India’s maize exports jump nearly six fold in three years

Export realisation from maize has increased six-fold from $142.8 million in 2019-20, while the total value of shipment over the last three years shot up to $1,593.73 million despite logistical challenges posed by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Nepal are the major importers of maize from India. Bangladesh has imported maize worth $345.5 million in the current fiscal (April-January), while Nepal has imported maize worth $132.16 million during this period.

Vietnam too has emerged as a major destination for export of maize from the country with successful efforts taken by the commerce ministry to explore and diversify market. India exported maize worth $244.24 million to Vietnam in the first ten months of the current fiscal (April-January 2021-22). Other prominent importing countries are Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Taiwan, Oman, etc.

Maize, which is globally known as the queen of cereals, has emerged as one of the significant foreign exchange earners under the commodities covered under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) ambit.

“The significant rise in agri-exports is seen as a testimony of the government’s commitment to increase farmers’ income through creating requisite infrastructure and improving value chains on boosting exports of agricultural and processed food products,” M Angamuthu, chairmanof APEDA, said.

Maize is the third most important cereal crop in India after rice and wheat. The cereal is primarily cultivated in the states of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

With the highest genetic yield potential among the cereals, maize is one of the most versatile emerging crops having wider adaptability under varied agro-climatic conditions.

In India, maize is grown throughout the year and it is predominantly a kharif crop with 85 per cent of the area under cultivation in the season.

In addition to being a staple food for human beings and quality feed for animals, maize serves as a basic raw material/ingredient for several industrial products such as starch, oil, protein, alcoholic beverages, food sweeteners, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, film, textile, gum, package and paper industries etc.

The rise in export of agricultural and processed food products has been largely due to the various initiatives taken by APEDA such as organizing B2B exhibitions in different countries, exploring new potential markets through product specific and general marketing campaigns by active involvement of Indian Embassies.

APEDA has also taken several initiatives to promote Geographical Indications (GI) registered agricultural and processed food products in India by organising virtual Buyer-seller meets on agricultural and food products with the major importing countries across the world.

In order to ensure seamless quality certification of products to be exported, APEDA has recognised 220 labs across India to provide services of testing to a wide range of products and exporters.

APEDA organises participation of exporters in international trade fairs, which provide a platform for exporters to market their products in the global marketplace. APEDA also organises national events like AAHAR, Organic World Congress, BioFach India etc to promote agri-exports.