April 1, 2010
Weather and hybrid seeds improve Indian corn output
Corn production in India is all set to surpass last year's mark due to favourable weather in the last three months and increased use of single cross hybrids, despite a marginal decline in acreage, according to Directorate of Maize Research (DMR).
Last year, around 3.5 million tonnes of corn was produced during the rabi season, representing 16% of the country's total corn production. Crop condition in all states except Bihar is good, reports DMR.
Despite a shortfall during the kharif season because of drought in many parts of the country, total corn production in 2009-10 is expected to match last year's output or may even surpass it, according to DMR.
Corn prices in the wholesale markets have declined to INR1,000-1,010 (US$22.23-22.46) per 100 kilogrammes recently, mainly due to increase in supplies.
In 2008-09, India produced around 19.73 million tonnes of corn compared to previous year's 18.96 million tonnes. The introduction of single cross hybrid in 2006 has significantly increased corn production.
Single cross hybrid is adaptable to varying soil and weather condition and is able to withstand drought-like condition, reported DMR.
According to the ministry of agriculture, rabi corn acreage has marginally declined to 1.16 million hectares from 1.17 million hectares during the same period last year. Interestingly, after the introduction of hybrid, there has been high growth of corn in non-traditional states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa, and West Bengal.
Andhra Pradesh is currently the largest corn producer in India contributing almost 21% to the total output, of which 80% is produced during the kharif season.
Meanwhile, India had exported three million tonnes of corn and 12,000 tonnes of corn seed worth INR24 billion (US$0.53 billion) and INR20 billion (US$0.44 billion) respectively in 2008-09. Demand often comes from poultry industry where poultry feed made of corn and soymeal is widely used around the world.
