MAIZE PRODUCTION IN INDIA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Agriculture)

Context: India has experienced a remarkable revolution in maize production, with annual output soaring from 11.5 million tonnes in 1999-2000 to over 35 million tonnes in 2023-24.

Maize Production in India

• Ranking: India ranks 4th in maize cultivation area and 7th in production globally, contributing around 4% of the world’s maize area and 2% of its total production.
• Global Production Leader: The United States is the largest producer of maize, contributing nearly 36% of global production.
• Climate Requirements

oTemperature: Between 21-27°C and requires high rainfall.

oSoil Type: Maize is predominantly grown in old alluvial soil.

oUsage: Maize serves as both food and fodder.

• Growing Seasons: In India, maize is primarily grown in two seasons: kharif (rainy) and rabi (winter). Kharif maize covers about 83% of the maize-growing area, whereas rabi maize accounts for 17%.
• Cultivation Conditions: Over 70% of kharif maize is cultivated under rainfed conditions, facing numerous biotic and abiotic stresses.
• Regional Distribution: Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka have the largest maize areas in India, each with 15%, followed by Maharashtra (10%), Rajasthan (9%), and Uttar Pradesh (8%). Bihar is a major producer after Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, while Andhra Pradesh leads in maize productivity.

New Breeding Strategies

• Maize Doubled Haploid Facility: CIMMYT has inaugurated a maize doubled haploid (DH) facility at Kunigal in Karnataka.
• Partnership for Development: The facility was established in collaboration with the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore.
• Production of Homozygous Lines: It produces 100% homozygous and genetically pure inbred lines of maize.
• Use in Hybrid Breeding: These inbred lines are used as parents for further crossing and hybrid breeding.