**Executive Summary**
This document presents the government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1663 regarding the cultivation of maize in India, answering queries about farmer involvement, top producing regions, government schemes supporting maize farmers, and efforts to promote maize cultivation. The document includes data on operational holdings engaged in maize cultivation, top maize-producing regions by area and productivity, and details of fund allocation and expenditure under the National Food Security & Nutrition Mission. The reference date for the question is February 10, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Data Availability:** Centralized data on the exact number of farmers engaged in maize cultivation is not maintained. The state-wise number of operational holdings engaged in cultivation of Maize as per the latest agriculture census, 2015-16, is provided in Annexure I.
* **Top Maize-Producing Regions:** Annexure II identifies the top maize-producing regions and districts based on area and productivity over the last five years.
* **National Food Security & Nutrition Mission (NFSNM):** The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing the NFSNM in 28 states and 2 Union Territories to boost production of various crops, including maize. The objective of NFSNM is to increase production through area expansion and productivity enhancement.
* **Financial Support Under NFSNM:** The allocation, release, and expenditure of funds (Central Share) under NFSNM-Coarse Cereals (Maize & Barley) from 2020-21 to 2024-25 are detailed in the table.
* **Assistance to Farmers:** Through NFSNM, farmers receive assistance for crop production and protection technologies, certified seeds distribution, Integrated Nutrient and Pest Management, and capacity building via cropping system-based trainings.
* **Minimum Support Price (MSP):** The government provides MSP for maize to encourage cultivation. For 2025-26, the MSP of maize increased to Rs. 2400/- per quintal, 7.8% higher than the previous year.
* **Support from State Governments:** State governments offer support to maize farmers through the central sector scheme, National Agriculture Market (e-NAM), facilitating maize trading and better prices via Regulated Market Committees (RMC).
* **Food Processing Industries Support:** The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) implements schemes like PMFME and PMKSY to promote maize-based value addition, processing clusters, and market linkages, offering financial support for establishing food processing industries, including maize-based units.
* **Research and Development:** ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR) and the International Maize & Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) have approved projects under NFSNM to improve maize productivity. Research efforts by ICAR have led to the development and release of high-yielding, stress-tolerant maize varieties/hybrids.
* **AICRP on Maize:** The All India Co-ordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Maize is engaged in R&D for maize in various states, contributing to the development of climate-resilient maize varieties/hybrids.
* **Variety Release:** During 2014-25, the Central Variety Release Committee released 315 maize varieties/hybrids for cultivation in different agro-ecologies.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Maize Farmers
**Impact:**
* Access to government schemes (NFSNM) provides financial and technical assistance for improved farming practices, seed distribution, and pest management.
* Assured MSP enables remunerative prices for their produce.
* Development and release of high-yielding maize varieties increases yields.
* Access to marketing channels like e-NAM and RMCs ensures better price discovery.
**Action Required:**
* Engage with state agricultural departments to avail benefits under NFSNM.
* Adopt improved farming techniques promoted by the government.
* Utilize e-NAM for better price discovery.
**Stakeholder:** State Governments/UTs
**Impact:**
* Implementing agency for NFSNM, responsible for distributing assistance to farmers.
* Monitoring and reporting on fund utilization under NFSNM.
* Supporting maize farmers through state-level schemes and market access initiatives.
**Action Required:**
* Effectively implement NFSNM at the state level.
* Facilitate farmers' access to e-NAM and RMCs.
* Ensure proper fund utilization and reporting.
**Stakeholder:** Research Institutions (ICAR, IIMR, CIMMYT)
**Impact:**
* Focused research on maize production and development of climate-resilient varieties, funded through the NFSNM.
* Collaboration with other institutions to improve maize productivity.
* Contributing to increased maize production and farmer income.
**Action Required:**
* Continue research efforts to develop high-yielding, stress-tolerant maize varieties.
* Disseminate research findings to farmers and extension agencies.
* Collaborate with state agricultural departments for wider adoption of new maize varieties.
**Stakeholder:** Food Processing Industries
**Impact:**
* Opportunity to establish maize-based processing units with financial support from MoFPI schemes (PMFME, PMKSY).
* Improved market linkages for maize products.
* Increased demand for maize due to value addition and processing.
**Action Required:**
* Explore opportunities to set up maize-based processing units.
* Avail financial assistance under MoFPI schemes.
* Establish linkages with farmers for a stable supply of maize.
Key Entities Referenced
National Food Security & Nutrition Mission (NFSNM): A Government of India scheme implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) to increase the production of rice, wheat, coarse cereals, nutri-cereals, and commercial crops.
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW): The primary department implementing the National Food Security & Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) related to maize cultivation.
Minimum Support Prices (MSP): Prices set by the government to encourage farmers for maize cultivation.
Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI): The ministry implementing schemes like Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) to promote maize-based value addition.
ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR): A research institute involved in maize improvement and productivity, with projects approved under NFSM.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1663
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10TH FEBRUARY, 2026
CULTIVATION OF MAIZE
1663. DR. BYREDDY SHABARI:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष और (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण
मं(cid:287)ी be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of farmers engaged in maize cultivation during the last five years, with
State-wise and year-wise break-up;
(b) the top maize-producing regions and districts in terms of area under maize cultivation
and productivity during the last five years, State-wise and year-wise;
(c) the Union and State Government schemes providing financial assistance, subsidies, or
other support to maize farmers including amounts allocated, released and utilised, year-
wise;
(d) the number of farmers benefitting from such schemes annually, State-wise and district-
wise; and
(e) the steps taken to promote Maize cultivation, improve productivity, and ensure market
access for small and marginal farmers including any extension or capacity-building
programmes?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य मं(cid:287)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) & (b): The data on farmers engaged in cultivation of Maize is not maintained centrally.
However, the state-wise number of operational holdings engaged in cultivation of Maize as
per latest agriculture census, 2015-16 is at annexure I. Further, the top maize-producing
regions in terms of area under maize cultivation and productivity during the last five years is
given at annexure II.
(c) to (e): The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing
the National Food Security & Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) in the 28 States and 2 Union
Territories (UTs) with the objective to increase production of Rice, Wheat, Coarse Cereals
(Maize & Barley), Nutri-Cereals (Shree Anna) and Commercial Crops (Cotton, Jute &
Sugarcane) through area expansion and productivity enhancement.
The Allocation, Release and Expenditure of funds (Central Share) under NFSNM-
Coarse Cereals (Maize & Barley) from 2020-21 to 2024-25 are given below:
(Rs In crores)
Year Allocation Release Expenditure
2020-21 72.03 50.48 43.95
2021-22 66.21 23.55 28.90
2022-23 44.57 19.51 18.06
2023-24 68.68 39.32 28.76
2024-25 92.57 73.48 61.70Under NFSNM-Coarse (Maize & Barley), the assistance is being provided to the
farmers, through the States/UTs, for demonstration on crop production & protection
technologies, for distribution of certified seeds, for Integrated Nutrient and Pest
Management measures, for capacity building of farmers through cropping system-based
trainings etc.
The Government provides Minimum Support Prices (MSP) of maize over the years
to encourage farmers for cultivation of maize and ensure remunerative prices. During the
year 2025-26, MSP of maize has been increased to Rs. 2400/- quintal, which is 7.8% higher
than previous year. State governments assisting maize farmers through central sector
scheme, National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) for facilitating maize trading and ensuring
better price at Regulated Market Committees (RMC).
Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has been implementing
schemes like Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises
(PMFME) and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) to promote maize-
based value addition, processing clusters and market linkages in the country. Ministry
extends financial support to prospective entrepreneurs for setting up of different kinds
of food processing industries including maize based processing units, as per respective
scheme guidelines.
Further, to improve production & productivity of maize three projects of ICAR-Indian
Institute of Maize Research (IIMR), Ludhiana and one project of International Maize &
Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) have been approved under NFSM. Besides,
research efforts of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has led to the
development and release of high yielding and stress tolerant varieties/hybrids of maize.
Besides, the various centres of the ICAR-All India Co-ordinated Research Project
(AICRP) on Maize are also engaged in the R&D of Maize in different states and are
contributing significantly in development of location specific high yielding climate resilient
varieties/hybrids for improving production of Maize. As far as steps taken to promote Maize
cultivation, improve productivity and extension or capacity building programmes are
concerned, during 2014-25, a total of 315 maize varieties/hybrids have been released by
Central Variety Release Committee for cultivation on farmers field in different agro-
ecologies of country.Annexure I
Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.
1663 regarding “Cultivation of Maize” due for 10.02.2026
State-wise number of operational holdings engaged in cultivation of Maize
Sl. No State Name 2015-16
1 A & N ISLANDS 2
2 ANDHRA PRADESH 3,20,522
3 ARUNACHAL PRADESH 87,814
4 ASSAM 68,474
5 BIHAR 43,17,309
6 CHANDIGARH 70
7 CHATTISGARH 3,32,217
8 D & N HAVELI 5
9 DAMAN & DIU -
10 DELHI 414
11 GOA -
12 GUJARAT 3,05,931
13 HARYANA 17,973
14 HIMACHAL PRADESH 6,50,011
15 JAMMU & KASHMIR 5,27,215
16 JHARKHAND 7,67,875
17 KARNATAKA 12,91,432
18 KERALA 3,021
19 LAKSHADWEEP -
20 MADHYA PRADESH 14,78,284
21 MAHARASHTRA 10,66,819
22 MANIPUR 29,851
23 MEGHALAYA 1,06,445
24 MIZORAM 13,555
25 NAGALAND 1,17,525
26 ODISHA 4,05,415
27 PUDUCHERRY -
28 PUNJAB 1,20,888
29 RAJASTHAN 15,05,234
30 SIKKIM 53,677
31 TAMIL NADU 6,28,958
32 TELENGANA 8,17,667
33 TRIPURA 11,309
34 UTTAR PRADESH 13,69,224
35 UTTARAKHAND 2,92,318
36 WEST BENGAL 2,22,812
ALL INDIA 1,69,30,266
Source:- As per Agriculture Census,2015-16Annexure II
Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question
No. 1663 regarding “Cultivation of Maize” due for 10.02.2026
Top State under maize cultivation during the last five years
(In terms of Area & Productivity)
2020-21
Sr. State Area State Productivity/Yield
No. (In thousand Ha) (In Kg/Ha)
1 Karnataka 1,726 Telangana 6,782
2 Madhya 1,405 West Bengal 6,752
Pradesh
3 Maharashtra 1,182 Tamil Nadu 6,408
4 Rajasthan 993 Andhra 5,917
Pradesh
5 Uttar Pradesh 773 Delhi 5,091
2021-22
1 Karnataka 1,592 Tamil Nadu 7,066
2 Madhya 1,400 West Bengal 6,989
Pradesh
3 Maharashtra 1,251 Andhra 5,553
Pradesh
4 Rajasthan 952 Telangana 5,403
5 Uttar Pradesh 747 Delhi 5,100
2022-23
1 Karnataka 1,912 Andhra 7,138
Pradesh
2 Madhya 1,448 Tamil Nadu 7,007
Pradesh
3 Maharashtra 1,345 West Bengal 6,285
4 Rajasthan 957 Bihar 5,854
5 Uttar Pradesh 891 Telangana 5,557
2023-24
1 Karnataka 1,972 West Bengal 6,633
2 Madhya 1,543 Tamil Nadu 6,239
Pradesh
3 Maharashtra 1,326 Andhra 6,225
Pradesh
4 Uttar Pradesh 1,104 Bihar 5,975
5 Bihar 956 Telangana 5,671
2024-25
1 Madhya 2,303 West Bengal 6,999
Pradesh
2 Karnataka 1,914 Andhra 6,510
Pradesh
3 Maharashtra 1,625 Bihar 6,101
4 Rajasthan 1,007 Telangana 5,860
5 Bihar 896 Tamil Nadu 5,487
Source : DA&FW
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