For the second consecutive year, kharif maize production in the country might be hit due to deficient monsoon in the key growing states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, a senior official with the Directorate of Maize Research (DMR) said on Tuesday.

Kharif crop constitute about 80% of the total maize production. Industry sources said that maize prices have already risen by Rs 1,000 to Rs 9,500 per tonne in Delhi during last one month in anticipation of a drop in output.

In 2008-09, maize production during the kharif season dropped to 18.48 million tonne from 19.77 million tonne achieved during the previous year, because of a 16% shortfall in rains during the month of July last year.

“We are highly unlikely to achieve last year’s output because of drought-like situation prevailing in many key maize producing states since the last one month,” Sain Dass, project director, DMR, a body under Indian Council of Agricultural Research, told FE.

However, Dass was hopeful that if monsoon revives adequately by July-end, then some of the losses could be curtailed. Mainly due to introduction of single cross-hybrid since 2006 by DMR, maize production has significantly increased. “Single cross-hybrid is adaptable to varying soil and weather condition,” Dass said.

Due to huge demand from the poultry industry, the country is facing a major shortfall in maize. The poultry feed mainly consists of maize and soymeal. Besides poultry farmers, demand for corn has also increased from starch manufacturers and food processors.

According to an estimate, around 60% of the country’s maize output is used as poultry and cattle feed, while 12% is used by the starch industry.

Nearly 22% of maize produced in the country is being used for human consumption, which has seen a rapid growth during last few years.

Due to huge demand from the industry, many farmers in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh have shifted to maize cultivation from other coarse grains like jowar and bajra due to lucrative returns. Bihar has emerged as a major destination for growing maize where the yield has also been improving, while Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have also taken up maize cultivation.