Uttar Pradesh Aims to Increase Maize Production | 01 Apr 2024

Why in News?

The Uttar Pradesh government is targeting to increase the production of Maize to more than 3.2 million tonnes (mt) by 2027-28.

Key Points

• Currently, the state’s maize production across different cropping seasons (kharif, rabi, and zaid) is estimated at 2.12 mt across 830,000 hectares.
  • The yield is at nearly 25.49 quintals (100 kg) per hectare, which is lower than the national average.
  • The state plans to increase maize acreage by 200,000 hectares and boost production by an additional 1.1 mt.
  • This will hike the state’s maize area and production to about 1.03 million hectares (MH) and 3.2 mt, respectively.
• The state will invest almost Rs 150 crore on various maize publicity programs and give incentives to food processing units.
• Maize crop has multifarious uses as food, poultry feed, and fuel (grain based ethanol).
• It is also used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, textile, paper, and alcohol industries.
  • Maize is the third most important cereal crop in India, after paddy and wheat, and accounts for nearly 10% of total food grain production.
  • Globally, maize is referred to as the ‘queen of cereals’ owing to its high genetic yield potential among the cereal crops.
• Industry has estimated that India needs to ramp up maize production by 10 mt over the next four-five years to cater to the demand from the ethanol and poultry sectors.
• The demand for maize is rising due to growing health awareness. People prefer maize for its high nutritional value, macronutrients like starch, fiber, protein, fat, vitamin B complex, carotene and essential minerals like magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, and copper.