Coarse Cereals prices up, land coverage down

New Delhi, July 15: Prices of all coarse cereals including Maize, Pearl Millet, Sorghum and Barley rose slightly on higher demand and limited supplies during the week, but the area coverage lagging this year.

Maize prices were up over last week by one per cent, at Rs 7,400 per MT on an average in the market, but the prices are over 18.6 per cent higher than average reported last year this week, a US Grains Council (USGC) statement said here.

The demand of maize is higher in Tamil Nadu due to high egg prices and continued export. Reports from Bihar indicate a quality issues due to wet grains, which could be cause of concern for the poultry farmers and feed manufacturers in East India and also starch manufacturers who are sourcing the material from Bihar.

Pearl Millet prices were up by 3.5 per cent over last week to Rs 6,500 per MT. The prices are similar to last year prices and are about 12 per cent lower than maize prices.

Sorghum (Jowar) prices are about four per cent up over last week at Rs 9,650 per MT. The prices are over 28 per cent than last year and about 30 per cent higher than maize.

Barley prices are also up by 4.3 per cent over last week at Rs 7,050 per MT. The prices are just about one per cent higher than last prices at this time of the year.

Reports from the Agriculture Ministry indicate that sowing for Pearl Millet, Sorghum and Maize is all lagging behind in comparison to last year's coverage.

It is expected that Sorghum coverage may be higher this year, due to higher prices. As per the report from Agriculture Ministry, Maize sowing is only 3.317 mhac this year against 3.914 mhac last year, lower by 15 per cent.

Under normal circumstances Maize in Kharif season is grown on 6.5 mhac of land.

On the other side sowing of cotton is up from 5.8 mhac to 6.905 mhac of which 35 per cent is sowing with Bt Cotton seed. Area under oilseeds is also reported higher at 9.519 mhac, up from 8.742 mhac, the statement added.

UNI