Thoothukudi Farmers Call for Fair Prices and MSP for Millets

Farmers' associations in Thoothukudi district are calling for the creation of procurement centers for millets due to rising labor costs and stagnant crop prices in recent years. The northern parts of the district, such as Vilathikulam, Ettayapuram, Pudur, and Kovilpatti, grow crops like pearl millet, maize, white sorghum, green gram, and black gram, benefiting from the region's moisture-retaining black soil. Despite government support schemes and storage facilities, the prices of these crops have remained the same for six to eight years, while production costs have increased. Farmers report that labor wages and input costs have significantly risen, but prices for crops like maize have barely changed.

Traders are offering low prices for crops like black gram, and imports from other states are affecting market prices. Farmers are asking the government to set up procurement centers for millets and introduce minimum support prices (MSP) to ensure fair prices for their produce. Farmers also highlight that the price of black gram, which used to be ₹10,000 per quintal, has now dropped to ₹6,000, while maize and pearl millet are sold at ₹2,000-₹2,300 per quintal. They are requesting a minimum price of ₹3,000 per quintal for maize and sorghum and ₹10,000 per quintal for black gram.

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