SPRING MAIZE
STATISTICS (1994-98)
Year
|
Area
(000/ha)
|
Production
(000 ton)
|
Yield
kg/ha
|
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
|
35
41
50
71
73
|
140
162
248
465
436
|
4000
3950
4960
6550
5973
|
Expected Future
Trends:
Keeping in view the
increased trends in Sugarcane plantation on irrigated land and
promotion of oilseeds crop, the area under autumn maize crop will
slightly be reduced during autumn season. There has been 0.3-0.4
million hectares of maize area potentially excellent for hybrid
maize production. With the increased attention of private seed
sector towards autumn maize and growing interest in hybrid
plantation by farmers of irrigated plans, the over all production of
maize is expected to increase, resulting higher productivity per
unit area.
The area under spring
maize is expected to increase because of growing concerned incidence
of cotton leaf curl virus problem. In Punjab cotton is planted on
about 2.0 million hectares more than 70% of the cotton is followed
by wheat in traditional rotation. With the introduction of cotton
varieties having potential of giving cotton picking till January,
the wheat is confronting problems as late planting of wheat greatly
effects the yield. Early maturing hybrids now available can fit in
the prevailing system. Hence two major reasons for increasing maize
area are:
i) The shift from cotton
to spring maize because of disease problem.
ii) Extra 1-2 picking of
cotton generating extra income compensating upto 30-35% of the total
wheat income. In addition maize as additional crop giving at least
equal to wheat income.
RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE:
During the past 20
years, maize research programs have been strengthened at the
provincial and federal level. The research infrastructure at the
provincial maize experiment stations has been improved thoroughly.
Today, viable maize research institute are in place in Yousafwala (Sahiwal).
Pirsabak (Nowshera) and NARC (Islamabad). In addition partial
research activities are carried out when and where needed i.e. AARI
(Faisalalbad), AJK and Bhalwal (Sargodha). More then 70 research
scientists in public institutions are directly or indirectly engaged
in maize research and a similar number probably participates in
disciplinary research related in maize production/improvement.
National Coordination:
The national coordinated
maize research system since its establishment in 1975 has played an
important role in strengthening the research efforts, exchange of
germplasm, information and manpower training of the provincial
research system. With this integration a purpose full use of
financial and manpower resources have been achieved.
The National Coordinated
Maize Programme coordinates PARC's financial support to the
provincial maize research program, including funds for additional
staff position, equipment, scientific literature etc. In addition
NCMP also provide several services (described below) to the
participating members.
Germplasm
Development:
National Coordinated
Maize Programme organize, acquire and distribute the exotic and
local germplasm from different sources and agencies to the maize
growers in the country. This germplasm provide source of genetic
material to be used for development of varieties and hybrids Upto
date NCMP has acquired about 9800 germplasm sources and distributed
to various research scientists in the country.
National uniform Maize
Trials:
The trials are conducted
at various location (25-30) throughout the country both in kharif
& spring NARC handles the preparation, distribution and data
analysis of these trials and provide
opportunity to provincial scientists through travelling workshops to
see and observe their genetic material performing under adverse
climatic conditions. The best opportunity for scientist to discuss
and familiarized themselves with problem and farming system
practices outside their domain. Potential of giving cotton picking
till January, the wheat is confronting problems as late planting of
wheat greatly effects the yield. Early maturing hybrids now
available can fit in the prevailing system. Hence two major reasons
for increasing maize area during spring are:
i) The shift from cotton
to spring maize because of disease problem.
ii) Extra 1-2 picking of
cotton generating extra income compensating upto 30-35% of the total
wheat income. In addition maize as additional crop giving at least
equal to wheat income.
Production
Environment:
Approximately 65% of the
maize in Pakistan has access to irrigation, the remainder is farmed
under strictly rained condition. Eighty four percent of the maize
production in Pakistan is
concentrated in two principal geographic cluster: 11 districts in
NWFP/Northern Punjab and 9 districts in the central Punjab.
Maize in Pakistan is
cultivated as a multipurpose food and forage crop, generally by
resource poor farmers using marginal land, few purchased inputs,
with significant portions of harvest distant for home/farm
consumption.
Fertilizer Use in Maize:
Official fertilizer use
figures for maize are not specifically recorded by the agricultural
statistics services. However, extensive farm level surveys conducted
by PARC/CIMMYT in various districts of NWFP and in the central
Punjab reveal that approximately 66% of all maize growers now use
chemical nitrogen fertilizes (70 kg N/ha) and about 25% use
phosphorus (18 kg P/ha).
Mechanization:
While mechanization has
been widely adopted in Pakistan for certain production operation
i.e. land preparation & shelling, the
use of tractors in planting, interculture and harvesting has not
been optimized. The use of tractor is widespread in low and mid-land
altitude area in NWFP and Central Punjab. More than 80% of maize
farmers in both areas use mechanical sheller.
Training
Manpower:
NCMP has played and
still doing the important responsibility of training manpower
throughout country. Over the past two decades, the programme has
trained 5 Ph. D scientist and have provided short term training
(local and abroad) to 165 young scientists, extension workers and
interested growers.
Linkage
at National and International Levels:
As a service to
participating institutions and organization NCMP servers as liaison
for national and international agencies engaged in maize research. A
very strong link at national level with maize research institutes,
Agric. Universities, private seed & processing enterprises,
maize growers and with international agencies i.e. CIMMYT, FAO,
Regional counties and US Universities is maintained. the exchange of
genetic source, research information and visit facilities are major
achievements of the coordination efforts.
CURRENT SEED
SITUATION AND COVERAGE BY IMPROVED SEED
Although the formal
commercial maize seed production system in Pakistan produces limited
tonnage of certified seed, the nation public research service have
attempted to produced and diffuse the seed of improved varieties
through various adhoc seed multiplication campaigns. These campaigns
have relied on planting of small demonstration seed multiplication
plots on farmers fields. They have been effective in stimulating
farmer to farmer distribution of improved seed to some extent.
Pakistan like many
developing countries still depends largely on open pollinated
varieties based on public seed organizations. Currently both the
public and private sector are involved in promoting the seed
production system. More recently the individual seed producers and
community production/distribution system is being encouraged. These
seed growers have been offered serial incentives i.e. door step
availability of inputs i.e. pre-basic seed, insecticide, plating
machinery etc, the complete disposal of seed with the help of
extension agents and frequent consultation by technical staff to
solve the confronting and new emerging problems.
The present situation
regarding maize seed production and marketing is as follows:
Total
seed produced
3175 metric tonnes
Hybrid
seed
2050 "
QPV's
Seed
1125 "
QPV's
Seed
MRI
(Sahiwal)
800 "
Punjab
Seed Corporation 150
"
CCRI
(Pirsabak)
50 "
ADA
100 "
NARC
15 "
---------------
Total
1125 "
Hybrid Seed
Cargill
Pakistan 850
Rafhan
CPC 400
Pioneer
Seeds
450
ICI
Pakistan 100
MMRI
(Yousafwala) 100
CCRI
70
Noradas
80
-------------------
Total
2050
The seed produced by
above mentioned agencies and individual seed growers is hardly
sufficient to cover 10-15% area under maize, while about 26-30% of
the total area is planted to improved seed of advanced generation.
The remainder 50-60% is covered by either local or sort of mixture
of local within proved germplasm.
MAIZE RESEARCH &
DEVELOPMENT
The research in Public
sector is carried out at three main research institutes, over 95% of
the maize area is collectively
located in Punjab and
NWFP, which primarily are lowland and mid to-highland ecologies
respectively. The work done at the maize and Millet Research
Institute Yousafwala (Sahiwal) satisfies the needs of the low land
irrigated ecology while Cereal Crop Research Institute, Pirsabak (Nowshera)
fulfill the requirements of the mid and highland environments to a
great extent. The work carried out at National Agricultural Research
Centre, Islamabad mainly covers the research obligations for
low-to-midland rained ecologies of the country.
The research efforts so
far are concentrated on different aspects of maize improvement to
increase the production level of the commodity in Pakistan. The
following being the main areas of research concentration:
i) Germplasm
development/Populations Improvement:
- White and
yellow maize populations with Early, Medium and late maturity
are being improved for yield disease drought and density
stresses.
-
Development of germplasm extra early in maturity for high
elevation area.
ii)
Hybrid Development
-
Investigating heterotic patterns, derivation of inbred lines and
testing new combination.
iii)
Cost-effective crop
-
Evaluation/investigating costmanagement/protection: efficient
and with high value cost rattan methodologies/ levels of inputs
and practices specially for subsistant maize farming.
iv) On
Farm Verification:
-
Evaluation/verification of technologies under farmer's condition
partially conducted by the farmer.
Biotic
and Abiotic Stresses:
Several
biotic and abiotic problem may affect the maize yields depending
on many factors i.e. soils, climate and other natural factors.
The major and most important stress problem which cause an
economic loss to maize crop in Pakistan have been identified as
below:
Biotic
i) Maize stemborer
ii)
Stalk rot disease
iii)
Leaf blight.
Abiotic
i) Drought and moisture Stress
ii)
Water logging
Maize
Stem Borer:
Maize stem borer is
a single major insect problem which on the average will reduce
the yield by about 10-30% under normal conditions. The loss may
reach as high as 50% if the crop is
(Photo
No.8)
planted earlier and
environment is favorable. The economic returns were calculated
on the chemical control measure to control the insect. The
economic returns were calculated and most effect/ efficient use
of these chemicals have been identified and recommended to the
farmers.
The
growing concern of environmental pollution and increased pricing
trend of imported chemical insecticides the research on host
plant resistance has been initiated, the main objective of such
research activity is to develop germplasm with high level of
tolerance for maize stem borer and to make it available to maize
breeders to incorporate the desired characteristics in the
existing improved maize varieties.
A
considerable success has been achieved and germplasm MBR-25 has
been identified through series of observation under natural and
artificial stresses. The new material has shown a considerable
tolerance for the maize stem borer.
Stalk
rot disease and leaf blight disease:
Maize stalk rot
disease was a serious problem causing economic losses to maize
crop. The continuous selection & introgression
of tropical brood in the improved major varieties have proved
extremely helpful. With these research efforts the presently all
of the improved varieties can be grown without confronting any
economic damage by the stalk of disease which has been
eliminated to a level of nonsignificant existence. Similarly
selection and breeding for leaf blight tolerance is a regular
feature of research activities.
Drought/moisture
stress:
Under normal
condition the maize crop yield may be effected upto 10-13%, but
during the severe years of drought the loss may increase many
folds. The problem is more severe under barani conditions
covering an area of 25-30% of major crop planted in the country.
MAIZE
UTILIZATION:
It is estimated that
almost 40-50% of the Pakistan maize is consumed on farm, 15-20%
is marketed locally and 40% sold in the organized wholesale
market. The current utilization break-up as given below:Major
distribution of the Total Maize Produced.
Direct
human consumption . 0.607 million
tones
Poultry
feed industry
0.450 "
Wet
milling industry .
0.300 "
Seed
0.075 "
Miscellaneous
0.075 "
Maize
being staple food grain of mountainous and sub-mountainous is
still used for direct human consumption to the magnitude of
approximately 50% of the total production. The other major
outlets are the wet-milling industry and livestock feed.
Starch
industry:
The maize crop
categorized as cereal having 72% starch in the grain. Production
of starch is the major objective of wet-milling industry. The
two by-products of the process are the assorted feed production
and the edible oil. The production of maize oil is then very
dependent on the demand for the starch component. The present
status and projected potential for the wet-milling of corn in
Pakistan is as given below:
-
Current annual
utilization of maize in starch industry. = 0.300 million
tonnes.
-
Maximum,
potential utilization by year 2005 = 0.350 million tonnes.
Feed
production:
In addition to
edible oil the shortage of animal protein required for human
health is an other problem. Maize offers best opportunity for
converting vegetable protein into animal protein. The use of
maize in poultry and livestock feed industry is restricted
because of the availability of other cereal i.e. wheat and rice
(broken) comparatively at lower prices. Keeping in view need as
well the expected increase in poultry production, the projected
demand for maize may be as under:
.M
A R K E T I N G:
There
has not been a sufficient sure and effective market demand for
maize to induce farmers to adopt the new technology. The
government very actively procure wheat and rice for
distribution. There has always been, and perhaps still is, a
psychological fear that harvest of these commodities will be
insufficient. Therefore, the only real demand for maize, beyond
the producer's own consumption at home, is a limited quantity
which goes into the livestock feed industry and the industrial
processing sector. Any increase in production would result in a
surplus which would not probably find a market if it did find
one, it would be at much lower price. The recent (1997)
situation of maize market can be best quoted for explanation of
such a situation.
Industrial Use:
Considerations/suggestions
of increased industrial use and developing export market are
obviously some of the channels through which any surplus would
have to move. The competition of products with alternative
industrial and food products with in the country and export of
raw grain or processed products will have to compete in the
world market.
The
future role of maize in overall economy of the country must be
critically analyzed by the policy markers, not as an isolated
problem but in its inter-relationship. with other commodities.
MAJOR
ISSUE FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION
Research
Emphasis:
Improved varieties
developed through research are available to serve 80% of the
area under maize in the country, yet there are some areas i.e.
high elevation hilly ecologies which cannot benefit from the
finding and products of research, there is need to be paid more
attention.
Hybrid
Development in Public Sector:
A key issue for
public sector maize breeders and seed producers is how to
respond to the expansion in private research and seed
production, and the best answer would seem to be a national
maize improvement strategy that clearly outlines areas of
comparative advantage and, possible, collaboration. Should the
public sector focus on marginal environments because the private
sector can most likely conduct research and seed distribution
for the favoured environments. Should public sector researcher
continue to develop open pollinated varieties for the irrigated
valley and plain. How much support can be provided by the public
sector for improving hybrids, and what kind of collaborative
arrangements could be made involving, for example, private seed
company support for public sector work on inbred lines. These
are important matters which will have to be addressed in the as
the private sector maize seed industry grows in Pakistan.
Seed Production and
Distribution:
In cross pollinated
crop like maize, only limited returns will be realized from
investment in research if a function maize seed sector is
absent. In Pakistan the non-availability of improved seed has
been rated a problem number one and has had enormous social
costs in terms of limiting productivity.
Improved Marketing
The technology
transfer systems has not operated efficiently. Certainly yields
could be increased by 25% just by providing the farmers with
good seed fertilizer. Such a production increase and growing
trends of spring maize with much higher production will make
maize farming a more profitable operation. Growth in the
organized maize market could increase price instability unless
extensive grain storage and market facilities are established.
Mechanization
Since the improved
cultivation of many crops and maize in particular is machine
oriented. The growing labour shortage and increased input level
further aggravates the use of machinery while excellent farm
machinery exists but the cost is two high for adoption by
farmers and custom tractor operators. Greater availability of
such tractor powered equipments offer one of the best strategies
for increasing the productivity of maize and many other crops.
Price Incentive
Question:
It will be far
easier for policy members to justified reliance on domestic
maize production if the resources devoted to this crop can be
increased. Though higher price can stimulate agricultural
production yet do not necessarily improve social welfare. For
this to happen, price incentive must be accompanied by the
adoption of yield increase. In this way producers benefit
because of increased productivity and consumers benefit because
of increased supplies & lower real prices. However under
present circumstances a minimum government procurement price
help the farmers for sure returns to certain level.
C O N C L U S I O
N
Successful maize
research and development programmes share common elements.
First, they must be able to develop superior maize varieties and
hybrids and generate high-yielding technologies that are
appropriate in typical farming systems. Second, seed production
and distribution systems be in place so that farmers can obtain
quality seed of the appropriate varieties at reasonable prices
and in timely fashion. Finally the local and national marketing
systems for maize must provide sufficient incentives to the
farmers for intensifying production.
Maize an
Alternate Source of Food Security:
The alarming
population growth rate in Pakistan has evidently pronounced the
food security problem. Comparing the total increase in human
population (3%) in the last two decades and pilferation of grain
across the border has not only nullified the increased cereal
production but also have urged the nation to import substantial
and generally expanding quantities of wheat to supliment the
domestic supplies, usually targeted toward urban consumers by
spending billions of dollars of precious foreign exchange.
Thus, if the people
of this country are to enjoy diets without spending hard
currency or credits for food grain specially wheat imports it
appears that increased domestic production/utilization of
additional cereal in the only solution on term basis.
Because maize has
usually played only a minor role in the traditional diet, the
public sector/feed industry has spent little resources to
explore the possibilities of its use as alternate food source.
In some area of the world t/ha maize has become a convenience
food for urban consumers. In Costa Rica which had been primarily
a wheat consuming country a modern factory producing 1.4 million
maize bread (fortified with soybean flour) per day and markets,
equivalent amount of maize flour for tortillas making operations
suggest that maize breed can replace or supplement wheat bread
used in the urban diet.
The early studies at
CIMMYT Cereal Quality labs have proved the possibilities to make
quite acceptable food products from the stand-point of the
consumer, by blending upto 25% of maize flour with wheat flour
to produce a wide range of products including leavened bread. A
smiler study in Indonesian and a more recent by National
Agricultural Research Centre. Pakistan has proved that there has
been absolutely no visible difference in taste, texture &
color when wheat flour is blended with 5% maize flour. The
nutritive analysis of the wheat flour compared to blended flour
is given below:
_____________ Protein
Ash
Fat
Crude Fibre
Wheat flour
13.14
1.77
1.0
2.88
Blended
with 5% 13.0
1.80
1.2
2.68
maize
flour
The
addition of maize flour was acceptable upto 20% of maize blended
with wheat flour. The nutritional content and nutritional value
of the composite bread did not differ from that produced using
only what flour. The mixture of maize rather increased the ash
& oil content.
With
the improved transportation/communication and raised income
level, the per capita annual consumption of maize in the country
is decreasing by 0.6 kg/capita while the use of wheat as staple
food is increasing specially in the for flung hilly areas. This
trend in consumption and growing population rate might confront
the country with serious food shortage.
The
alternate use of maize as blended with wheat flour will not only
provide a self dependence in food problems but will also reduce
the wheat imports by about 0.5-10 million tones hence saving
million of dollars of scarce foreign exchange.
Source:
Pakistan
Agriculture Research Council