by PressCorn production in India is expected to double
The government is stimulating corn production in India
As in many other countries, grain consumption is increasing in India. In order to ensure food security and reduce dependence on foreign markets, India is developing its agricultural sector. As part of this effort, plans are in place to increase corn production. Production could reach 86 million tons by 2047. Compared to current figures, the harvest should double. At the same time, special attention is being paid to using non-GMO varieties.
The country’s average corn yield is 3.7 tons per hectare. In some regions, including West Bengal and Bihar, the yield is higher. According to the relevant minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, raising the average yield is a key step towards increasing production. However, he believes this can happen without using GMO technologies.
How India plans to achieve its goal
The government has already drawn up a list of measures aimed at stimulating corn production. Among the priorities are:
1. Ensuring a fair purchase price for corn for local farmers. This will make growing the crop more attractive.
2. Diversifying agriculture in states such as Punjab and Haryana, where other crops traditionally predominate.
3. Developing new high-yielding corn varieties with increased starch content that are not genetically modified.
India ranks fifth among global corn producers. In a highly competitive environment with growing consumption, it is important for India to increase its corn yield. However, for many years, the government has adhered to a principled position of rejecting varieties developed using genetic engineering. This complicates the task. India seeks to maintain its position in the global market. On the other hand, the country is not ready to allow GMO products into the food sector.
The Minister of Agriculture acknowledges that many other countries have boosted production through the use of modified seeds. Nevertheless, India intends to take a different path.
In addition to reducing yield potential, rejecting GMOs also limits trade opportunities. For instance, American producers are interested in the Indian market, yet they cannot access it on a large scale. Most farmers in the US use GMO seeds that are banned in India.
Despite the advantages of genetically modified corn, such as higher production, the authorities are not ready to use it. Instead, they plan to increase production through a set of agrotechnical measures. According to the minister, the priority should be developing high-yielding, non-modified varieties. Local scientists are developing and testing new seeds. The government expects to meet its target of producing 86 million tons of corn by the specified deadline.