‘Govt should allow the import of maize’

‘Govt should allow the import of maize’

PUNE: In view of the rising maize prices and uncertainty about maize production in kharif season due to Fall Army Worms, poultry farmers have demanded maize imports.

Sham Bhagat, Chairman, National Eggs Co-ordination Committee (NECC), Pune, emphasised that import of maize should be made a priority.  He said, “It’s high time the government gives priority to maize imports. We approached MMTC for the same but it got delayed due to the election. We again approached MMTC but as of now nothing has happened.”

Maize production is done in parts of  Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. Due to increasing infestation of Fall Army Worms (FAW), the State Agriculture Department issued an advisory for farmers to sow maize at their own risk. 

FAW infestation was reported in Maharashtra eight months back. “FAW or Spodoptera frugiperda is basically a native of America. It is extremely dangerous as its original natural enemy is present in its native country and not here. Usually to combat the pest, original natural enemies plays an important role which is missing in this case,” said” Dr BB Bhosale, entymologist and Director of Extension Education, Parbhani Vidyapeeth, Marathawada

Bhosale said this pest causes heavy damage as it attacks in a army. It lays 350 to 400 eggs and up to third stage of its life cycle it feeds on the leaves and then scatters to the entire field damaging the crops. They have voracious diet and can consume a lot of maize in less time. It might also effect crops like sugarcane, soyabean, cotton and jowar.

Maize is an important crop for cattle feed and poultry industry and if there will be less maize production it may affect the cost of poultry feed. Therefore, it is important to have a holistic approach and research should be conducted on its biological control to combat this deadly pest, added Bhosale.

Dinesh Bhosale, poultry feed expert said, “Around 60 per cent of maize is used in poutry feed. With increasing price of maize, we have started using alternatives such as wheat, rice and bajra but we cannot replace maize. We can only replace maize with these alternative up to 20 to 25 per cent and still we need at least 30 to 40 per cent of maize for poultry feed.”

He said, “With FAW infestation farmers are uncertain about the crops and its production. There are chances they might not sow if they find better alternatives. However, maize gives good income to the farmers.”

Deepak Chavan, agriculture market analyst said infestation of FAW will have serious implications on poultry industry. He said, “Over all India consumption of maize is 230 lakh tonnes while poultry consumption is 150 lakh tonnes. Due to drought, we are in deficit as the total maize production is 190 lakh tonnes for June 2018 to May 2019. The need of the hour to address this issue as this pest have history of destroying crops in very less period of time.”

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