Maize Area Surge Poised to Boost Production
12-Aug-2025 06:16 PM
New Delhi. As expected, Indian farmers are showing tremendous interest in the cultivation of maize, the most important coarse grain of the Kharif season, this time, due to which its sowing area has jumped to a top level of 91.90 lakh hectares.
This sowing area is 8.75 lakh hectares more than the area of 87.15 lakh hectares in the same period last year and about 14 lakh hectares more than the normal (five-year) average area of 78.95 lakh hectares.
This time, compared to last year, there has been a good increase in the production area of maize in most of the major producing states and due to favorable weather and monsoon conditions, its excellent yield is expected.
According to official data, as of August 8, 2025, the total domestic production area of coarse grains increased by 7.77 lakh hectares from 170.96 lakh hectares last year to 178.73 lakh hectares, in which maize alone contributes more than 50 percent.
During the period under review, in the coarse cereals category, the production area of sorghum fell from 13.96 lakh hectares to 13.69 lakh hectares and the sowing area of millet fell from 65.76 lakh hectares to 13.96 lakh hectares and the sowing area of millet fell from 65.76 lakh hectares to 64.86 lakh hectares.
While the area of ragi improved from 4.15 lakh hectares to 4.41 lakh hectares. On the other hand, the sowing area of small millets slipped from 3.93 lakh hectares last year to 3.88 lakh hectares this time.
The minimum support price of maize has been increased by Rs 175 from Rs 2225 per quintal for the 2024-25 season to Rs 2400 per quintal for the 2025-26 season, while the open market price is expected to remain above this.
Maize has traditionally been consumed in large quantities in animal feed, poultry feed and starch manufacturing industries, while now its use in ethanol manufacturing industry has started increasing very rapidly.
Maize is also used for human food purposes and is also exported in small quantities from the country. Earlier, it was being shipped in large quantities.
Major maize producing states include Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Bengal and Uttar Pradesh etc. Sowing process has been completed in most areas and its total production area is estimated to increase by 15 percent compared to last year.
Maize crop is growing well and its preparation for harvesting is likely to start from the end of September or beginning of October.