about 1,100 crore litres, and reduced broken-rice share in official stocks could boost feedstock availability. Fresh kharif arrivals are expected to strengthen supply.
Commodities Maize gains ground in Madhya Pradesh, may offset decline in Karnataka and Maharashtra
Madhya Pradesh has reported a 23% jump in maize acreage this kharif season, partly offsetting declines in key producing states like Karnataka and Maharashtra where delayed monsoon and rainfall deficit have hurt sowing. Overall maize acreage is down about 5% at 67.89 lakh hectares as of July 17, compared with 71.5 lakh hectares a year ago, according to Agriculture Ministry data.
Commodities India Uses 3.9M Tonnes FCI Rice, 6.8M Tonnes Maize for Ethanol Till June 2026
India has used 3.9 million tonnes of surplus FCI rice and 6.8 million tonnes of maize for ethanol production till June 2026 in the current Ethanol Supply Year (ESY 2025-26). Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas Suresh Gopi stated that the 20% ethanol blending target has not affected food crop availability or food security, and only surplus foodgrains are diverted. The government also reported that PSU oil marketing companies procured 705.43 crore litres of ethanol for ₹49,577.36 crore in the same period.
Commodities Rabi harvest blues: Key crops sell 3-8% below MSP as maize plummets 24%
Key rabi crops — wheat, chana, barley — sold 3-8% below MSP during April-June harvesting. Maize was worst hit at 24% below MSP, while mustard outperformed at 8% above. Current prices show slight recovery except for wheat, which fell further in July.
Commodities Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Forecasts Maize Prices at ₹2,400 per Quintal
Farmgate prices of good-quality maize are likely to trade at ₹2,200-2,400 per quintal during the October-November harvest season, according to the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU). The forecast, based on 15-year APMC data, aligns with the MSP of ₹2,410. Below-normal monsoon due to El Nino may disrupt production in key states, while demand from animal feed, ethanol, and bioplastics supports prices.
Commodities India Identifies 77 Paddy and 65 Maize Districts Prone to 10% Yield Loss from El Nino
India's agricultural research body ICAR has identified 77 paddy and 65 maize-growing districts that are prone to at least 10% yield loss during El Nino years, based on historical analysis of 2002, 2004, and 2009 droughts. The government is using this vulnerability map to prepare contingency measures, while the current monsoon season has seen a 42% rainfall deficit so far.
Commodities El Nino May Weaken India's Monsoon, Threaten Rice and Maize Output, FAO Warns
The FAO has warned that the newly begun El Nino phase may weaken India's summer monsoon, putting rainfed crops like rice and maize under stress during the kharif season. Historical analysis shows that during the 2015-16 El Nino, India's maize output fell by 4% and rice dropped by 1%, while Southeast Asia lost about 15 million tonnes of rice. The agency also flagged that disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are raising energy and fertiliser costs as farmers prepare for sowing.
Commodities Chennai Company Slashes India's Popcorn Maize Imports, Doubles Domestic Output
Gourmet Popcornica Pvt. Ltd., a Chennai-based company, has slashed India's popcorn maize imports from 70% to 15% of demand over a decade. Domestic production more than doubled to 85,000 tonnes, grown by 17,500 farmers across nine states on 36,000 acres. The company employs 800 workers and is mechanizing cultivation to cut costs.
Commodities Maize Farmers Shift to Cotton Amid El Niño Concerns
Indian maize farmers are shifting to cotton, soybean, paddy, and ragi due to anticipated below-normal rainfall from El Niño and market profitability. The shift varies by region, with Madhya Pradesh seeing increased cotton acreage.