Experts call for advancements in hybrid seeds and technology in India's maize sector

The 10th India Maize Summit 2024 convened in Delhi on Friday, focusing on the rising demand for maize and strategies to boost production in the future. Organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the summit brought together representatives from the industry and research sectors, as well as government officials, where the FICCI-YES BANK report titled 'The Indian Maize Sector - Trends, Challenges & Imperatives for Sustainable Growth' was released.

According to the report, global maize production reached 1.17 billion tons in 2022, with India positioned as the fifth-largest producer. Despite a rise in productivity, challenges such as low hybrid seed adoption and inconsistent exports remain. The report advocates for increased investment, improved technology, and enhanced post-harvest infrastructure to sustain growth in India’s maize sector.

Bihar's Minister of Agriculture & Health, Mangal Pandey, addressed the summit, emphasizing the state government's commitment to supporting the agricultural sector. He highlighted maize's vital role in food, feed, and industrial uses, inviting private sector investment in Bihar, which has introduced various subsidies to bolster agriculture. “We aim to increase maize cultivation to about 10 lakh hectares this year,” Pandey stated.

Pandey also noted that Bihar's current maize storage capacity is 5 lakh MT, with plans to expand this capacity to meet future demands. He called for improved quality maize seeds, urging the seed industry to establish operations in the state.

Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, stressed the importance of developing a vision document outlining the sector's demand for maize over the next decade. “Promoting the summer maize crop will not only enhance production but also diversify from traditional crops such as rice,” he said.

Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Bihar, highlighted several initiatives to promote maize cultivation, including the distribution of subsidized seeds and training programs for farmers. He noted that the government is working on a policy framework to encourage in-house seed production in Bihar, along with special schemes to promote baby corn and sweet corn.

Subroto Geed, President of South Asia at Corteva Agriscience, remarked on the potential for revolutionizing India's maize sector to meet increasing needs in feed, fodder, and industrial applications. He emphasized maize's suitability for crop diversification amid a growing focus on sustainable agriculture.

Kaushal Jaiswal, Co-Chairman of the FICCI National Agriculture Committee, noted the summit's role in addressing global and domestic challenges within the maize supply chain. 

Additionally, Sunjay Vuppuluri, National Head of Food & Agribusiness Strategic Advisory & Research at YES BANK, provided insights from the FICCI-YES BANK knowledge report, reinforcing the need for strategic interventions in the maize sector.

The summit underscored the importance of collaboration among government, industry, and research sectors to enhance maize production and address emerging challenges in the Indian agricultural landscape.