Maize Production in India

Table of Contents

• Understanding Maize in India
• Maize Cultivation in India

• Land Preparation for Maize
• Sowing of Maize Crop
• Nutrient and Water Management
• Maize Crop Protection
• Maize Harvesting

• Top 5 Maize Producing States in India

• Karnataka
• Madhya Pradesh
• Maharashtra
• Tamil Nadu
• West Bengal

• Scope of Maize Cultivation in India

Understanding Maize in India

Maize is one of the popular cereal crops of India. It is the most versatile crop with wider adaptability in Agro-ecologies and has highest yield potential among all the crops. India ranks 4th in area and 7th in production, representing around 4% of the world maize area and 2% of total production. Production of maize is estimated to be 35.91 million tonnes in 2022-23.

In India, we call maize as corn, makka or bhutta. Apart from a staple food and animal quality feed, it is also a raw material in industrial products that includes starch, oil, protein, alcoholic beverages, food sweeteners, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, film, textile, gum, package and paper industries, etc.

Maize Cultivation 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 correspond to 17% maize area. Let’s have a look on some major aspects of maize cultivation below.

• Land Preparation for Maize
• Sowing of Maize Crop
• Nutrient and Water Management
• Maize Crop Protection
• Maize Harvesting

Land Preparation for Maize

The first and foremost step in maize cultivation is to prepare a land. Loamy and clayey soils are the best 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 be coincided with 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 is 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

The crop protection can be incorporated by two ways: Insect-pest management and Disease management. Let’s understand each in more detail.

• Insect-pest Management

1. Stem Borer

Stem borers feed on leaves in the initial stages. Later, they bore into the stem and cobs, interpreting the plant unproductive.

Control: The stalks and stubbles should be collected from the field and burnt after harvesting.

2. Red Hairy Caterpillars

Caterpillars feed and destroy the whole plant if the attack is in the early stages of growth.

Control: 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

1. Leaf Blight

Appearance of oval to round, yellowish-purple spots on leaves. The affected leaves dry up and appear as if burnt. In severe cases, the plants may become stunted, resulting in poorly formed ears.

Control: 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.

2. Polysora Rust

This widely spread disease majorly appears Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. This disease shows the symptoms such as the appearance of circular to elongate light cinnamon brown, circular to oval 0.2-2.0 mm long densely scattered legions on the upper leaf.

Control: 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:

1. Plucking of Cobs

• The ears are piled to open for twenty-four hours by removing form the standing plants and they are spread for drying in the sun. In this method stalks may be used as green fodder.

2. 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 are harvested at the milk to early dough stage. The earlier harvested crop usually yields less and is poor in protein content. Late dough stage is preferred for silage making.

Top 5 Maize Producing States in India

• Karnataka
• Madhya Pradesh
• Maharashtra
• Tamil Nadu
• West Bengal

The states listed above are the major states that contribute around 80% to the total maize production in India. Let’s understand each state in more detail.

Karnataka

Karnataka contributes an approximately 15% of India’s total maize production. It holds the first position in maize production which covers an area of 15.9 million hectares, contributes to the production of 5.22 million tonnes with an approximate 3279 kg yield per hectare in 2021-22. Karnataka has a mild climate and rich soil for maize cultivation. High yielding hybrid varieties, modern irrigation and crop management have contributed to Karnataka’s superior maize production which are considered as the modern agricultural practices these days.

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh is known as "The Heart of India" because it geographically occupies a central place in the country. It holds 2^nd rank in top 5 maize producing states in India. This state is not only famous for the remarkable monuments and temples but also for the commendable maize production in India. Madhya Pradesh covers an area of 1.40 million hectares, contributes to the production of 4.57 million tonnes with 3256 kg per hectare yield during 2021-22. This state has a rich soil which offers diverse Agro-climatic conditions and a strong agricultural infrastructure to large scale maize cultivation.

Maharashtra

Having crops like mangoes, grapes, bananas, oranges, wheat, rice, jawar, bajra, and pulses, Maharashtra ranks 3^rd with maize in top 5 maize producing states in the country. It contributes to the total production of 3.53 million tonnes with a yield of 2730 kg per hectare. The total area coverage is 1.29 million hectares during 2021-22. 

Tamil Nadu

The most famous south state of India, Tamil Nadu, ranks 4^th among the top 5 maize producing states in India. Tamil Nadu, with its diverse Agro-climatic zones, is suitable to produce maize because it has favourable rainfall patterns and suitable irrigation facilities. With the contribution of the production of 2.81 million hectares with a yield of 7008 kg per hectare, it covers an area around 0.40 million hectares.

West Bengal

Last but not the least, we have West Bengal in the list. Rice is the principal food crop of West Bengal, but it is also famous for maize production contributing to 2.64 million tonnes production with a yield of 7158 kg per hectare in 2021-22 that covers an area of 0.37 million hectares.

Scope of Maize Cultivation in India

Maize production in India has been increasing year by year. In 2022-23, maize production is estimated to reach 34.6 million tonnes, up from 33.7 million tonnes in the previous 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, Government support measures, such as subsidies and price support mechanisms etc.

Some opportunities are the like increased productivity, expanding the area under cultivation, value chain development, diversification, etc. The demand for maize is going to continue in coming years. 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 2025 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 capitalise 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.