Maize Cultivation in India: Top Maize Producing States
Have you ever heard about “Queen of Cereals”? Maize is considered as the “Queen of Cereals” because it has the highest genetic yield potential among all cereals. It is the third most prominent cereal crop in India after rice and wheat. The scientific name of maize is Zea Mays. It accounts for around 10 percent of total food grain production in the country. In this blog, we will understand the importance of maize cultivation in India, the major maize producing states and the scope of maize cultivation for farmers. Let’s have a look at the important aspects of maize production below.
Table of Contents
- Maize: An Important Cereal Crop of India
- Maize Cultivation in India
- Top 5 Maize Producing States in India
- Scope of Maize Cultivation in India
Maize: An Important Cereal Crop of India
Maize is an essential cereal crop which has the highest yield potential among cereals. It is used as starch, corn flakes and more. It is also used as animal feed in poultry. It is known as Makka, Cholam and Bhutta in India. Maize is grown mainly in two seasons in India, kharif season and rabi season. Kharif maize represents around 83% of maize area in India, while rabi maize corresponds to 17% maize area. India ranks 4th in area and 7th in production, representing around 4% of the world maize area and 2% of total production.
Maize Cultivation in India
Maize cultivation involves several steps including land preparation, sowing and harvesting. Let’s have a look:
Land Preparation for Maize
The first and foremost step in maize cultivation is to prepare a land. Loamy and clayey soils are the best type of soils for maize cultivation. But the most beneficial soil for maize cultivation is the soil that has good organic matter content in it. Maize is a sensitive crop, so it is advisable to avoid low lying fields having poor drainage and the field having higher salinity.
Sowing of Maize Crop
As most of the Indian Maize is grown during the Kharif season as compared to the Rabi season, Maize Kharif is sown in June to July till August and harvested in December. During Kharif season it is desirable to complete the sowing operation 12-15 days before the onset of monsoon. However, in rainfed areas, the sowing time should coincide with the onset of monsoon. Rabi crops are sown in the winter months of October through December. They are harvested from April to June. During rabi and spring, there is higher yielding and irrigation facilities that are suitable for maize.
Nutrient and Water Management
Nutrient Management is an essential part of maize cultivation. It can be grown both organically or by integrated nutrient management involving organic and inorganic nutrient supplementation. Maize does not require a lot of water and can also be grown in less water.
Maize Crop Protection
Crop protection can be incorporated by two ways: Insect-pest management and Disease management. Let’s understand each in more detail.
Insect-pest Management
|
Pest Management |
Control Measures |
|
Stem Borer |
The stalks and stubbles should be collected from the field and burnt after harvesting. |
|
Red Hairy Caterpillars |
Once the Egg masses and young caterpillars detected, they should be collected and destroyed instantly. The field should be ploughed out after the crop is harvested, so as to expose pupa. |
Disease Management
|
Disease Management |
Control Measures |
|
Leaf Blight |
The crop can be sprayed with Dithane M-45 or Indofil @ 35-40 gms or Blue Copper @55 -60 gms in 18 litres water, 2 -3 sprays at 15 days interval, will effectively control the disease. |
|
Polysora Rust |
Three sprays of Dithane M-45 @ 2-2.5 gm/liter beginning from first appearance of symptoms at 15 days interval are required. It is always advisable to use resistant varieties. |
Maize Harvesting
Maize Harvesting is an essential practice in India as it is the basic need to grow and harvest crops in any agricultural field. There are mainly two methods for maize harvesting:
- Plucking of Cobs
The ears are piled to open for twenty-four hours by removing from the standing plants and they are spread for drying in the sun. In this method stalks may be used as green fodder.
- Stalk Cutting
In stalk cutting, the plants are cut and piled up in the shade and the cobs are usually removed after two or three days of harvesting. The haymaking can be done using drying plants.
Maize grown for fodder is harvested at the milk to early dough stage. The earlier harvested crops usually yield less and are poor in protein content. Late dough stage is preferred for silage making.
Top 5 Maize Producing States in India
According to the National Horticulture Board (NHB), Ministry of Agriculture and Department of Animal Husbandry, the total production of maize in India 2024-25 was 43,409.00 thousand metric tonnes. The top maize producing states in 2024-25 were:
|
Top Maize Producing States |
Production (in thousand metric tonnes) |
|
Madhya Pradesh |
6,642.37 |
|
Karnataka |
6,189.69 |
|
Bihar |
5,468.24 |
|
Maharashtra |
4,749.23 |
|
Telangana |
3,392.11 |
Scope of Maize Cultivation in India
Maize production in India has been increasing year by year. There are several factors for the increment in maize production such as increased adoption of high‑yielding varieties and hybrid seeds, improved agronomic practices, such as irrigation and fertilization, expansion of the area under maize cultivation, and government support measures, such as subsidies and price support mechanisms. Below are the specific opportunities for maize cultivation in India in the next five years:
- Increased Demand for Ethanol Production: There is a target of blending 20% ethanol with gasoline by 2026 by the Indian government. This will create a huge demand for ethanol, which can be produced from maize.
- Poultry and Livestock Sector Growth: The poultry and livestock farming sector are growing rapidly in India. This is increasing the demand for maize, which is used as a feedstock for these animals.
- Starch and Oil Industry Expansion: The starch and oil industry in India is expanding rapidly. Maize is an essential raw material for these industries.
- Growing Demand for Value-Added Maize Products: There is a growing demand for value-added maize products, such as sweet corn, baby corn, popcorn, and cornflakes. This is due to rising incomes and changing lifestyles.
Farmers can capitalize these opportunities by doing high yielding varieties and hybrid seeds, improving agronomic practices to increase maize productivity, expanding the maize cultivation area and connecting with buyers and processors to get better prices for their produce. Maize is and will be the versatile crop in India in coming years with its high demand and due to India’s diversified land.
Frequently Asked Questions On Maize Production In India
1. Why is maize called the “Queen of Cereals”?
Maize is called the “Queen of Cereals” because it has the highest genetic yield potential among all cereal crops.
2. Which season accounts for the majority of maize cultivation in India?
Around 83% of maize in India is grown during the kharif season.
3. Which state is the largest producer of maize in India (2024–25)?
Madhya Pradesh is the largest maize‑producing state, contributing about 15.30% of total production.
4. What type of soil is best suited for maize cultivation?
Loamy and clayey soils with good organic matter and proper drainage are ideal for maize cultivation.
5. What drives the future demand for maize in India?
Rising demand for ethanol blending, poultry feed, starch industries, and value‑added maize products are boosting maize demand.
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