Maize commodity prices on Agriwatch are updated regularly based on the latest available mandi and market data.
Maize, also known as corn, is the third most important cereal crop in India after rice and wheat and is often referred to as the “Queen of Cereals”. Its versatility, high yield potential, and adaptability across agro-climatic zones make maize a critical crop for food security, livestock feed, and industrial use. In India, maize plays a growing role in the poultry feed industry, starch manufacturing, and ethanol production.
Because of its multi-sectoral demand, movements in the maize market price today and mandi-level activity are closely tracked by farmers, traders, feed manufacturers, and industrial buyers. Changes in production, weather conditions, and export demand directly influence the maize market price in India.
Scientific Name: Zea mays
Family: Poaceae
Maize is known by various regional names across India, including Makka, Makai, Bhutta, Maka, and Cholam. These regional variations are reflected in mandi trade, where maize mandi price and local pricing trends may differ across markets.
Maize cultivation in India spans several major producing states:
Karnataka
Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra
Rajasthan
Bihar
Uttar Pradesh
Production volumes from these regions play a decisive role in shaping the maize mandi rate and overall domestic availability.
Maize has diverse applications across sectors:
Food: Cornflakes, popcorn, maize flour, baby food
Feed: Poultry and cattle feed
Industrial: Ethanol, starch, sweeteners, and bio-plastics
Strong demand from the feed and industrial sectors supports long-term trends in the maize wholesale price and market sentiment.
Growing Seasons and Crop Characteristics
Maize is grown in multiple seasons in India:
Kharif: June to October (main crop)
Rabi: November to March (southern and central India)
The crop requires moderate temperatures and well-drained fertile soils. Weather conditions, especially rainfall distribution, significantly influence yields and arrival patterns, affecting the maize market rate today.
Maize traded in India is broadly classified into:
Yellow Maize: Dominant in feed and industrial use
White Maize: Used primarily for food and flour
Grading is based on moisture content, grain size, and purity. These quality parameters influence price realisation in wholesale trade and impact the corn wholesale price in consumption centres.
India exports maize to markets in Southeast Asia, Bangladesh, Nepal, and the Middle East. Export demand, international prices, and trade policies influence domestic availability and pricing trends.
Export flows and global demand play an important role in shaping the corn market price today and overall trade sentiment.
Maize prices typically soften during peak harvest periods when arrivals increase and firm up during lean months due to lower availability and steady demand from feed manufacturers.
Weather disruptions such as drought or excess rainfall can cause sharp movements in the corn market rate today and mandi prices.
For traders, feed manufacturers, and industrial buyers, tracking the maize market price is essential for procurement planning and inventory management. Maize remains a strategically important crop, linking agriculture with food, feed, and industrial supply chains.