Growth of Maize Ecosystem in India and Karnataka Vis-a-Vis Associated Risk in Production: An Economic Insight.

Maize is one of the most versatile emerging crops having wider adaptability under varied agro-climatic conditions. Globally, maize is known as queen of cereals because of its highest genetic yield potential among the cereals. In addition to staple food for human being and quality feed for animals, maize serves as a basic raw material as an ingredient to thousands of industrial products. Growing area under maize and increasing MSP for maize will reflect importance of maize and its multiple benefits. In this study, the growth in area, production and productivity of maize in India and Karnataka and risks associated with maize production in Karnataka were analyzed. The primary data pertaining to study was collected from major maize growing districts of Karnataka and secondary data on area, production and productivity of India and Karnataka was collected from Indiastat.com and the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of Karnataka. Significant growth rates in maize area (1.12), production (3.51) and productivity (2.36) were recorded in India as a whole for the period 1970-2019. The share of maize in total food grain production has increased from 3.40 per cent in 1950-51 to 9.98 per cent in 2020-21. The cumulative annual growth rate of maize area (4.80), production (6.08) and productivity (1.52) has showed positive significant scores in Karnataka. Water scarcity, non-availability of inputs at right time and unstable yield were major risks associated with maize production before the infestation of fall armyworm, but pest and disease, unwanted moisture in the field and low quality of fodder were major risks associated with maize production after the introduction of fall armyworm in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]