About Maize
Maize (Zea mays L) is one of the most versatile emerging crops having wider adaptability
under varied agro-climatic conditions. Globally, maize is known as queen of cereals
because it has the highest genetic yield potential among the cereals. It is cultivated
on nearly 150 m ha in about 160 countries having wider diversity of soil, climate,
biodiversity and management practices that contributes 36 % (782 m t) in the global
grain production. The United States of America (USA) is the largest producer of
maize contributes nearly 35 % of the total production in the world and maize is
the driver of the US economy. The USA has the highest productivity (> 9.6 t ha-1
) which is double than the global average (4.92 t ha-1). Whereas, the average productivity
in India is 2.43 t ha-1
In India, maize is the third most important food crops after rice and wheat. According
to advance estimate its production is likely to be 22.23 M Tonnes (2012-13) mainly
during Kharif season which covers 80% area. Maize in India, contributes nearly 9
% in the national food basket. In addition to staple food for human being and quality
feed for animals, maize serves as a basic raw material as an ingredient to thousands
of industrial products that includes starch, oil, protein, alcoholic beverages,
food sweeteners, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, film, textile, gum, package and paper
industries etc.
The maize is cultivated throughout the year in all states of the country for various
purposes including grain, fodder, green cobs, sweet corn, baby corn, pop corn in
peri-urban areas. The predominant maize growing states that contributes more than
80 % of the total maize production are Andhra Pradesh (20.9 %), Karnataka (16.5
%), Rajasthan (9.9 %), Maharashtra (9.1 %), Bihar (8.9 %), Uttar Pradesh (6.1 %),
Madhya Pradesh (5.7 %), Himachal Pradesh (4.4 %). Apart from these states maize
is also grown in Jammu and Kashmir and North-Eastern states. Hence, the maize has
emerged as important crop in the non-traditional regions i.e. peninsular India as
the state like Andhra Pradesh which ranks 5th in area (0.79 m ha) has recorded the
highest production (4.14 m t) and productivity (5.26 t ha-1 ) in the country although
the productivity in some of the districts of Andhra Pradesh is more or equal to
the USA.
Maize can be grown successfully in variety of soils ranging from loamy sand to clay
loam. However, soils with good organic matter content having high water holding
capacity with neutral pH are considered good for higher productivity. Being a sensitive
crop to moisture stress particularly excess soil moisture and salinity stresses;
it is desirable to avoid low lying fields having poor drainage and also the field
having higher salinity. Therefore, the fields having provision of proper drainage
should be selected for cultivation of maize.
All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on maize was launched in 1957 with
the objective to develop and disseminate genetically superior cultivars and production/protection
technologies. AICRP organizes interdisciplinary, interinstitutional, co-operative
and systematic testing of newly developed cultivars of both public and private sectors
for different agro-climatic zones of the country. The project resulted in refining
efforts in varietal improvement. Since 1961, a total number of 187 cultivars including
single cross hybrids, composites and multiple parent crosses have been released
nationwide. In India, maize is traditionally grown in monsoon (Kharif) season, which
is accompanied by high temperature (<35° C) and rainfall. However, with the
development of new cultivars and appropriate production technology, winter cultivation
of maize has emerged as a viable alternative.
Maize Producing States
Source: Annual Progress Report Kharif Maize 2012
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Directorate of Maize Annual report...2011-12