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| Experts bet big on single-cross maize hybrids |
| Surinder Sud / New Delhi Sep 22, 2009, 00:49 IST |
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Maize scientists plan to promote production of seeds of single-cross maize hybrids to boost the output of the nutritious and versatile coarse cereal for domestic consumption and exports.
Single-cross maize hybrids are the first generation of seeds obtained by crossing two genetically dissimilar maize strains. Unlike most other hybrids which are evolved through complicated cross-breeding to obtain the desirable gene combination, single-cross hybrids need only two maize strains for use as parents for producing hybrids.
Several single-cross maize hybrids have been developed recently by the government agencies and are suitable for cultivation in different agro-climatic regions of the country. The technology for producing seeds of these hybrids can be easily taught to farmers.
In 2008, four single-cross hybrids were developed and released for cultivation by different agricultural universities and research institutions. These are apart from 10 such hybrids released in 2007 and several others in the earlier few years.
According to New Delhi-based Directorate of Maize Research, single-cross hybrids have high productivity but low cost of production. Besides, they have a better capability to withstand biotic and abiotic stresses such as drought, extreme temperatures, pests and diseases.
Though the single-cross hybrids are grown so far on only about 20 per cent of the total maize area of around 8 million hectares, they had contributed substantially to the steady uptrend in maize production, Maize Directorate chief Sain Das said. The increased availability of these seeds can help bring more area under these hybrids.
The strategy for promoting cultivation of single-cross maize hybrids includes involving the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs or agricultural science centres) in multiplication of maize strains for use as parents for hybrid seed production. Self-help groups (SHGs) of farmers are proposed to be formed for producing hybrid seeds.
Besides, the private seed companies will also be encouraged to produce seeds of single-cross maize hybrids under public-private participation (PPP) projects.
The KVKs already exist in all districts of the country. The Maize Research Directorate organised a national workshop on popularisation of hybrid maize technology in New Delhi on last Friday to update the knowledge of these KVKs in this field. Seed production of single-cross maize hybrids is a lucrative activity. While the production cost of these seeds works out to around Rs 25 a kg, these can be sold for around Rs 55 a kg. The seed producer farmers can, thus, get a net return of over Rs 52,500 a hectare.
Latest official estimates put the total maize output in 2008-09 at a record 19.29 million tonnes, up from18.96 million tonnes in 2007-08 and merely 15.10 million tonnes in 2006-07. The rise is attributed to both expansion in area and a big jump in its productivity due to increased use single-cross hybrid seeds.
“In areas where winter rice (rabi rice) crop suffers due to water scarcity, maize has emerged as a potential alternative,” Das said. Maize had already replaced cotton and rice from some acreage in Karnataka, and sorghum and cotton in Maharashtra, Das said. India has a huge potential of boosting export of maize seeds, apart from maize grain. The maize seed exports were estimated at over 12,000 tonnes, worth around Rs 2,000 crore, in 2008-09. The country is also exporting seeds of specialty corns such as baby corn and sweet corn.
The UK has emerged as a major buyer of baby corn seeds from India. Rough estimates put the baby corn seeds exports in 2008 at around 267 tonnes, worth around Rs 10 lakh.
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