Area of Maize Increased 10 times in Three Years

• 04 Mar 2022

Why in News

According to the recently released figures, the area under maize in Chhattisgarh has increased from 13 thousand hectares to one lakh 46 thousand hectares in the last three-four years, which is more than 10 times.

Key Points

• In the last three-four years, the interest of the farmers towards the cultivation of maize has increased very rapidly. Procurement of maize at the rate of Rs 1870 per quintal on support price in the state and the establishment of a processing center in Kondagaon has enabled the farmers to get better prices, due to which the area under maize has increased rapidly.
• After getting permission from the center, preparations are on to set up a plant for the production of ethanol in place of starch from maize at Kondagaon Maize Processing Center.
• In the last Rabi season 2020-21, farmers had cultivated maize in 93 thousand 200 hectares in the state, this area has increased to one lakh 46 thousand 130 hectares in the current Rabi season. There has been a record increase of about 53,000 hectares in the target of maize acreage during one year.
• In the Rabi season 2017-18, only 13 thousand 440 hectares and in the year 2016-17 (in Rabi season) farmers had cultivated maize in only 12 thousand hectares.
• Three to four years ago, there were a dozen districts in the state where maize cultivation was almost negligible. In today's situation maize is being cultivated in all the districts except Korea district, due to which the area under maize cultivation has increased by more than 10 times.
• In comparison to the year 2017-18, the area under maize cultivation in Bilaspur division of the state has increased by 327 times this year. Earlier, maize was cultivated in only 60 hectares in the division, whose area has increased to 19 thousand 662 hectares today.
• In Kondagaon district of the state, maize is cultivated in a maximum 45 thousand 880 hectares. Here earlier maize was sown in 4260 hectares. Similarly, in three-four years, the area of maize in Kanker district has increased from 4,000 hectares to more than 28,000 hectares.
• The area under maize has increased from about 1470 hectares to 21 thousand hectares in the districts of Raipur division, increased from 1470 hectares to 8780 hectares in Durg division, increased from 290 hectares to 10690 hectares in Surguja division, and maize area increased from 10,000 hectares to 85,800 hectares in Bastar division. hectare has been reached.