Maize sowing picks up pace

Acreage of maize in India, which is close to 7 million hectare, is projected to remain stagnant this year also

This year, maize sowing has been delayed due to the late arrival of the monsoon. But, it has picked up pace and it is expected that this season, the area under the crop will stand at about seven million hectares. In 2013-14, India recorded an all-time high kharif maize production of 17.51 million tonnes (mt), according to the third advanced estimate. Production is expected to be better this season, though arrivals might be delayed. Experts are, however, concerned monsoon rains might not persist till the flowering phase of the crop. Maize requires 600-800 mm of rainfall in a season. This season, 200-300 mm of rains have been recorded across the country. As the area under the crop in Punjab is largely irrigated, it is expected production in the state won’t be affected. Pavitarpal Singh Pangli, a Punjab-based farmer, said sowing in the state was according to schedule due to availability of underground water. He added last year, the crop fetched farmers in the state Rs 700-1,000 a quintal in the open market, against the minimum support price of Rs 1,310 a quintal.

However, there is apprehension production in other states, especially Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat, which have received scanty rainfall, might be hit.

A senior official in the Directorate of Maize Research, New Delhi, this season, the maize crop might be good if rains were adequate. Arrivals, however, might be delayed, he added.

Export demand for Indian maize is subdued, as the free-on-board price of $230-235 an mt is uncompetitive. Also, there has been concern about the quality of Indian maize in the global market.