Maize acreage rises rapidly in state

There has been a marked shift in the taste preference of the consumer, especially in the rural parts of Karnataka lately. The people in the state have been changing their food consumption pattern. Ragi and rice are being replaced by the maize.

Maize, which had been grown on 300,000-400,000 hectares about four or five years ago, has caught up in a big way in Karnataka. It now covers about 1.2 million hectares in the state, having grown nearly three times in the state.

One factor that has contributed to this shift in the cropping pattern to maize is said to be higher yield of the crop and its returns on investment. It is much higher when compared to crops like rice and ragi. According to H Shivanna, director of research, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), “There is a shift away from many other crops. The crops that have been affected the most in the state are sorghum and cotton.”

The yield of maize is 20-25 quintals per acre. This, when compared to ragi which gives 15 quintals per acre and rice which gives 20 quintals per acre. Hence, it has been an attraction for farmers in the state. Maize, from its status as being mostly a food crop, has now emerged as a commercial crop.

There has been a lot of interest from many global corporations, including those from the United States and some from South East Asia who are showing interest in the work done by UAS on maize. These firms are said to be interested in tying up with the UAS in research on maize.

Lately, there has been an increase in popularity among the high-end consumers too who have been consuming more of the maize, which Shivanna calls the “mall variety”. This maize too is now being grown over a significant area in the state today. but, much lesser when compared to the common maize variety. This is a variety that has been introduced from abroad and has endeared itself to the local palate. There are a few patches that grow these high quality maize. But, you see this being grown around Bangalore only, added Shivanna.

Maize is largely cultivated in the north and west India, though it is cultivated in the eastern and southern India. There are basic commercial products maize hull, maize oil, maize starches are obtained directly from maize. Starch is the main product of a maize processing units, which is consumed by various other industries like food, pharmaceuticals, textiles, papers, hotels and restaurants, among others.