Maize production expected to increase due to indication of increase in sowing area

01-Jul-2025 10:51 AM

New Delhi. Due to an increase in sowing area and favourable weather and monsoon conditions, domestic production of maize is expected to rise by 5–10 percent during the current year.

The demand and consumption of maize are growing rapidly, especially for ethanol production. Its use is also expanding in animal feed, poultry feed, and the starch manufacturing industry.

According to data from the Union Agriculture Ministry, during the 2024–25 marketing season, domestic maize production reached a record level of 422.80 lakh tonnes, which was 12.26 percent higher than the 376.60 lakh tonnes produced in the 2023–24 season. This figure includes production across all three seasons: Kharif, Rabi, and Zaid (summer).

As of June 27, the sowing area of maize at the national level during the current Kharif season has increased to 23.69 lakh hectares, which is about 11 percent higher than the 21.35 lakh hectares sown during the same period last year. Most of this sowing has taken place in Karnataka, a major maize-producing state.

The normal average area for maize cultivation during the Kharif season is set at 78.95 lakh hectares at the national level, and the total area is expected to exceed this figure.

The Chairman of the Compound Livestock Manufacturers Association of India stated that it is natural for maize sowing to increase this year.

The government has raised the minimum support price (MSP) by ₹175, from ₹2225 to ₹2400 per quintal, while domestic demand remains strong. Favourable weather and rainfall conditions are further encouraging farmers to take up maize cultivation.

Trade analysts believe that even with increased production, maize prices are unlikely to decline because consumption has risen sharply.

The ethanol industry can absorb any additional output, and its demand is also expected to grow. The new maize crop is expected to start arriving from October 2025.