옥수수 from 인도

History

Maize was introduced to India by Portuguese traders in the 16th century. Traditionally grown as a subsistence food crop in tribal and hilly regions, it transitioned to a major commercial crop in the late 20th century with the growth of the poultry and starch industries. Since the early 2000s, increased hybrid seed adoption, government support for minimum support prices (MSP), and rising export demand have fueled its expansion. The All India Coordinated Maize Improvement Project (AICMIP) and partnerships with private seed companies have been key to varietal development and yield gains.

Production Regions

• Andhra Pradesh: Leading maize-producing state; commercial hybrid cultivation for poultry feed and starch.
• Karnataka: Second-largest producer; mainly kharif season crop.
• Bihar: Major eastern belt; both kharif and rabi maize grown under semi-irrigated conditions.
• Maharashtra: High productivity in western zones; maize used for industrial processing.
• Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan: Important for feed and human consumption; mix of traditional and hybrid varieties.

Growing Conditions

• Altitude: 100–1,800 m across plains, plateaus, and hills
• Climate: Tropical to subtropical; warm temperatures between 22–30°C ideal
• Rainfall: 600–1,200 mm annually; kharif maize mostly rainfed, rabi maize irrigated
• Soil: Well-drained alluvial, black cotton, and red loamy soils
• Irrigation: Increasing use in winter maize; canal and borewell systems in rabi zones

Agroforestry & Cultivation Practices

• Agroforestry: Practiced in tribal zones; maize intercropped with fruit trees and timber species
• Intercropping: With pulses, vegetables, and oilseeds in subsistence zones
• Soil Management: Crop rotation with legumes and wheat common; balanced fertilization promoted
• Input Use: Increasing hybrid seed use; variable fertilizer and pesticide usage by region

Harvesting Process

• Harvest Method: Manual harvesting dominates; mechanized harvesting expanding in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra
• Drying: Field drying or sun drying on tarpaulins; mechanical dryers used commercially
• Storage: Poly bags, metal bins, or traditional godowns; commercial silos in major states
• Post-Harvest Losses: Range from 10–20% due to moisture, pests, and improper handling

Cultivation Methods

• Seed Types: Mix of hybrids (single cross, double cross) and open-pollinated varieties
• Farm Structure: Mostly small and marginal farms (<2 ha); some contract farming in Andhra Pradesh
• Key Pests: Fall armyworm, stem borers, cutworms
• Disease Management: Fungicide and IPM practices promoted through extension services

Supply Chain

• Farmers: Predominantly smallholders and contract growers
• Middlemen: Aggregators and commission agents at village and mandi levels
• Processors: Poultry feed mills, wet-milling starch plants, snack food producers
• Exporters: Traders targeting Nepal, Bangladesh, Southeast Asia, and the Gulf

Local Logistics

• Transport: Tractor trolleys and trucks used to transport to mandis or processing units
• Processing Zones: Starch mills in Gujarat, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh; feed mills in Tamil Nadu, Telangana
• Storage Infrastructure: Warehouses under FCI, private silos, and cold storage emerging for processed corn

Traceability

• Commercial Supply Chain: Contract farming allows some traceability for exporters and processors
• Mandis: Most maize enters open markets with limited traceability
• Emerging Trends: Use of digital platforms and QR code tagging in corporate supply chains

Regulations and Certifications

• Regulatory Bodies: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, State Agriculture Departments, AICRP on Maize
• Certifications: Limited at the farm level; ISO, HACCP, and GMP+ used in feed and food processing sectors
• GM Oversight: GM maize not approved for commercial cultivation; only for research

Quality Standards

• Moisture Content: ≤14% for safe storage
• Grading: Mandis follow general grading standards based on grain size, color, and damage
• Color and Grain Type: Yellow dent maize dominates feed and industrial use; white maize for food use
• Aflatoxin Monitoring: Increasingly enforced by export buyers and food processors

Trade Terms

• HS Code: 100590 – “Other maize”
• Exports (2023): ~3.5–4 million MT; major exporter in Asia
• Imports: Negligible; banned under self-sufficiency policy
• Top Buyers: Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam, Malaysia, UAE
• Domestic Demand: Driven by poultry feed, starch industry, and rural food consumption
• Price Volatility: Seasonal variation, MSP policy, monsoon dependency impact price swings

Environmental Impact

• Water Use: High in rabi season due to irrigation dependence
• Soil Health: Continuous maize cropping may deplete soil nutrients; crop rotation advised
• Climate Risk: Vulnerable to erratic monsoon, late planting, and drought spells
• Sustainability Practices: Promotion of reduced tillage, intercropping, and drought-tolerant hybrids

Social Impact

• Livelihoods: Essential income source for smallholders in rainfed zones
• Labor: Manual sowing and harvesting create seasonal rural employment
• Women & Youth: Women engaged in harvesting and drying; youth in aggregation, spraying, and extension services
• Food Security Role: Important food crop in tribal and semi-arid regions; used for chapatis, porridge, and snacks

Uses

• Animal Feed: Over 60% of maize used in poultry and cattle feed
• Food Processing: Corn flour, grits, snacks, and ready-to-eat cereals
• Industrial Use: Starch, glucose, ethanol, paper, and textile industries
• Brewery Use: Used as a grain adjunct in beer production 
• Byproducts: Corn oil and DDGS from starch and ethanol production