Decline in Popcorn Maize Imports Driven by Rising Domestic Production

15-Jun-2026 12:04 PM

Chennai: Data from a local company reveals that over the past decade, domestic production of popcorn-quality maize has surged by two-and-a-half times (250 percent), while imports have dropped from 70 percent of total domestic demand to just 15 percent. Until 2015, the Indian popcorn maize market relied heavily on production from Karnataka and imports from abroad. However, concerted efforts were subsequently launched to expand the cultivation area and production of this specific maize variety within the country.

Over the last decade, India's popcorn maize market has grown from 50,000 tonnes to 130,000 tonnes annually, while domestic production has simultaneously jumped from 15,000 tonnes to 85,000 tonnes.

A prominent Chennai-based company has played a pivotal role in boosting domestic popcorn maize production. Established in 2014, the company has steadily expanded by addressing every aspect of the popcorn value chain—including hybrid seed production, encouraging farmers to cultivate the crop, and handling grain processing, storage, and marketing. The company also developed its own brand for retail products.

Later, the company entered into a strategic partnership with a US firm, gaining access to world-class cultivation expertise and superior grain quality.

According to the company, the seeds were initially imported, and trial cultivation began between October and December 2016. Commercial production subsequently commenced on 840 acres of land during the January–March 2018 period.