First International Maize Conference Opens in Hyderabad

The 1st International Maize Conference opened at the JD Convention Centre in Hyderabad, bringing scientists, policymakers, agricultural institutions and industry together to work out how maize research, productivity and value chains should grow. Its theme is Maize Revolution for Food, Feed, Fodder, Fuel and Sustainability in the Changing World, shortened to M4FS. The conference runs from 2 to 4 November and gives Indian and foreign experts a platform to draw a roadmap for a productive and profitable maize sector.

A call to raise production

Dr M. L. Jat, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education and Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, congratulated the maize research community on India's production reaching about 55 million tonnes with large productivity gains over the past decade. He asked for production to be lifted to 75 million tonnes over the next decade, along with a further one-and-a-half-fold rise in productivity through technology, better crop management and efficient use of resources.

From 4F to 5F

Dr Jat proposed widening the familiar vision of food, feed, fodder and fuel into a fifth F by putting farmers at the centre, arguing that research and extension must show up as higher farm profitability and better livelihoods. He pressed for a systems-science approach to closing yield gaps, especially those that come from crop management, and for placing maize carefully across seasons and agroecological zones without squeezing out other important crops, particularly oilseeds and pulses. Affordable quality seed, above all public sector hybrids, was called the base of any such effort.

Breeding, hybrids and ethanol

• Dr D. K. Yadav, Deputy Director General for Crop Science at the Council, called maize a model crop for food, nutritional and energy security and noted that 329 maize hybrids had been developed over the past five years
• He asked for the All India Coordinated Research Project on Maize to be strengthened, with breeding for yield, nutritional quality and resistance to living and non-living stresses
• He also urged research bodies, universities and industry to work together on maize as a feedstock for ethanol
• Scientific publications were released and awards given to scientists for their work on maize

The voices from the podium

Dr S. Vasal, a Padma Shri awardee, World Food Prize laureate and a scientist associated with CIMMYT, argued for simple and low-cost breeding methods to speed up new varieties and hybrids suited to what farmers need. Dr R. S. Paroda, a Padma Bhushan awardee and a former Secretary of the department and Director General of the Council, was the chief guest; he asked for advanced breeding techniques, systematic conservation and use of germplasm, stronger maize value chains and effective aflatoxin management so that maize stays safe for food and feed. Dr H. S. Jat, President of the Maize Technologists Association of India, welcomed the gathering and spoke of maize's place in India's agricultural change.