India aims to double corn production to 86 million tonnes by 2047

India’s average maize yield is 3.7 tonnes per hectare, with some states like West Bengal and Bihar exceeding the national average, but overall yields need to be increased, says India’s agriculture minister.

Indian Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday promised to ensure maize farmers get a fair price for their produce. Highlighting the critical need for crop diversification in Punjab and Haryana, he said the government is committed to expanding maize cultivation, targeting a significant increase in production from the current 42.28 million tonnes (mt) to 86 mt by 2047. However, he made it clear that this increase in productivity should happen without the use of genetic modification technology, the Hindu Businessline reported.

Addressing the annual maize summit organised by industry chamber FICCI, Chouhan said achieving the 86 million tonne target by 2047 depends on developing high-yielding seed varieties with increased starch content. He urged scientists to prioritise this important area of ​​research.

India, the world’s fifth-largest maize producer, is keen to boost productivity while maintaining its stance against genetically modified (GM) seeds in food crops.

This stance has been consistent for the minister. In March, at an event organised by the RSS affiliate Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), Chouhan reiterated that India should not “play with nature” even as many other countries are achieving record yields using GM seeds. The issue has recently become a focal point in bilateral trade talks between India and the US, as American farmers, who mainly grow GM maize, seek market access in India. “We are not using genetically modified seeds, but we can increase the productivity level. I have instructed scientists to focus on how to increase production,” Chouhan said, noting the significant increase in the country’s maize production, which was only 10 million tonnes in the 1990s.

Tags: corn, India