India possesses the potential to more than double its maize production to 86 million tonnes by 2047, up from the current 42.3 million tonnes, stated Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday. Speaking at the 11th Maize Summit organized by FICCI, Chouhan emphasized the critical need for developing high-yielding, non-genetically modified (GM) seed varieties with enhanced starch content.
Despite being the world’s fifth-largest maize producer, India aims to boost productivity without resorting to GM seeds. Chouhan highlighted the importance of increasing the protein level in maize DDGS, a byproduct of ethanol production. While the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed 265 maize varieties, including 77 hybrids and 35 bio-fortified types, the Minister called for further innovation, specifically to raise maize starch content from the current 65-70 percent to around 72 percent to broaden its utility.
To accelerate growth, Chouhan urged states like Punjab and Haryana to diversify from paddy to maize cultivation. He noted that maize prices, previously below the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of INR 2,400 per quintal, have begun to rise due to the government’s 20 percent ethanol blending target for 2025-26.
Addressing concerns over substandard agricultural inputs, Chouhan called for a robust regulatory framework to penalize negligent suppliers. While acknowledging poultry industry concerns about rising feed costs, he prioritized fair prices for farmers and emphasized the overarching goal of boosting production. Subroto Geed of Corteva Agriscience and FICCI’s Agriculture Committee co-chair echoed the call for collaborative innovation to bridge the demand-supply gap.
