Maize production may go up 14%

India's maize production may go up by 14 per cent in 2010-11 crop year to over 19 million tonnes on prospects of good rains, better usage of seeds and a higher acreage in traditional paddy-growing states.

"Though there was some delay in the arrival of monsoon and certain areas reported deficient rainfall, the prospect of good rains might see maize production to be over 19 million tonnes in 2010-11," a senior official with Directorate of Maize Research said.

India had produced 16.68 million tonnes of maize in 2009-10, down from 19.73 million tonnes in 2008-09. The dip in production last year was mainly because of poor monsoon. The official further said greater availability of hybrid seeds in recent times would also help boost maize production.

"In the last few years, the trend has moved towards hybrid seeds and their greater availability, especially from the private sector, will surely help increasing maize production," he added.

A source added maize cultivation is gradually picking up in the traditional paddy-growing states like West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra as well, raising prospect of an increased acreage.

"The maize acreage is around 8.17 million hectares now. However, with even paddy-growing states moving towards maize cultivation, its acreage is also expected to go up. In fact in the last two years, maize acreage has gone up by two million hectares," he said.

Though the US Grains Council's India representative Amit Sachdev declined to comment in the current year's expected maize production "as it is too early", he said, "Good rains should result in a handsome crop this year".