India is on track to become self-sufficient in popcorn production by 2030, marking a striking turnaround for a market that depended almost entirely on imports just a decade ago. This shift has been driven by the development and large-scale adoption of high-expansion popcorn maize varieties suited to Indian conditions.
Dr M. L. Jat, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of ICAR, said India’s popcorn maize market has expanded from 50,000 tonnes in 2014-15 to 1.30 lakh tonnes in 2025-26, and is expected to rise to nearly 1.80 lakh tonnes by 2030. Today, domestic production meets nearly 70 per cent of national demand, substantially reducing dependence on imports and generating new and sustainable income opportunities for Indian farmers.
The sharp decline in imports has also helped to save valuable foreign exchange (Rs 810 crore in the year 2025-26) by producing around 90,000 tonnes of popcorn in the country. This growth reflects the steady development of high-expansion popcorn maize varieties suited to Indian conditions, along with the emergence of an organised production ecosystem linking research institutions, private companies, and farmers.
Research–Industry Partnership
The transformation has been driven by a collaboration between the ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR), Ludhiana, and Gourmet Popcornica LLP, one of India’s largest popcorn companies. The partnership has played a key role in developing a nationwide popcorn maize value chain by improving seed quality, expanding acreage, and strengthening market linkages.
A major milestone came in February 2021 with the formalisation of agreements around LPCH 3, an indigenous popcorn hybrid developed by ICAR-IIMR. The variety is known for its high yield, good popping quality, and resistance to major pests and diseases. Gourmet Popcornica later developed newer hybrids by combining Indian and US popcorn traits to improve yield, resilience, and popping expansion.
This blending of local adaptation with premium popping characteristics is significant, as it addresses one of the industry’s long-standing challenges: producing popcorn that meets both agronomic requirements in the field and quality expectations in the consumer market.
Expanding Value Chain
Chennai-headquartered Gourmet Popcornica works with over 17,500 farmers across nine states, cultivating popcorn maize on more than 36,000 acres. Through contract farming, agronomy support, and capacity-building programmes, the company has helped create a structured and reliable market for growers.
This ecosystem provides farmers with better income opportunities while ensuring a consistent supply for processors and consumers. With strong research backing and robust field-level execution, India is well-positioned not only to meet its domestic demand but also to emerge as a reliable exporter of premium-quality popcorn maize by 2030.
Future Potential
The popcorn maize story is becoming an example of how crop diversification, seed innovation, and industry partnerships can transform a niche imported product into a strong domestic value chain. It is emerging as a test case for how research-led agriculture can generate rural income, reduce import dependence, and build specialised food supply chains within India.
Although the sector is still in a transition phase, the trajectory is clear. What began as a small, import-dependent market has evolved into a fast-growing agricultural and food-processing segment backed by public research, private investment, and rising farmer participation.
If current trends continue, the country could meet its full domestic requirement of around 1.80 lakh tonnes by 2030, making popcorn one of the more unexpected success stories in India’s drive for agricultural self-sufficiency.