Only 2 percent of the world’s maize is produced in India. Of the production in India, about 47 percent goes into poultry feed. Its industrial use is very less here. But now times are changing. Now a plan has been made to promote its cultivation for ethanol production. The responsibility of which has been given by the government to the Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR). Senior maize scientist Dr. S.L. Jat said that for this the central government has started a project called “Increasing maize production in the catchment area of ethanol industries”. The country has changed from Asia’s top maize exporter to a net importer.
This significant shift is impacting local industries and altering global maize supply chains.
Key Facts About Maize
- Maize (Zea mays L.) is a highly versatile crop known as the “queen of cereals” due to its high genetic yield potential.
- Globally, maize contributes significantly to grain production, with the USA being the largest producer and having the highest productivity.
- In India, maize is the third most important food crop, contributing around 9% to the national food basket and adding more than Rs. 100 billion to the agricultural GDP.
- The crop is used in various sectors including food, animal feed, and industrial products.
- Growing Conditions: Maize thrives in a range of soils from loamy sand to clay loam, with optimal conditions being well-drained soils with high organic matter and neutral pH.
- Avoiding fields with poor drainage and high salinity is crucial for maintaining productivity.
- Rainfall: 50-100 cm.
- Seasonal Cultivation: In India, Maize can be grown in Kharif, Rabi, and Spring seasons.
- Kharif maize has lower productivity due to rainfed conditions and biotic/abiotic stresses, compared to rabi maize.
- Global Ranking: India is the 5th Largest producer (as of December 2023) and 14th Largest exporter of Maize in the world (2022).
- India’s strategic advantages for maize supply include year-round production, a robust seed network, and accessible seaports. However, high domestic demand limits its current export significance.
- Major Producing States: Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh.
Why has India Become a Net Maize Importer
- Ethanol Blending Goals: India’s push to increase the ethanol content in gasoline 20% by 2025-26 has driven up the demand for maize-based ethanol.
- National Policy on Biofuels (NPB) 2018 permits blending of maize and grain-based ethanol, boosting ethanol production capacities to meet the rising demand.
- Shift from Sugarcane to Maize: Due to a drought, the government curbed the use of sugarcane for fuel, prompting ethanol distilleries to turn to maize as an alternative.India produced 34.6 million tonnes (mt) of maize in 2023-24, with plans to double production to bridge the supply-demand gap.
- Impact on Domestic Supply: The shift to using maize for ethanol has caused a shortfall in the poultry and starch industries, leading to the country’s first maize imports in decades.