This dependency forces farmers to pay high prices due to high transportation and storage expenses.

Maize Magic: New February Trials Target Massive Savings for Punjab’s Growers

The Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR) is set to launch trials for hybrid maize seed production in Punjab starting this February. This initiative aims to break the state’s heavy dependency on southern India for quality seeds and drastically reduce cultivation costs for local farmers.

IIMR Director Hanuman Sahay Jat said that Punjab currently imports nearly 95% of its hybrid maize seeds from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. This dependency forces farmers to pay high prices due to high transportation and storage expenses. 

Senior breeder Bhupender Kumar highlighted that Punjab farmers currently pay up to INR 1,000 per kg for maize seeds sourced from the south. He said that localised production could bring the cost of production and processing down to just INR 50–60 per kg, significantly boosting farmers' profitability.

The upcoming February trials will focus on the spring season, with researchers identifying specific farmers, including potato growers, for the project. Senior maize breeder Bhupender Kumar said that the initiative follows successful late-Kharif trials conducted in Moga’s Gajiana village. 

The research indicates that seeds harvested in the late Kharif season can be used immediately for spring sowing, eliminating the need for expensive long-term storage. By producing seeds locally, the state hopes to encourage crop diversification and support the burgeoning biofuel industry, offering a viable alternative to the traditional water-intensive paddy-wheat cycle. 

Progressive farmers noted that this success would open new avenues, ensuring the availability of quality seeds while meeting the government’s twin targets of diversification and ethanol production.

Source: Hindustan Times