Govt targets 10% rise in maize output in 2025-26
To meet rising demand from animal feed and bio-fuel makers, the government is aiming to increase production of maize by 10% to 42 million tonne (MT) by 2025-26 from 38 MT in 2022-23 crop year (July-June) through initiating measures such as crop diversification, cluster development for ethanol plants and involving private sector in seed development.
Sources said the agriculture ministry is currently working with Indian Institute of Maize Research, Punjab to boost maize production through developing high yielding varieties which have higher recovery for ethanol.
Officials said that developing high starch varieties to increase ethanol recovery is being worked out.
The agriculture ministry also identified 53 districts high yielding districts in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab and Bihar for expanding maize area.
The development of maize clusters around ethanol plants is being initiated by the agriculture ministry.
The ministry has urged private sector to leverage public private partnership for integrated agriculture value chain development scheme for maize to ethanol production.
Currently 10.74 million hectare (MH) is under maize output and the aim is to expand area by one MH in the next couple of years.
Under the crop diversification paddy, the focus is being given to divert paddy grown in Indo-Gangetic plains and north-western plans to maize.
In addition, under a plan approved, the farmers cooperative Nafed and National Cooperative Consumers Federation (NCCF) will purchase maize from the farmers at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and supply to companies for ethanol production.
While globally maize is the primary feed-stock for ethanol production, it is used in India mostly for animal feed and industrial use.
Following the projected decline in sugar production this season (2023-24) which forced the government to restrict syrup supplies for ethanol making, the government is aiming at alternative feed-stock. “Use of sugar for ethanol has is limitations unless the area under sugarcane goes up, so we are looking to boost maize production,” an official told FE.
Meanwhile Ramesh Chand, member, Niti Aayog has stated there is a need to increase maize productivity to meet the target demand for ethanol production.
For increasing productivity, the agriculture ministry is focussing on improving kharif output through increasing use of climate resilient and pest resistant seeds and increasing area under hybrids.
Maize is grown during both kharif and rabi seasons. Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have close to 40% share in total output.
About 60-65% of the output of maize is used as poultry and animal feed while 20% is used for industrial use.
Maize is the third most key cereal crop after rice and wheat.
Source Link: https://www.financialexpress.com/policy/economy-govt-targets-10-rise-in-maize-output-in-2025-26-3379264/
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