Production of maize in India is all set to surpass last year mark due to favourable weather in the last three months and increased use of single cross hybrids, despite a marginal decline in acreage, a senior official from the Directorate of Maize Research (DMR) said.

Last year, around 3.5 million tonne of maize was produced during the rabi season. Although just around 16% of the country’s total maize production comes during the rabi season, but a good harvest could keep prices low in the next few months. Crop condition in all states except Bihar is good, the official said.

?Despite a shortfall during the kharif season because of drought in many parts of the country, cumulative maize production in 2009-10 is expected to match last year’s output or may even surpass it,? Sain Dass, project director, DMR, told FE.

Maize prices in the wholesale markets have declined to Rs 1,000 – 1,010 per quintal in the recent days, mainly due to increase in supplies.

Dass said as anticipated earlier there would not be any ’cause of concern’ as far as maize production in the country is concerned.

In 2008-9, India produced around 19.73 million tonne of maize, while 18.96 million tonne was produced a year before that. After introduction of single cross hybrid in 2006 maize production has significantly increased.

?Single cross hybrid is adaptable to varying soil and weather condition and it can withstand drought like condition as well,? Dass said.

According to ministry of agriculture data released last week, rabi maize acreage has marginally declined to 11.61 lakh hectares from 11.74 lakh hectare recorded during the same period last year. Interestingly, after the introduction of hybrid, there has been high growth of maize in non-traditional states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa and West Bengal.

Andhra Pradesh is currently the largest producer of maize in India contributing almost 21% to the total output. From the maize production, 80% is produced during kharif season and rest 4% during autumn months.

According to Dass, maize has immense export potential. In 2008-9, Indian exported 3 million tonne of maize and 12,000 tonne of maize seed worth of Rs 2,400 crore and Rs 2,000 crore respectively.

There has been a consistent demand from the poultry industry to ban maize exports as poultry feed mainly consist of maize and soyameal.