CULTIVATION OF MAIZE

The data on farmers engaged in cultivation of Maize is not maintained centrally. However, the state-wise number of operational holdings engaged in cultivation of Maize as per latest agriculture census, 2015-16 is at annexure I. Further, the top maize-producing regions in terms of area under maize cultivation and productivity  during the last five years is given at annexure II.

(c) to (e): The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing the National Food Security & Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) in the 28 States and 2 Union Territories (UTs) with the objective to increase production of Rice, Wheat, Coarse Cereals (Maize & Barley), Nutri-Cereals (Shree Anna) and Commercial Crops (Cotton, Jute & Sugarcane) through area expansion and productivity enhancement.

The Allocation, Release and Expenditure of funds (Central Share) under NFSNM-Coarse Cereals (Maize & Barley) from 2020-21 to 2024-25 are given below:

Under NFSNM-Coarse (Maize & Barley), the assistance is being provided to the farmers, through the States/UTs, for demonstration on crop production & protection technologies, for distribution of certified seeds, for Integrated Nutrient and Pest Management measures, for capacity building of farmers through cropping system-based trainings etc.

The Government provides Minimum Support Prices (MSP) of maizeover the years to encourage farmers for cultivation of maize and ensure remunerative prices. During the year 2025-26, MSP of maize has been increased to Rs. 2400/- quintal, which is 7.8% higher than previous year. State governments assisting maize farmers through central sector scheme, National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) for facilitating maize trading and ensuring better price at Regulated MarketCommittees(RMC).

Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has been implementing schemes like Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) to promote maize-based value addition, processing clusters and market linkages in the country. Ministry extends financial support to prospective entrepreneurs for setting up of different kinds of food processing industries including maize based processing units, as per respective scheme guidelines.

Further, to improve production & productivity of maize three projects of ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR), Ludhiana and one project of International Maize & Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) have been approved under NFSM. Besides, research efforts of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has led to the development and release of high yielding and stress tolerant varieties/hybrids of maize.

Besides, the various centres of the ICAR-All India Co-ordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Maize are also engaged in the R&D of Maize in different states and are contributing significantly in development of location specific high yielding climate resilient varieties/hybrids for improving production of Maize. As far as steps taken to promote Maize cultivation, improve productivity and extension or capacity building programmes are concerned, during 2014-25, a total of 315 maize varieties/hybrids have been released by Central Variety Release Committee for cultivation on farmers field in different agro-ecologies of country.

Annexure I

Annexure II

Source : DA&FW

This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.