India:
Scientists Predict Record Output Of Maize, Wheat Crop This Year

ASHOK B SHARMA / The Financial Express (New Delhi) 25jan04

NEW DELHI—Indian agriculture scientists have estimated record production of maize and wheat in the current year. India is poised to be the top wheat producer in the world within the coming years, they said.

Scientists have achieved a breakthrough in reducing the oxalyl di-amino propionic (ODAP) acid in kesari pulse (dal). Excess presence of ODAP causes lathirus.

The director of Indian Agriculture Research institute (IARI), Dr S Nagarajan said, “in the current year, maize output is likely to touch a record level of 15 million tonne and in the rabi (winter) season wheat output will also be a bumper at 76-78 million tonne. The area coverage under wheat has increased by 1.5 million hectare. Prospects for mustard and other rabi crops are also bright.”

He said that the prevailing cold weather has been beneficial to the standing wheat crop. There has been a good presence of soil moisture after the monsoon season and there has been intermittent rains over central India. All these factors are likely to contribute towards a bumper rabi crop.

The former director-general of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Dr RS Paroda said, “India is now poised to be the top wheat producer in the world, by overtaking China which is now the number one wheat producer. India has already excelled US in wheat production and is now ranked second. As the area under wheat crop in China and US are not likely to expand, India can become the topmost wheat producer with its expanding area under the crop.”

Distinguished maize scientist Dr Surinder K Vasal said that single crop hybrid quality protien maize (QPM) namely ‘Shaktiman 1’ and ‘Shaktiman 2’ has been released for commercial cultivation in the country.

source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=51252 26jan04