옥수수 from 파키스탄

History

Maize cultivation has long existed in Pakistan, mainly in the northwest regions like KP where it was used as a staple food. The maize industry expanded in the 1990s with the introduction of hybrid seeds, improved agronomic practices, and demand from feed mills. Government support, private seed companies, and agribusinesses played a role in transforming maize from a subsistence crop into a key commercial commodity.

Production Regions

• Punjab: Pakistan’s top maize-producing province, benefiting from irrigation, hybrid adoption, and modern inputs. Major districts: Sahiwal, Okara, Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala.
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP): Traditional maize belt; mainly rainfed and grown on smallholdings using local varieties.
• Sindh: Smaller production areas; irrigated spring maize with high productivity, mainly for feed.
• Balochistan: Minor production in valleys; mostly traditional and small-scale.

Growing Conditions

• Altitude: 0–1,200 m depending on province
• Climate: Subtropical to semi-arid; warm temperatures ideal for maize
• Rainfall: 300–800 mm annually; irrigation needed in dry zones
• Soil: Alluvial, well-drained loam soils preferred
• Irrigation: Extensive use of canal and tube-well systems in Punjab and Sindh

Agroforestry & Cultivation Practices

• Agroforestry: Limited integration with trees; primarily monocropping in Punjab
• Intercropping: Practiced with legumes or fodder in KP
• Soil Management: Crop rotation with wheat; increasing use of balanced fertilizers
• Input Use: Reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides; micronutrients gaining traction

Harvesting Process

• Harvest Method: Mechanized in commercial farms (Punjab, Sindh); manual in KP
• Drying: Open sun drying or small-scale mechanical dryers
• Storage: Polypropylene bags or bulk grain storage in silos for feed processors
• Post-Harvest Losses: Can reach 10–15% in poorly managed traditional systems

Cultivation Methods

• Seed Types: Hybrids dominate in Punjab and Sindh (Pioneer, Monsanto, Syngenta). Open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) still widely used in KP.
• Farm Structure: KP: Predominantly smallholders under 2 hectares. Punjab: Medium to large commercial farms. 
• Key Pests: Fall armyworm, maize stem borer
• Disease Managment: Integrated Pest Management (IPM), scouting, pesticide spray.

Supply Chain

• Farmers: Smallholders in KP; semi-commercial in Punjab
• Middlemen: Village-level aggregators, brokers at grain markets
• Processors: Poultry feed mills, starch and ethanol factories
• Traders: Link producers to markets or direct to feed companies
• Exporters: Limited; mostly for niche trade to Afghanistan or UAE

Local Logistics

• Transport: Grain transported by tractor or trucks to local mandis or processors
• Processing Zones: Feed mills concentrated in Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala
• Storage Infrastructure: Modern silos for large feed players; traditional godowns for small traders

Traceability

• Commercial Feed Chain: Basic traceability in organized supply (Punjab)
• Smallholder Supply: Limited traceability; mostly bulk-sourced
• Emerging Trends: Contract farming models with integrated data from seed to delivery

Regulations and Certifications

• Regulatory Bodies: Federal Seed Certification & Registration Dept, Provincial Agriculture Extension Services, and Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA).
• Certifications: Limited certifications at farm level. Feed processors may be ISO 22000, GMP+, or HACCP certified. Aflatoxin compliance critical for potential exports. 

Quality Standards

• Moisture Content: ≤14% for safe storage
• Grading: No formal national grading system; sorting done by feed mills
• Color and Grain Type: Dent and semi-dent preferred for feed; flint types used for food
• Aflatoxin Monitoring: Required for high-value buyers but inconsistent enforcement

Trade Terms

• HS Code: 100590 – “Other maize”
• Exports (2023): ~40,000–50,000 MT (mainly to Afghanistan, UAE)
• Imports: Sporadic, only in drought years
• Top Buyers: Afghanistan, UAE, Oman
• Domestic Demand: Driven heavily by poultry feed sector
• Price Volatility: Tied to seasonal supply, weather, and poultry sector trends

Environmental Impact

• Water Use: High irrigation demand in Punjab and Sindh
• Soil Health: Monocropping, poor rotation, and chemical dependency are long-term concerns
• Climate Risk: Sensitive to erratic rainfall, especially during tasseling
• Sustainability Practices: Adoption of drip irrigation and reduced tillage remains limited

Social Impact

• Livelihoods: Critical source of income in rural KP and central Punjab
• Labor: Family labor used for smallholder farms; hired seasonal labor in large farms
• Women & Youth: Women involved in post-harvest cleaning/drying; youth engaged in farm operations and agri-services
• Food Security Role: Key food grain in KP; growing use in fortified food and flour mixes

Uses

• Animal Feed: 60–70% of domestic production goes to poultry and dairy feed
• Starch & Industrial Use: Wet-milled into starch, glucose syrup, ethanol
• Food: Flour (makai atta), cornmeal, and snack foods
• Fodder & Silage: Green maize used in dairy farms as silage 
• Byproducts: Maize oil extracted from germ; bran used in feed