Maize Prices Remain Firm

Coimbatore: Maize prices appear to remain strong notwithstanding arrivals of new crop in the market.

The market yard prices this week were being quoted about two per cent higher at Rs 6,700-Rs 6,750 per tonne over last week’s prices.

The delivered prices, depending upon the distance from main production centres, stood higher and the prevailing prices were Rs 7,100-7,300 in respect of areas that fell close to production centres. In respect of areas that are away from production centres, the quoted delivered rates were between Rs 7,800 and Rs 8,000 per tonne, according to US Grains Council’s India market report.

Spot price

The spot price (in Nizamabad and Karimnagar) is Rs 7,000 and for Davangiri (Karnataka), it is lower at Rs 6,600.

For Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh markets, the price quoted is at Rs 8,300 per tonne. The futures prices too stand higher with the December delivery price being quoted at Rs 7,450 a tonne and March 2008 delivery being quoted at Rs 8,000 per tonne.

The report said with the increase in delivered prices of soyameal, the feed cost for poultry is on the rise.

With soyameal price having touched Rs 15,600 per tonne, the poultry feed cost has gone up to Rs 13,500-13,700 per tonne compared with Rs 12,000 last year.

This is expected to increase the product cost for broilers (live chicken).

Broiler cost

The average production cost of broiler will be about Rs 35 per kg for integrated poultry units and in the case of individual farmers in North India, it would be higher at Rs 41 per kg.

In addition to this, the higher bird mortality experienced in North Indian states and the higher overheads on account of heating costs to be borne by the Northern farms to ward off winter months (for heating the sheds for brooding) would add up to their production costs, the report added.