Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Measures on to promote maize cultivation

By Our Staff Reporter

COIMBATORE June 8. The Broiler Coordination Committee has planned more measures to promote maize cultivation in the State as maize was one of the main components of poultry feed, the president, R. Lakshmanan, has said.

The broiler and the layer industry grew at a rate of 20 per cent every year. There were nearly 30 integrated broiler farmers, who catered for nearly 30 per cent of the poultry demand in the country.

The annual requirement of the poultry sector was estimated to be 10-12 lakh tonnes of maize. However, only about two lakh tonnes was produced in the State annually, which met only about 20 per cent of the demand of the sector. The remaining quantity was procured from other States, mainly Karnataka, and hence, the integrators incurred huge transportation costs.

Meanwhile, the BCC has assured minimum procurement price to farmers and conducted campaigns on maize cultivation.

Mr. Lakshmanan said maize was a traditional crop at Palani, Theni and Udumalpet. The average yield per acre was 20 to 30 quintals. The maize price now ranged between Rs. 600 and 650 per quintal. The BCC assured a minimum price of Rs. 500 per quintal ex-farm till September 2003. Now, it was planning to promote contract farming in select areas.

He said maize could be an ideal crop in places where there was water shortage.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu