Maize

Introduction

In India, maize is emerging as third most important crop after rice and wheat. Maize has its significance as a source of a large number of industrial products besides its uses as human food and animal feed. Diversified uses of maize for maize corn, starch industry, corn oil production, baby corns, popcorns, etc., and potential for exports has added to the demand of maize all over world.

Production area

In India the maize potential districts in 23 states are Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Growth promotional activities

To meet the growing demand, per hectare yield of maize is estimated to rise to 2.36 tonnes as against 1.7 tonnes currently by the end of 2020. Maize does possess tremendous potential in terms of feed for dairy, poultry and piggery agro-industries. In order to increase the production and productivity of maize, the government adopted the new approach for area expansion for maize in view of serious competition from food and cereal crops. The program envisages transfer of improved technology through demonstration on improved crop production technology and Integrated Pest Management training programs, seeds production programs, insecticides, pesticides, weedicides and other inputs, etc.

The Annual Plan outlay of Rs.5.50 crores is envisaged for the Annual Plan 2001-02 for achieving the production of 14.15 million tonnes and productivity of 2.2 tonnes per ha. by the terminal year of the 9th Plan.

Types

Different types of maize are classified on the basis of their protein content and the hardness of the kernel. These include pop, flint, flour, Indian and sweet corns.