The Karnataka government has allowed poultry feed manufacturers to buy maize directly from farmers at Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the 2025-26 Kharif season. This step will help farmers earn better prices and lower reliance on middlemen. The order was issued on Thursday after a meeting led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Industry reps were asked to procure about five lakh tonnes of maize directly from farmers. The Karnataka Poultry Farmers and Breeders Association (KPFBA) agreed to start with 5,000 tonnes and will pay 20% advance. Maize must meet MSP quality rules, especially with moisture content below 12%, to suit poultry feed. Earlier, the Karnataka State Co-operative Marketing Federation (KSCMF) was in charge of buying maize for distilleries. Now, feed makers can also buy maize directly in the farmers’ interest, the government said.