Ranchi: As India steps up efforts to blend ethanol with petrol and cut crude oil imports, maize is gaining importance as a key crop for both farming and energy needs, experts said at a national workshop held at Birsa Agricultural University, The Jharkhand Story reported.
The three-day workshop, organised under the All India Coordinated Research Project on Maize, concluded on Saturday with scientists urging steps to increase maize production and develop varieties that can withstand changing weather conditions.
Speaking at the closing session, Vice-Chancellor Dr SC Dubey stressed the need to expand research on hybrid maize in partnership with private companies. He said new varieties should be able to resist diseases, adapt to different weather conditions and offer better nutritional value with higher protein and starch content.
He pointed out that nearly half of India’s maize production is currently used as animal feed. With ethanol blending expected to rise, demand for maize is also likely to increase. Higher production, he added, could help reduce the country’s spending on crude oil imports.
Dr HS Jat, Director of the Indian Institute of Maize Research, said that 39 new maize varieties have been identified for release across different regions. These include types suited for sweet corn, popcorn, baby corn, biofuel use and improved nutrition, with most meant for the Kharif season.
The workshop reviewed progress made in 2025 and prepared a plan for future research, focusing on raising output and expanding cultivation in different climate conditions.
More than 250 scientists from 37 agricultural universities and institutions, along with industry representatives and farmers, took part in the event, underlining the growing role of maize in the country’s agriculture and energy sectors.
