May 6, 2008

Hybrid corn may revolutionise India's farm sector

Hybrid corn, with nearly twice the protein content of conventional corn may create a revolution in India's farm sector, ensuring nutritional security to poor as well as for poultry industry, experts said.

India now has at least 10 varieties of hybrid corn under its quality protein corn (QPM) programme. Such corn varieties may have up to 74 percent protein content compared to 37 percent in conventional corn.

Besides, higher content, they also have higher yields ( 16 ¨C24 quintal per hectare).

"Hybrid corn can create a bigger revolution than bt cotton has done so far in the country," Director General, Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) Mangala Rai told a local newspaper. 

India's corn production may cross 20 million tonnes during 2008-09. Corn is the third important crop in India. Almost half the corn crop is used for poultry, with 12 percent for other animals. A quarter is used as food for human consumption.

New QPM hybrids such as like Shaktiman 1 have made a significant impact on the farming landscape, according to  Jharkhand's Birsa Agricultural University Vice Chancellor N N Singh. However, to harness the full potential of QPM, a concerted research and policy intervention would be needed, he added.