The Indian government, said it estimates maize output to increase by 10 million tonnes (mt) over the next five years if the growing demand for ethanol production and poultry industry has to be met.
Inaugurating India Maize Summit, organised by FICCI, Union Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja stressed the need to cut down losses in the entire value chain of maize in a systematic manner.
“Currently, maize production is in the range of 33-34 mt. We need a quantity jump in maize to 44-45 mt in the next five years in order to meet the rising demand for ethanol and the poultry industry,” Ahuja said. As the potential is high to achieve the target, making better seed availability, providing storage and marketing linkages, public and private partnerships should be the focus when agriculture is threatened by climate change impact, he said.