57^th Annual Workshop by All India Coordinated Maize Improvement Project started today at Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technical Studies. The workshop was organized in the joint association of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi and MPUAT.

166 agriculture scientists from 35 research centers are taking part in this three day workshop.

Dr. S.K Datta, Deputy Director (Agriculture Science) Indian Council of Agricultural Research said in his address, “At present, the maize production in India is 25 quintal per hectare which is the half of the average production of world.”

He said that for last 10 years, the average growth rate of maize production in India remained 5 percent while the rest of the world recorded only 3 percent growth.

Dr. Datta discussed about various challenges in maize production and also talked about public-private partnership could be one out of several ways which can boost the production of maize.

Dr. R.P Dua, assistant deputy director, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi addressed on the development programs and irrigation systems. Dr Dua said that there are vast possibilities of maize production in the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

Dr. O.P Gill, vice chancellor of MPUAT expressed how important maize is for the people of Mewar. He said that the areas of Udaipur, Dungerpur, Pratapgarh and Banswara have great potential for maize production.

Dr. Gill said, “Banswara has best climatic conduction for maize production. Many farmers of the area are receiving 50 to 80 quintal per hectare maize production.”