There had been an increase of 20 per cent in Maize crop acreage in Chhattisgarh during the past 10 years.
Maize is the second most-sought after crop after paddy preferred by farmers in Chhattisgarh. The crop is used in cornflakes, oil extraction, starch, making popcorn, organic fuel and for many other purposes, officials stated.
Maize is mainly produced in Bastar district's 'Patar' region (Plateau area) and Surguja's hilly terrain during the Kharif season. It is grown in these areas in the courtyard for the past several generations. The tribal farmers grow Maize and shift to taking up oilseeds crops.
The farmers grow two crops on an unirrigated agricultural land in a year. The crop can be grown all over the year with irrigation facilities. The farmers sow soyabean , paddy and also Makka crops. After paddy, corn is the most popular crop among farmers in the State.
The market is readily available for Maize whether it is for -maize seeds, for fodder, popcorn and many other purposes.
Traders purchase corn directly from the farmers' fields in the villages. Sweet corn is also in several villages at present. The plateau areas of Bastar higher reaches and Surguja district's hilly terrain are ideally suited for cultivating corn crop.
Agriculture is dependent on monsoon rains and Maize is a major crop for the farmers in these regions. It can be grown in any part of the state. If the crop is grown on a scientific basis it can be grown on a limited expenditure, labour and minimum capital.
The sowing of Maize seeds are done on a row-basis. It is cultivated and grown in a short period of time.
Maize crop was sown on land acreage of 1.60 lakh hectares in 2003-2004 and the output was 2.24 lakh metric ton. The sowing had increased to 1.92 lakh hectares of land in the year 2012-2013. The percentage of land used for sowing corn has increased by 20 per cent and the production by 56 per cent.
The output was 3.50 lakh metric tonnes in 2012-2013. The Agriculture Department is primarily responsible for the rapid growth in output and popularity of the maize crop among the farmers in Chhattisgarh. Mini-kits are supplied to the farmers and technical advice is provided whenever it is deemed fit. Extension Reforms ( Aatma) programme helped the farmers in getting details of the corn crop. There is huge potential for spreading corn crop in the entire state
Chhattisgarh is expecting Maize crop output of nearly 7.45 lakh metric tonnes this year, officials stated.
About 40 per cent of the Maize production comes from Kondagaon, Kanker and Bastar districts in the State. A reasonably favourable crop output is also expected from Surguja division this year, officials stated.
In view of enormous prospect of promoting food processing units using Maize as raw material, the Chhattisgarh government signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with three companies mainly- BMD Starch Pvt ltd., Kakkad Udyog ltd and Indian Agro and Food Industries recently.
The aforesaid companies would establish their units in Bastar, Dhamtari and Rajnandgaon districts. The units would also establish their captive power units.
The total quantum of investment by the three companies is expected around `670 crore which is expected to provide direct employment to 5,000 people and indirect employment to nearly 35,000 people.
The proposed units would consume around four lakh metric tonnes of Maize annually. The move is expected to ensure a favourable price for the Maize output to the State’s farmers.
The Tamarind and Maize of Bastar division is in high demand overseas as proved by exports which was to the tune of more than `100 crore during the previous Kharif season of 2014, officials stated.
Maize cultivated by farmers in Bastar is already being exported to USA, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Vietnam while tamarind is being exported to Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Dubai.
In the Kharif season period more than six lakh quintals of Maize worth `85 crore was exported from Bastar. Similarly 50,000 quintals of tamarind worth `20 crore was exported last year.
A few years ago, paddy and mustard were the key crops of Bastar region but the trend has changed during the past five years. The farmers go for Maize in Rabi and Kharif crops and getting higher returns in comparison to paddy.
The Chhattisgarh Government had also been providing forest land holders free hybrid seeds for Maize cultivation.
The State Government also provides free of cost certified seeds of paddy to the land patta-holders in the forest areas.
Under the special scheme, seeds were provided for about 2.77 lakh acreage since past two years.
Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal said that there is a provision to distribute thirty kilograms certified paddy seeds and eight kilogram hybrid seeds for Maize to forest land-patta holders in the forest region.
The Government had been banking heavily on production and distribution of high quality certified seeds to the farmers for improving quality of crop output in the State.
A total of 9 lakh quintals of certified seeds were produced and distributed to the farmers during 2014 in Chhattisgarh, officials informed.
The aim of the State Government is to increase the production of certified seeds by 31 per cent during the next five years. In order to achieve the target ‘Akthi Beej Samvardhan Yojana’ was launched earlier in 2009-10, to encourage farmers to produce certified seeds, they stated.
