New Delhi (PTI): India is estimated to generate an annual demand of nearly 23 million tonnes of corn by 2011-12 while the production may be just above that levels, a research body on the foodgrain has said.
According to Vision 2025, released today by Indian Maize Development Association (IMDA), India's demand for maize is likely to be 22.73 million tonnes in 2011-12, out of which 19.66 million tonnes would be for non-food uses like poultry and cattle feed.
IMDA also said that total production of maize is estimated to rise to 42 million tonnes in 2025 from a projected 22 million tonnes in 2010, if the output increases by 6-7 million tonnes in every five year.
Releasing the vision document, that stressed on using single cross hybrid, outgoing Planning Commission Member V L Chopra said there was need to translate the 'vision into action' to increase the maize production in the country.
Speaking on the occasion, former Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research R S Paroda said the productivity of the crop has increased to 2.5 tonnes per hectare from less than one tonne a hectare in the past decade mainly due to policy change.
The government had decided 10 years ago to adopt single cross hybrid seeds in maize.
The production of maize can be doubled in next 10 years if area under single cross hybrid seeds is increased to 90 per cent from current 30 per cent of the total area under the crop, Paroda noted.
According to the third advance estimates of the Agriculture Ministry, India harvested 18.48 million tonnes of maize in 2008-09 crop year (June-May).
He wondered why maize is not been considered a foodgrain and has not been included under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM). He pointed out that maize is promoted by the government under the Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Pulses, Oil Palm and Pulses (ISOPOM).
Paroda said that the main potential areas to raise maize production are in the eastern region of the country.
He also said India could be a major production centre of maize to cater to the demand in south-east Asia, which currently imports the commodity from the US.
Source : The Hindu