India Expects Rise In Maize Yield

High yield hybrid seeds of maize find more potential in Indian soil as the farmers expect 15-20 percent increase in maize production in this khariff season.

S K Singh, President of Indian Maize Development Association said maize production in the country is expected to increase 15-20 percent to 18 million tonnes due to timely intervention of farmers by enhancing the acreage of the crop.

Farmers are sowing hybrid seeds and diversifying to Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

India is estimated to have produced 18.54 million tonnes of maize in 2007-08, out of which 14.82 million tonnes came from the Kharif season, which is the post-summer period when farmers in many parts of the country depend on monsoon rains.

Singh said farmers in Punjab, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh are shifting to maize cultivation from other coarse grains like jowar and bajra as it offers them more returns.

Though the average yield is two tonnes per hectare, the maize productivity in some parts is over three tonnes a hectare, he said, adding farmers in Karnataka and Haryana are fast adopting the hybrid seeds of maize.

Bihar has emerged as a major destination for growing maize where the yield has also been improving, he said, adding Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand also have the potential to grow the crop in their rain-fed areas.

Source: Commodity Online