December 13, 2006

India's Tamil Nadu to increase corn cultivation by 50 percent

The southern state of Tamil Nadu in India would increase maize cultivation by 50 percent during the 2006-07 season, to produce more corn for animal feed.

Official estimates suggest Tamil Nadu needs about 1.5 million tonnes of maize annually, but only about one-fifth of the demand is met locally.

The state currently imports from neighboring states but the transportation costs makes feed cost higher.

Tamil Nadu had approximately 200,000 hectares growing corn in 2005- 06 and wants now to increase this to 300,000 hectares. The state's department of agriculture is also supporting a market intervention programme to ensure price stability for crop-growers.

The state is protecting farms by encouraging contract farming programmes to involve feed manufacturers and integrated poultry units together with the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation.