The average mandi prices of these crops on July 8 show that, except for wheat, all other crops are now ruling above their past three-month averages
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NAGARA GOPAL
The key rabi season crops — wheat, chana (gram), and barley — sold at an average of 3- 8 per cent below their respective minimum support prices (MSPs) in mandis (agricultural market yards) during the main harvesting period of April-June. Maize prices were the worst affected from the farmers’ perspective, ruling 24 per cent below the MSP, whereas masur (lentil) was almost at par with the benchmark rate.
However, the season’s main oilseed crop, mustard, emerged as the winner. It sold 8 per cent higher at an average of ₹6,674/quintal against the MSP of ₹6,200/quintal during April-June, and has now jumped further to ₹7,227/quintal, up 17 per cent from the benchmark rate.
The average mandi prices of these crops on July 8 show that, except for wheat, all other crops are now ruling above their past three-month averages, according to mandi price data maintained by the Agmarknet portal. While better rates in agricultural markets are seen as a help to farmers who depend solely on agricultural crops, any substantial rise also contributes to higher food inflation.
The pan-India average farm-gate price for wheat was ₹2,506/quintal during April–June, down 3 per cent from its MSP of ₹2,585/quintal. On July 8, however, its price dropped further to ₹2,485/quintal.
“Normally, at the peak of procurement season and peak of arrivals, the prices tend to be low and later on, when the crop is harvested, the prices rise. I am quite surprised that wheat price in July is lower than the average of April to June period,” said former Union Agriculture Secretary Siraj Hussain.
Among cereals, the barley rate in mandis, which averaged ₹2,072/quintal and was down 4 per cent from its ₹2,150/quintal MSP during the harvesting season, has surged by ₹162 to reach ₹2,234/quintal now. Similarly, the price of maize, which is also substantially grown in the rabi and zaid seasons, was down 24 per cent at ₹1,830/quintal against its MSP of ₹2,400/quintal. However, the current rate of ₹1,959 shows some improvement.
In the pulses category, the average mandi price of chana was 8 per cent below its MSP at ₹5,406/quintal against the benchmark of ₹5,875/quintal, and now stands at ₹5,649/quintal.
Published on July 10, 2026
