New Delhi: Like bt cotton, hybrid varieties of maize, having higher protein content have the potential to create a revolution in the country, ensuring nutritional security to poor as well as for poultry industry, farm experts said.

Under the quality protein maize (QPM) programme, there are atleast 10 varieties of maize available in the country. Protein content in QPM is about 74 per cent while it is only 37 per cent in normal maize. Interestingly, protein quality of QPM is 90 per cent of that of milk, they said.

"These hybrid seeds have increased maize yields from 16 quintal per hectare to 24 quintal per hectare resulting bumper production of 18.51 million tons in 2007-08. Hybrid maize can create a bigger revolution than bt cotton has done so far in the country," Director General, Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) Mangala Rai told PTI.

If monsoon favours, maize production may cross 20 million tons during 2008-09,he said adding that maize is the third important crop after rice and wheat in terms of area in the country.

Currently in India, 49 per cent of maize is used as poultry feed, 12 per cent as animal feed, 25 per cent as food, 13 per cent in starch and other industries and one per cent as seed.

"QPM maize is a low cost quality protein that meets energy and protein needs of human beings as well as poultry industry," Directorate of Maize Research Sain Dass said.

Jharkhand's Birsa Agricultural University Vice Chancellor N N Singh said, "Recently released QPM hybrids like Shaktiman 1 have made a significant effect among farmers. However, to harness the potential of QPM in India, a concerted research and policy intervention is very much needed".

Singh suggested that research efforts should focus on states whose yields are lower than the national level.

About 12 states which includes Bihar, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, and Delhi constitute over 50 per cent of the total maize acreage in the country. The yield levels in these states range from 658 kg per hectare to 1,677 kg per hectare.

"Hybrid QPM which are adaptable to harsh environment need to be propagated in these areas," Singh said, adding that National Seed Corporation and State Seed Corporations should be roped in the production of QPM hybrids so that these seeds reach to the farmers at affordable cost and at right time.

Among the major producing states, Andhra Pradesh tops the list with contribution of 17 per cent to the total maize production.

Leading farm scientist S K Vasal pointed out, "Hybrids released from early materials are almost negligible. The pace of maize hybrid releases has been somewhat slow because of no QPM activity for almost five years. So far, only a few QPM lines have been introduced since the first release".

Although in the recent years, QPM has generated renewed interest and optimism, but there is still a lot to do in this area. "We need to conduct well designed nutritional feeding trails in poultry and human beings. More training courses required to be launched to train talented researchers to carry out QPM research activities," Vasal said.

Source : PTI