Maize (Zea mays L.) is a multi-faceted cereal crop, commonly known as “Queen of Cereals” due to its highest genetic yield potential. It is a potential crop for enhancing the farmers’ income and is one of the most important crops next to rice and wheat. In India, maize is grown in an area of 9.2 million ha in varied agro-climatic conditions with a production of 31.51 million MT. The country represents nearly 4% of the global maize area and 2% of global production. The peninsular India represents nearly 40% of the total maize area in the country producing over 52% of production. Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka are the most important maize growing states representing 14.0 and 13.7% of crop acreage respectively, followed by Maharashtra (12.0%), Rajasthan (9.8%), Uttar Pradesh (8.0%), Telangana (6.1%), Bihar (5.4%), Gujarat (4.7%) and Tamil Nadu (3.8%). On production, peninsular India and north eastern plain zone (eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha) together contribute 60% of the rainy and 90% of the post-rainy maize produced in India. Majority of maize is used for poultry and animal feed (60%) and industrial purposes (14%) besides use as food (13%), processed food (7%) and 6% for seed and other purposes. It is cultivated for several purposes like quality protein maize, baby corn, popcorn, sweet corn, silage, fodder and for other industrial products.

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