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Mr Madan Prakash, Director, Rajathi Group of Companies

The crop outlook for maize (corn) does not look great now. The reasons are that States such as Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are rain-deficient.

Rajasthan contributes 14 per cent to the country’s maize production, while Madhya Pradesh’s share is 12 per cent.

No doubt, the crops look to be good in Maharashtra and Karnataka. The area under the crops in these two States has gone up but there is one problem: We need another spell of rain as otherwise there could be problems in these States too.

In fact, everything with regard to maize now depends on how the monsoon behaves in the next 10-15 days. The 66 per cent deficiency last week isn’t an encouraging sign as also the 25 per cent overall shortage of rainfall.

However, there will be one positive effect for growers.

This year, as the crop arrives in the market, we don’t see the prices going below Rs 750 a quintal. Last year, when the crop hit the market, it was sold at Rs 690-700 a quintal.

Any shortage of the crop could also affect exports.

(The Rajathi Group of Companies is engaged in export of agricultural products and maize is a major trading commodity for it.)

{As told to M.R. Subramani}

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