HYDERABAD: The rising importance of maize in making ethanol, which is used in poultry feed and also blended with petrol to make bio-fuel, has increased the need for licensing of public sector tested and resealed hybrids. The area under maize has increased 18 per cent, and production has grown 57 per cent) between 2013 and 2023.
Public and private maize research organizations have contributed to develop more than 554 improved maize hybrids/varieties since 1957. Of these, 383 were released from the public sector.
The meeting was chaired by Dr H.S. Jat, director, IIMR, Ludhiana and co-chaired by Dr J.C. Sekhar, in-charge of the winter nursery centre of IIMR here. Dr N. Sunil and Dr Bhupender Kumar from IIMR, Ludhiana, coordinated
the meeting. The event saw the participation of 60 representatives from 39 companies.
The meeting was told that the Centre had set a target of 20 per cent ethanol blending by 2025-26. This would bolster maize cultivation by providing farmers with high-quality seeds and essential knowledge to optimize their
yields.
