Maize new era

The Indian Food Ministry is poised to seek approval for a pioneering scheme designed to ensure a stable support system for maize farmers while securing a continuous supply of raw material for ethanol production by distilleries.

The proposed initiative involves the cooperative entities Nafed and NCCF directly procuring maize from farmers at the minimum support price (MSP) and subsequently selling it to grain-based distilleries at MSP plus mandi tax.

To facilitate this process, the government will shoulder the incidental expenses incurred by NAFED and NCCF.

The overarching goal of the plan is to enhance both the productivity and overall production of maize.

To kickstart the initiative, cooperatives will enlist farmers interested in participating in the program, determining the required quantity well in advance of the sowing season.

Distilleries, in turn, will commit to paying the established rates to the cooperatives in advance, fostering a streamlined and transparent transaction process.