Raise maize productivity without GM technology, Shivraj Chouhan tells scientists
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the government aims to expand maize cultivation, targeting a significant increase in production from the current 42.28 million tonnes (mt) to 86 mt, by 2047
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PTI
Indian Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday pledged to ensure maize farmers receive a fair price for their produce. Emphasising the critical need for crop diversification in Punjab and Haryana, he stated that the government aims to expand maize cultivation, targeting a significant increase in production from the current 42.28 million tonnes (mt) to 86 mt by 2047. However, he made it clear that this productivity boost must occur without the use of genetic modification technology.
Speaking at the annual maize summit, organised by the industry chamber FICCI, Chouhan said that achieving the 86 mt target by 2047 hinges on the development of high-yielding seed varieties with increased starch content. He urged scientists to prioritise this crucial area of research. India, as the world’s fifth-largest maize producer, is committed to enhancing productivity while maintaining its stance against genetically modified (GM) seeds in food crops. This position has been consistent for the Minister.
In March, at an event hosted by RSS affiliate Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), Chouhan reiterated that India should not “play with nature,” even though many other countries achieve bumper harvests using GM seeds. This issue recently became a significant point in bilateral trade negotiations between India and the US, as American farmers, who primarily grow GM maize, seek market access in India. “We don’t use genetically modified seeds, yet we can raise productivity levels,” Chouhan affirmed, adding, “I have directed scientists to focus on how to increase production.” He noted the substantial growth in the country’s maize output, which was just 10 mt in the 1990s.
‘Elevate productivity’
Chouhan said while the all-India average maize productivity is 3.5 tonnes per hectare, States like West Bengal and Bihar boast yields higher than the national average. He stressed the need to further elevate productivity levels across the board. The average yield for the Kharif season is 2.95 tonnes/hectare, whereas the Rabi season sees a higher 5 tonnes/hectare. However, the much larger area under Kharif maize (84 lakh hectares compared to 27 lakh hectares in Rabi) results in a lower overall annual productivity.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed 265 maize varieties, including 77 hybrids and 35 bio-fortified varieties. However, the Minister indicated that more work is required and has instructed scientists to develop varieties with 72 per cent starch content, up from the current 65-70 per cent.
Chouhan also emphasised the importance of ensuring farmers receive a fair price for maize. He highlighted how the ethanol blending with petrol (EBP) program has positively impacted prices over the past few years, recalling that maize once sold for ₹1,200-1,400/quintal. The current minimum support price (MSP) for maize is ₹2,400/quintal for the upcoming kharif crop, set for harvest in October. Despite this, official data reveals that during the 2024-25 harvesting season, when the MSP was ₹2,225/quintal, the average mandi (agriculture market yard) price for maize was 2 per cent below MSP from October-December 2024 and 7 per cent lower from April-June 2025.
Published on July 7, 2025
