Bihar: Setting an Example through Corn Revolution

The National Collateral Management Services Limited (NCML), a leading warehouse service provider, has inaugurated its public silo complex of 36,000 tonnes for storing maize at Purnia in Bihar. Inaugurating the silo, Prem Kumar, Bihar’s Agriculture Minister, said silo complex storage mechanism is the need of the hour in the State which has a large agrarian population.

Bihar Agriculture Minister Dr. Prem Kumar, gave an overview of maize production strategies in the state and said that that the agriculture roadmap of 2017 focussed on ensuring higher and cost-effective production of maize. Maize, he added, would soon be brought under the ambit of organic farming, currently confined to the cultivation of vegetables. Maize the Future Cereal Crop :- Dr. Prem Kumar//Agriculture Minister//Govt. Of Bihar//Krishi Jagran. Click the link below to get the interview of Dr Prem Kumar, the Agriculture Minister, Government of Bihar speaking to Krishi Jagran:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKZHIixspBY&feature=youtu.be

Designed in line with global best practices, the silo complex is equipped with facilities like dryer and chiller for safe and efficient preservation of maize, said the company in a statement.

The current market size of hybrid corn seed in Bihar is estimated at 1, 60,000 Q (>INR 400 Cr. in value terms) and is assumed to reach 1, 75,000 Q at the end of 2021-22 with CAGR of 2%, while discounting crop shifting and market price factors. Backed by suitability of high yielding Rabi Corn, Bihar has witnessed corn revolution in last decade. In this, almost 50% of the market size is limited to few private players (MNCs) due to their diverse varietal portfolio, suited to different agro-ecological profiles of state.

While technology — planting of highyielding single-cross hybrids — has played a major role in raising Bihar’s maize production, the breakthrough, has also came with surge in export demand. The export boom benefited Bihar’s farmers in terms of price realisations, which soared from Rs 400 to Rs 1,200 per quintal between 2005 and 2012. The stretch from Purnia, Katihar and Bhagalpur to Madhepura, Saharsa, Khagaria and Samastipur – north of the Ganga and on either side of the Kosi – emerged as a corn belt where many farmers, big and small, harvested 50 quintals or more per acre. That was comparable to the 180-200 bushel yields in the US Midwest heartland of Illinois, Iowa and Indiana (one bushel equals 25.4 kg)

Sanjay Kaul, Managing Director, NCML, said technological advancement is playing a key role in stimulating growth with modern scientific facility gradually replacing conventional warehouses for agricultural storage.

The storage of grain in a silo is possible for long period without quality loss and transportation is much easier compared to food grains storage in bags in conventional warehouses.

NCML is building 13 silo complexes at an estimated project cost of ₹780 crore in Bihar, Punjab, Haryana and UP in partnership with the Food Corporation of India.