Uttar Pradesh: Booming ethanol and feed demand sends Farrukhabad maize across India
Strong demand from ethanol plants and feed manufacturers has boosted maize prices in Uttar Pradesh’s Farrukhabad to nearly Rs 2,000 per quintal. Record cultivation and bumper production are driving shipments nationwide, improving farmer returns despite rising transport costs and logistics challenges.
Farrukhabad: Rising demand from ethanol producers and feed manufacturers has turned maize into a high-demand crop in Farrukhabad, opening new markets for farmers and pushing prices upward this season.
With bumper production recorded across the district, maize from Farrukhabad is now reaching buyers in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, creating fresh opportunities for growers. Increased demand has lifted prices from around Rs 1,900 to nearly Rs 2,000 per quintal, with farmers expecting further gains in the coming weeks, Amar Ujala reported.
A significant share of the crop is being supplied to ethanol manufacturing units, while the rest is being used in poultry feed production, some of which is exported overseas.
The surge in demand has accelerated dispatch activity. After sending eight railway rakes of maize, traders have already secured bookings for nearly 60 additional rakes to meet orders from outside the state.
The strong market has come as a boost for farmers who shifted to maize cultivation after suffering losses in potato farming over the past two years. This season, maize was planted across a record 1.07 lakh hectares in the district.
According to Agriculture Department estimates, maize production is expected to touch 5,98,825 metric tonnes, although actual output is believed to be higher. Procurement activity has intensified across markets and weighing centres, with purchases continuing late into the night. Supplies are moving through both road and rail networks.
Trader Ajay Gupta said Gujarat has emerged as the largest market for maize from the district, while Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have added fresh demand. Ethanol factories are also purchasing substantial quantities.
Sanjay Kamal, former president of the Commission Agents Association in Kamalganj, said supplies are reaching several Gujarat cities including Palampur, Siddhpur, Anand, Unjha, Dholka, Viramgam and Bavla.
Maize-based ethanol produced in Gujarat is being used for alcohol production and biofuel blending. The crop is also supporting food processing industries producing items such as cornflakes and popcorn. Poultry feed manufactured from maize is being exported and is widely used as a source of protein and energy for broiler birds and dairy animals. Growing starch production has further strengthened demand from other states.
Transport availability, however, remains a challenge. Trader Alok Kumar said shipments are currently being routed depending on where trucks are available. If transport for Maharashtra is unavailable, consignments are redirected to Gujarat. Freight rates have increased by Rs 20–40 per quintal, and traders believe smoother transport movement could support another rise in prices.
Apart from Gujarat, maize shipments are also being loaded for Maharajganj, Lakhimpur Kheri, Shahjahanpur and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, Bharatpur in Rajasthan and Kolar in Karnataka.
Last year, maize prices had opened at Rs 2,000 per quintal and climbed to Rs 2,250 before later falling back to around Rs 1,800, according to market trader Ashok Kumar Verma.
Rail dispatches have continued to increase. From Nibkarori station, two rakes each have already been sent to Gujarat and Rudrapur and one to Maharashtra. Farrukhabad station has dispatched three rakes to destinations outside the state, including one to Tamil Nadu, while another rake is scheduled for loading at Nibkarori.
Deputy Director of Agriculture Arvind Mohan Mishra said growing demand from ethanol and poultry feed industries has strengthened the maize market and improved returns for farmers. He added that lower cultivation costs and strong demand last year encouraged farmers to expand maize cultivation this season.
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Source : ChiniMandi
