10th India Maize Summit 2024: Improving Maize Production with Better Hybrid Seeds and New Technology

Key Highlights

• India is the fifth-largest maize producer globally.
• Challenges include limited use of hybrid seeds and inconsistent exports.
• Bihar plans to expand maize farming to 10 lakh hectares.
• Government and private collaboration is crucial for the sector’s growth.

The 10th India Maize Summit 2024, held in Delhi on Friday, highlighted the growing demand for maize and the steps needed to increase production in the country. Organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the summit brought together key players from farming, research, and government sectors to discuss the future of maize in India.

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India as a Leading Maize Producer

During the event, a report by FICCI and YES BANK was unveiled, showcasing India’s significant role as the fifth-largest maize producer globally. However, the report also pointed out several challenges hindering the growth of the maize sector. These include limited usage of high-quality hybrid seeds, inconsistent export patterns, and a need for better infrastructure.

The report urged for increased investments, advancements in farming technology, and improved storage facilities to support the maize industry’s future development.

Bihar Government's Commitment to Maize Farming

Bihar’s Agriculture Minister, Mangal Pandey, emphasized the growing importance of maize for food, animal feed, and industrial purposes. He revealed that Bihar has ambitious plans to increase maize farming to 10 lakh hectares this year. The state currently has a storage capacity of 5 lakh metric tons (MT), with plans to expand storage infrastructure to accommodate the growing maize production.

Pandey also called on seed companies to focus on producing high-quality maize seeds and encouraged them to establish operations in Bihar to support local farmers.

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Long-Term Planning for Maize Demand

Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, emphasized the need for a long-term plan to meet the increasing demand for maize over the next decade. He suggested that encouraging farmers to grow maize during the summer season could significantly boost production and offer an alternative to traditional crops like rice, which are often more water-intensive.

Collaboration for Maize Sector Growth

Collaboration between government, private companies, and researchers was seen as key to addressing challenges in the maize sector. Bihar's Agriculture Secretary, Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, explained the state government's efforts to support farmers, including providing subsidized seeds and offering training programs to improve farming techniques.

Subroto Geed from Corteva Agriscience highlighted the potential of maize to drive sustainable farming practices in India, while Sunjay Vuppuluri from YES BANK shared insights from the report, stressing the importance of coordinated action to ensure the maize sector can meet future demands.

A Call for Collective Action

The summit concluded with a unified call for action, urging all stakeholders to work together to ensure India’s maize production grows to meet both domestic and global demand. By focusing on better seeds, modern technology, and collaborative efforts, the maize sector is poised to play an important role in India’s agricultural future.

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CMV360 Says

The India Maize Summit 2024 emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government, private sector, and researchers to boost maize production. By focusing on better seeds, new technologies, and long-term planning, India aims to meet rising demand. The summit called for unified efforts to ensure maize plays a vital role in the country’s agricultural growth.