The production of maize in the country can double to 50 million tonnes (MT) by 2025 in order to meet the rising domestic demand of the crop, as per information provided by Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh. The production of maize stood at 24.17 MT in 2014-15 in spite of the drought last year.
The poultry feed accounts for about 64% of the total maize production, followed by 16% for human consumption, 19% for industrial starch and beverage and 1% for seed. The demand for maize as food may rise to 2 MT by 2025 keeping in view the recent interest of urban consumers especially in specialty corn, like sweet corn, baby corn, popcorn, etc.
The doubling of maize production would be an opportunity which can be achieved as by 2025, the country will require 50 MT of maize for domestic consumption, of which 32 MT for feed, 15 MT for industrial sector, 2 MT as food and 1 MT for seed.