Karnataka CM seeks Centre’s intervention as maize, green gram prices plunge
Bengaluru (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagging a steep crash in maize and green gram (moong) prices in the state, saying the slump has caused deep distress among farmers.
In the letter he wrote on Friday, Siddaramaiah said Karnataka cultivated maize on 17.94 lakh hectares and green gram on 4.16 lakh hectares this Kharif season, expecting 54.74 lakh metric tonne (MT) of maize and 1.983 lakh MT of green gram. Instead, the prices have collapsed, pushing farmers into crisis.
Siddaramaiah wrote, “Prices have fallen far below the Minimum Support Price (MSP) declared by the Government of India, creating widespread distress among cultivators.”
He pointed out that while the Centre fixed MSP at Rs 2,400 per MT for maize and Rs 28,768 per MT for green gram, the prevailing prices in Karnataka have dropped to Rs 1,600 to Rs 1,800 per MT for maize and around Rs 5,400 per MT for green gram.
Even the modal prices of the last three years were higher than MSP, but external pressures and supply-demand distortions have pushed prices to record lows, he said.
According to CM, Karnataka has a marketable surplus of 32 lakh MT of maize, far exceeding the absorptive capacity of local industries.
Siddaramaiah urged PM Modi to direct NAFED, FCI and NCCF to begin MSP procurement immediately under the Price Support Scheme or another suitable mechanism.
He also sought measures to ensure Karnataka’s farmers benefit fairly from the ethanol supply chain, pointing out that the basic rate for maize-based ethanol is Rs 266.07 per litre with an added incentive of Rs 5.79 per litre. The CM alleged that many ethanol plants are sourcing maize from middlemen instead of farmers.
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3 killed, 15 injured in fire after blast at firecracker unit in MP's Dewas; CM orders probe
Dewas/Indore (PTI): At least three workers were killed and 15 persons injured after a fire broke out following an explosion at a firecracker factory in Madhya Pradesh's Dewas district on Thursday, an official said.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed grief over the incident and ordered an investigation. The state government will provide an assistance of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of each of the deceased, and the injured will receive free treatment, he said in a post on X.
Three persons were killed in the fire at the firecracker unit located in Tonk Kalan area, and around 15 injured persons were sent to hospitals in Indore and Dewas, Collector Rituraj Singh told reporters after inspecting the site.
Videos of the aftermath surfaced on social media, showing thick white smoke billowing from the factory along the Agra–Mumbai national highway. The clips also showed people rushing the injured for treatment amid cries for help, with body parts seen scattered at the site.
The collector said the fire has been brought under control. The administration has taken possession of explosives stored at another location within the unit, he said.
The work to manufacture small firecrackers at the factory of a person named Anil Malviya had begun only 15 days ago, and a licence has been issued for the unit, the collector said.
A detailed investigation is underway into the incident, he added.
CM Yadav said, "I have directed Deputy Chief Minister and Dewas district guardian minister Jagdish Devda, the home secretary and senior officials to visit the spot. An inquiry has also been ordered into the incident."
Local residents said there was a massive explosion at the factory, and the victims' body parts were found scattered far away from the site.
They said construction work was underway at the site and different sheds were being built there.
