India’s maize production has continuously increased in the last few years owing to various government initiatives such as the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) and the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), along with the use of modern upgraded technologies in the cultivation, making the country a leader in the global maize market. The crop reportedly is cultivated on about 10 million hectares of land across the country with major maize-producing states .

Talking about the maize production in India and the challenges it face, farming expert, Dr Mamtamayi Priyadarshini, while citing data, stated, “According to recent data, India’s maize production reached 28 million tonnes (MT) in the financial year 2021-2022, and it rose to 34.61 million tonnes in the 2022-23 financial year (July-June). As per NITI Aayog, given the increasing demand for ethanol in India, the Indian government aims to increase the production of maize from the current 3.5 MT per hectare to 6 MT per hectare through the adoption of improved agricultural practices, hybrid seeds, and mechanization.”