After positive monsoon forecast, farmers hope for good corn produce

of a good monsoon have revived hopes of good corn produce amongst farmers in Uttar Pradesh.

Currently, sowing of corn crop for the 2017-18 kharif season is underway in several parts of the state, especially the eastern and central belt.

Given the positive forecast, farmers are expected to grow corn on a larger area. So far, they have already sown seeds in 30% of the area and the entire sowing process is expected to be completed by the end of July.

Dinesh Pal Singh, a farmer from Unnao, said: “The years 2013-14 and 2014-15 saw uneven weather. It affected our farm yields and income. However, ever since the use of new variety of Dekalb corn seeds, things have changed for us. These new seeds are known to stand even in rough weather conditions. We are expecting good profits post-harvest.”

Currently, the average market price of corn is in the range of ₹1,200-to ₹1,300 per quintal, whereas after harvesting, famers are expecting the price to be in a higher range. Ganesh Dwivedi, another farmer from Unnao, said, “Earlier we used to sow bajra, chakori and mentha in our farms. After realising that corn has given higher output and returns in neighbouring districts, majority of farmers in our village too have opted for corn.”

The major corn producing districts in Uttar Pradesh are Aligarh, Bulandshahr, Etah, Kasganj, Nainpur, Firozabad, Aliganj, Shikohabad, Farrukhabad, Kannauj, Unnao, Kanpur Dehat, Moradabad, Sambhal, Badaun, Hardoi, Bahraich, Gonda and Ballia. Corn is sowed twice a year - in spring and kharif seasons which covers nearly six lakh hectares land. The acreage is expected to increase in the next five years as more farmers are now adopting the high yielding Dekalb seeds.

Farmers in UP, who have previously used Dekalb hybrids, are quite happy with the results. Corn farmer and sarpanch of Kannauj district, Krishan Pratap Singh said, “Last season, Dekalb hybrid seeds had given a higher yield than most of the other hybrids available in the market. Our crop has excellent standing. This season, we invested ₹20,000 per hectare on corn seeds and are expecting an output of nearly 50 quintals per hectare.”