Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said on Thursday that despite two successive droughts, maize production during Kharif and Rabi was 21.02 million tonnes for 2015-16.
“Thanks to the hard work of farmers, scientists and policymakers, the area under maize has increased 2.9 times, productivity 4.8 times, and yield 14 times since 1950,” he said at India Maize Summit organised here by FICCI.
The Centre, he said, was promoting maize farming under different schemes. “Over 308 improved hybrid and mixed varieties have been distributed for various climate zones since 1957. During the last five years, 30 high-yielding hybrids and 10 mixed varieties have been released,” he said.
“Our government is giving subsidy on maize seeds under the National Food Security Mission: Rs.50 a kg on hybrid seeds and Rs. 15 a kg on composite seeds,” he said.
