The Centre is considering to procure maize from Bihar at the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 620 a quintal to prevent distress sale by the farmers as rates have fallen below the MSP following the ban on its export.
“The Food Ministry has agreed to procure maize from the State. It has requested the Bihar government to purchase maize directly from the farmers. If the state declines, Food Corporation of India (FCI) would be given the task,” a senior government official said.
According to the government officials in Bihar, maize prices have come down from Rs 732 a quintal to Rs 500 a quintal since the ban on maize export was announced on July 3. The Centre has imposed the ban on maize exports till October 15.
Bihar government is planning to rope in the services of agri cooperative Nafed for the procurement, while FCI would also help in the purchases, sources said.