Uttar Pradesh: Ethanol demand pushes Sonbhadra towards major expansion in maize cultivation
Sonbhadra farmers are rapidly shifting to maize cultivation as ethanol industry demand boosts prices and profitability. The district targets maize sowing on 77,082 hectares this kharif season, nearly double last year, surpassing paddy acreage for the first time under Uttar Pradesh’s UP Agro scheme.
Sonbhadra: Farmers in Sonbhadra are rapidly shifting towards maize cultivation as rising demand from the ethanol industry drives a major increase in acreage during the current kharif season.
The agriculture department has fixed a target of cultivating maize on 77,082 hectares this season, nearly double last year’s coverage of 38,201 hectares, Jagran reported.
Officials said regions including Dudhi, Babhani, Myorpur and Kon have emerged as key maize-producing areas due to favourable geographical and climatic conditions for the crop. Farmers are also showing growing interest in maize cultivation because of better market prices and increasing demand from ethanol manufacturers.
Under the Uttar Pradesh government’s UP Agro scheme, a pilot project covering Varanasi, Mirzapur and Sonbhadra is being implemented in eastern Uttar Pradesh. The programme is providing farmers with improved seeds, modern farming techniques and training support aimed at boosting production and increasing farm incomes.
For the first time, the district has set a higher cultivation target for maize than for paddy during the kharif season. While paddy cultivation has been targeted at 68,073 hectares, maize cultivation has been planned for 77,082 hectares.
Pigeon pea has been placed third among major kharif crops in the district, with a sowing target of 28,604 hectares.
Officials said Sonbhadra’s climate is considered highly suitable for maize farming, leading to special emphasis on the crop this year.
The district has fixed an overall kharif crop target of 2,00,998 hectares for the current season. Apart from paddy, maize and pigeon pea, coarse cereals are expected to be cultivated over nearly 11,000 hectares. Crops such as sorghum, pearl millet, urad, moong, sesame and groundnut also record good production in the district.
Sandeep Kumar Maurya said the decision to sharply increase maize cultivation was taken in view of rising ethanol demand and added that the move is expected to improve farmers’ incomes.
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Source : ChiniMandi
