India releases 500,000 tonnes of maize imports with very low tax boost for the poultry sector

India has authorized the import of 500,000 tonnes of maize this year with a 15% concessional import rate, the government said on Tuesday, while New Delhi is trying to increase the supply of animal feed to the poultry industry. India, the world's seventh largest corn producer, normally imposes a 60% import tax on the grain. Imports of corn under the tariff quota (TRQ) were allowed for end consumers in the poultry and starch supply sectors, the government said in a notification. A major corn exporter to Southeast Asia until a few years ago, India became an importer as production declined and demand grew from domestic poultry producers and corn starch manufacturers. Imports of corn from India in 2019 jumped to 312,389 tonnes in 2019, compared to just 30,962 tonnes a year ago, government data showed. India, which does not allow the cultivation of any genetically modified food, has rules to ensure that imports do not contain traces of genetically modified organisms. New Delhi has also ...