State-Level Workshop and Exhibition-2025 Organized Under the Rapid Maize Development Program
Lucknow: A state-level workshop and exhibition under the Rapid Maize Development Program was organized on Wednesday at a private hotel in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow. The event focused on maize production and coverage across various districts of Uttar Pradesh. Several technical sessions were held on making maize cultivation more profitable for farmers. The event was attended by the Agriculture Minister and the Minister of State for Agriculture.
Addressing the gathering, Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi emphasized the immense potential for maize production in Uttar Pradesh. He stated that the state currently produces 665 lakh metric tons of food grains and is self-sufficient in food production, including 30% self-sufficiency in fruits and vegetables. In addition to meeting domestic needs, the state exports fruits and vegetables to fulfill external demand. The Agriculture Department is also celebrating its 150th year in service. The Minister urged authorities to finalize the Seed Park project this year.
After wheat and rice, maize is the third most important crop in Uttar Pradesh. To encourage maize production, the National Food Security Mission operates programs in 13 districts, while the state-run Rapid Maize Development Program is implemented across the state. Under this scheme, farmers receive a subsidy of ₹15,000 per quintal on seeds. Subsidies are also available for hybrid maize, indigenous maize, popcorn, baby corn, and sweet corn. In regions with high tourist footfall, these maize varieties should be promoted to benefit farmers and boost commercial activities. The Minister highlighted that maize can significantly improve the fortunes of UP farmers.
He also appealed to ethanol industry stakeholders to support maize farmers, ensuring higher yields and long-term benefits for the ethanol sector. Noting the similarities in climatic conditions between Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh, the Minister pointed out that Bihar has higher maize productivity. He encouraged farmers to visit maize farms in Bihar to learn about best practices and innovative techniques to enhance their yields and profitability.
Minister of State for Agriculture, Baldev Singh Aulakh, highlighted the expansion of maize cultivation and stressed that farmers should be provided with seeds of maize varieties according to their preferences to maximize benefits. He emphasized that maize requires less water and that scientific techniques such as planting in furrows can enhance productivity. He urged agricultural scientists to develop and promote technologies beneficial to farmers.
The Principal Secretary (Agriculture) informed that around 10 million hectares in the state are dedicated to wheat cultivation, while 6 million hectares are used for rice cultivation. While the state currently produces surplus food grains, crop diversification is crucial to address future challenges. Farmers were encouraged to consider maize as an alternative to wheat and rice. Maize is a versatile crop that can be grown in all three seasons and is increasingly used for ethanol production. Additionally, the residual starch from maize used in ethanol production can serve as a nutritious component in animal feed. The Principal Secretary urged farmers to adopt innovative techniques instead of relying solely on traditional methods.
The Director of Agriculture, Uttar Pradesh, instructed all district-level and divisional officials to implement the directives and insights shared at the workshop. He also described the event as highly beneficial. Farmers’ queries were addressed on the spot. Additional Director of Agriculture (Wheat and Coarse Grains) provided detailed information about the Rapid Maize Development Program.
Agricultural scientists, including Dr. K.M. Singh, Dr. S.B. Singh, Dr. S.K. Shukla, Dr. Swati Deepak Dubey, Dr. K.K. Singh, Shubhendu Das, and Rishi Pathak, shared their perspectives at the workshop.
The event was attended by Jagdish Kumar, Additional Director of Agriculture; the Director General of the Agricultural Research Council; the Managing Director of the Seed Development Corporation; the Director of Seed Certification; the Director of the State Agricultural Management Institute; senior scientists from IIMR Ludhiana and Begusarai; officials from the UP Distilleries Association; the Vice President of ACCESS Development Services; as well as divisional joint agricultural directors, district agricultural officers, and participating farmers.
