Coarse cereal prices witness mixed trend

New Delhi, Oct 5 (PTI) Prices of major coarse cerealsreflected a mixed trend last week, with maize and barleywitnessing a downward trend while bajra and jowar shooting up. Maize rates declined by 4.3 per cent to Rs 8,140 pertonne compared to the same in the previous week. The prices,though, are higher by 17.7 per cent than that in the lastyear. "The prices are ruling lower than the minimum supportprices of Rs 8,400 per tonne declared by the government forthe new crop, which has started to arrive in almost all themarkets," India Representative of the US Grains Council AmitSachdev said. In futures market, the prices were little higher than theMSP and were recorded in the range of Rs 8,630-8,880 per tonnefor the period between October 2008 and January 2009, headded. Pearl Millet (Bajra) prices rose by 2.7 per cent to Rs7,280 per tonne compared to that in the previous week, thoughthe prices are still below the MSP of Rs 8,400, Sachdev Said.The prices rose by 5.1 per cent against the last year. Sorghum (Jowar) prices were ruling above the MSP and shotup by 10.6 per cent to Rs 10,057 per tonne compared to therates in the previous week. The prices were higher by 13.5 percent compared to the last year rates. However, barley prices dipped by 3 per cent to Rs 9,320per tonne. The prices were lower by 13.8 per cent against lastyear. "Probably barley is the only crop the prices of whichhave declined over last year," Sachdev said. Corn prices fell by 15-17 per cent on Chicago Board ofTrade on Friday against the last week's close. "Prices forDecember 2008/March 2009 delivery were recorded at USD 178-185 per tonne. The prices had reached a high of USD 315 pertonne on CBOT in June 2008," Sachdev said. PTI