The Hyderabad conference spotlighted India’s maize productivity ambitions, the farmer-centred 5F approach, improved hybrids, aflatoxin management and ethanol potential.

Agriculture  |  Economy  |  Science & Technology  |  UPSC & APSC Current Affairs

MAIZE: FOOD SECURITY MEETS ENERGY SECURITY

Research  •  Productivity  •  Better Seeds  •  Farmer Incomes

The 1st International Maize Conference 2026 was held at the JD Convention Centre in Hyderabad, Telangana, from 2 to 4 November 2026. Its theme, “Maize Revolution for Food, Feed, Fodder, Fuel and Sustainability in the Changing World” (M4FS), reflected the crop’s expanding role in agriculture, livestock feed and bioenergy.

The gathering brought together scientists, policymakers, agricultural institutions and industry representatives to discuss how India can raise maize yields while making production economically rewarding for farmers and environmentally sustainable.

India’s Maize Production: Where Does It Stand?

~55 MT Production level cited at the conference

75 MT Proposed target over the next decade

1.5× Proposed improvement in productivity

MT = million tonnes. These are figures and ambitions stated at the conference; the 75 MT target is not an achieved output.

Dr M. L. Jat, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), and Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), called for increasing production through better seed technology, efficient crop management and more effective use of resources.

From 4F to 5F: Why Farmers Have Been Added

The conference proposed extending the traditional 4F framework—Food, Feed, Fodder and Fuel—by adding Farmers as the fifth F.

Food

Feed

Fodder

Fuel

Farmers

This shift recognises that a rise in output is meaningful only when farmers also gain from it. Research and extension programmes should deliver higher net returns, reliable seeds, reduced production risks and sustainable livelihoods.

Five Key Outcomes of the Conference

1. A systems-science approach to closing yield gaps

A yield gap is the difference between the output achievable under suitable conditions and the yield farmers obtain in practice. The conference stressed that improved seeds must be combined with scientific crop management, soil and water management, and appropriate inputs.

It also recommended identifying suitable seasons and agroecological regions for growing maize without displacing essential oilseed and pulse cultivation.

2. More effective crop breeding and seed systems

ICAR highlighted the development of 329 maize hybrids over the preceding five years and called for strengthening the All India Coordinated Research Project on Maize (AICRP on Maize). Priorities include higher yields, better nutritional content, resistance to pests and diseases, and tolerance of environmental stresses such as heat and drought.

Scientists also called for more affordable, high-quality hybrid seeds, especially from public-sector breeding programmes, alongside mechanisation and efficient fertiliser and water use.

3. Controlling aflatoxins in maize

Aflatoxins are toxic substances produced by certain Aspergillus fungi. Contamination of maize can threaten both human food safety and animal-feed quality. Better harvesting, drying, storage, monitoring and quality control are important preventive measures.

4. Expanding maize’s role in biofuels

Maize starch can be processed into ethanol, making the crop relevant to India’s biofuel and energy-security objectives. However, expansion needs careful balancing of ethanol demand with maize’s uses in food and livestock feed, as well as responsible management of agricultural resources.

5. International collaboration and germplasm conservation

The discussions encouraged closer cooperation among agricultural universities, research bodies and the private sector. Dr S. K. Vasal, an eminent maize scientist associated with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), emphasised practical, cost-effective breeding suited to farmers’ needs. The conference also highlighted advanced breeding and systematic conservation of germplasm, the genetic material used in crop improvement.

Why Maize Matters to India’s Economy

Maize (Zea mays) supports multiple sectors. Besides being consumed as food, it supplies ingredients for food processing, raw material for poultry and livestock feed, industrial starch and feedstock for ethanol production. Changes in maize productivity can therefore affect agricultural incomes, the cost of animal feed, food-processing industries and bioenergy supply chains.

The policy challenge is to improve yields and farmer profitability without encouraging unsustainable input use or creating avoidable competition with pulses, oilseeds and other vital crops.

UPSC and APSC Examination Relevance

Area	Focus for preparation
Prelims	5F framework; maize uses; ICAR; DARE; CIMMYT; AICRP on Maize; aflatoxins
GS Paper III: Agriculture	Yield gaps; crop diversification; hybrid seeds; agricultural research and extension
GS Paper III: Economy	Agro-processing; value chains; farmer profitability; ethanol feedstocks
Environment and Science	Climate-resilient breeding; efficient resource use; food and feed safety

Practice MCQs

Q1. Which of the following was proposed as the fifth F in the maize development framework?

A.  Fertiliser

B.  Farmers

C.  Finance

D.  Forests

Answer & explanation:  Answer: B. Farmers. The proposal extends Food, Feed, Fodder and Fuel by recognising farm profitability and livelihoods as central objectives.

Q2. Aflatoxins in maize are produced by certain species of:

A.  Rhizobium

B.  Aspergillus

C.  Azotobacter

D.  Nitrosomonas

Answer & explanation:  Answer: B. Aspergillus. Certain species of this fungal genus produce aflatoxins, which can contaminate food and animal feed.

Q3. AICRP on Maize is part of India’s agricultural research framework under:

A.  ICAR

B.  NABARD

C.  FSSAI

D.  SEBI

Answer & explanation:  Answer: A. ICAR. The All India Coordinated Research Project on Maize forms part of the ICAR research system.

Conclusion

The International Maize Conference 2026 made a clear case for raising maize productivity while keeping farmers at the centre of agricultural change. Its emphasis on crop breeding, reliable seed supply, food safety, efficient resource use and stronger value chains offers a practical direction for developing a more productive, profitable and sustainable maize sector.

Sources and verification

Press Information Bureau, 2 November 2026: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2331603&lang=2&reg=48

ICAR conference report, 2 November 2026: https://www.icar.gov.in/en/1st-international-maize-conference-2026-calls-higher-productivity-innovative-breeding-and-farmer

Production figures and research statements are attributed to conference speakers; the proposed 75 MT production target is not an official achievement.