Continuous serious efforts needed to increase the production of maize

20-Jul-2024 11:18 AM

New Delhi. During the last two decades, the production of maize in India has increased more than three times, but due to the increase in its demand and consumption in the same proportion, its shortage is now being felt in the country. Earlier maize was considered a food product and raw material for animal feed, whereas now it is also being used as a fuel product. Considering the speed at which the use of maize is increasing in ethanol production, there will be a need to increase its domestic production continuously, otherwise, like pulses and edible oils, it will not take long for dependence on its import from abroad to increase. Maize is the most important product of the coarse cereals category.

With the success of the Green Revolution, India became self-sufficient in the production of rice and wheat and in the initial phase, due to low domestic consumption, the need to import maize was also not felt, but now the situation has changed. During the year 1999-2000, 115 lakh tonnes of maize was produced in India, which increased more than three times to above 350 lakh tonnes by 2023-24. During this period, along with the sowing area, the average yield rate of maize also jumped from 1.80 tonnes per hectare to 3.30 tonnes per hectare.

Out of the total amount of maize produced in the country, about 20 percent of maize is used for poultry and animal feed production purposes. Maize contains carbohydrates in abundance, which is a source of energy for animals and birds. Now due to the rapid increase in the use of maize in starch and ethanol production, not only its price is increasing but its supply and availability for the poultry industry is also decreasing. To meet this shortage, it is necessary to increase production.