India is making a bold push to more than double its maize production by the year 2047, with the goal of reaching 86 million tonnes, up from the current 42.3 million tonnes. This ambitious target was announced by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Mr. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, during the 11th Maize Summit organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).

The move comes as part of India’s broader agricultural transformation strategy, aimed at improving farmer incomes, addressing food and industrial demand, and supporting the national ethanol blending programme.

Vision for Maize in India

India, currently producing 42.3 million tonnes of maize, is looking to tap into its underutilized potential. According to Mr. Chouhan, with the right interventions in research, seed innovation, and policy reform, India can scale up output to 86 million tonnes by 2047—the year when India celebrates its centenary of independence.

India’s average maize productivity stands at 3.7 tonnes per hectare, with states like West Bengal and Bihar outperforming the national average. However, many regions still lag due to outdated agronomic practices, lack of quality seeds, and inadequate post-harvest infrastructure.

To bridge the productivity gap, Mr. Chouhan emphasized the importance of adopting high-yielding, non-genetically modified (non-GMO) seed varieties, with a particular focus on enhanced starch content—targeting 72%, compared to the current range of 65-70%.

Ethanol Push and Crop Diversification

The maize output expansion plan is not just about increasing food production but also about meeting the industrial demand for ethanol and animal feed, particularly from the poultry sector. The government's ethanol blending target of 20% by 2026 hinges significantly on increased maize availability, which can serve as a feedstock alternative to sugarcane, especially in non-traditional ethanol-producing states.

Mr. Chouhan urged Punjab and Haryana—two states traditionally dependent on water-guzzling paddy—to diversify towards maize cultivation. This shift is not only essential for conserving groundwater but also critical for achieving sustainability and energy security through the ethanol roadmap.

He stated:

"Punjab and Haryana must be incentivized to move away from paddy and adopt maize to support our ethanol vision while preserving water resources."

Strengthening Research and Innovation

India’s maize ecosystem has already made significant strides. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed 265 maize varieties, including 77 hybrids and 35 bio-fortified strains. These varieties are suitable for different agro-climatic zones, offering resistance to pests and diseases and improving nutritional value.

However, Mr. Chouhan noted that further research and seed innovation is necessary to meet the growing industrial demands, especially in areas like:

• Starch-based industries

• Bioethanol production

• High-energy animal feed

• Food-grade applications

The minister called for collaborative efforts among public institutions, private seed companies, and startups to boost agronomic innovation and close the demand-supply gap in maize production.

Farmer Incomes and Poultry Sector Concerns

A key concern discussed at the summit was the rising cost of maize, which has surpassed the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹2,400 per quintal (approx. US$ 27.93) in some markets due to surging demand from ethanol producers and feed manufacturers.

The poultry industry, heavily reliant on maize for feed, expressed anxiety over input cost inflation. In response, Mr. Chouhan acknowledged the concern but reaffirmed the government's stance that farmer incomes remain the top priority.

He assured the poultry industry of sector-specific interventions, promising separate policy resolutions to ease the cost burden while ensuring maize growers continue to benefit from the growing demand.

Industry Collaboration and Future Roadmap

Mr. Subroto Geed, Managing Director of Corteva Agriscience, emphasized the need for public-private collaboration to ensure that India’s maize industry can keep up with increasing consumption trends. He called for:

• Development of precision farming techniques

• Expansion of storage and logistics infrastructure

• Capacity building for farmers

• Market linkages and digital trading platforms

Geed stressed that increasing maize output must be accompanied by improvements in post-harvest handling, processing, and market access, to ensure holistic sectoral growth.

Economic and Environmental Significance

The maize strategy is expected to strengthen India’s agricultural exports, cut down import dependency for starch and feed, and promote climate-smart agriculture. By shifting acreage from paddy to maize in water-stressed regions, the initiative also contributes to the national water conservation agenda.

Additionally, higher starch content in maize will unlock value-added industrial uses such as:

• Paper and textile manufacturing

• Packaging solutions

• Food additives and biodegradable plastics

Conclusion

India’s vision to double its maize production to 86 million tonnes by 2047 reflects a strategic convergence of food security, industrial demand, environmental sustainability, and farmer welfare. Through a combination of seed innovation, crop diversification, ethanol policy alignment, and market-based pricing mechanisms, the roadmap outlined by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan could reshape India’s maize economy over the next two decades.

With the support of scientific institutions like ICAR, industry players like Corteva, and proactive state participation, India's maize revolution is not only feasible but essential for sustainable growth. As stakeholders align around this common goal, the country stands on the brink of a new agricultural frontier powered by maize.

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