Abstract

This study was aimed at investigating trends, instability, and regional variations of maize production in major producing states of India. Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), Cuddy Della Valley Index (CDVI), and decomposition analysis were used to examine the data ranging from 1980 to 1981 and 2011 to 2012. The study revealed that area under maize in India has increased from 5.89 to 9.19 Mha and production has increased from 6.49 to 21 Mt between the period TE 1981 to 1982 and TE 2011 to 2012. Such increase in production of maize has been possible mainly due to increase in yield from 1,100 to 2,279 kg/ha. For all India, area has expanded at 1.88% per annum between 1982 to 1983 and 2011 to 2012, while yield increased at a rate of 2.28% per annum during the same period. As a result, production of maize has risen by 4.2% per annum. The area expansion of maize was the highest in Maharashtra (9.19%) followed by Karnataka (7.98%). Production increase of maize was also the highest in Maharashtra (12.24%), which is followed by Karnataka (8.48%) and Andhra Pradesh (8.68%). The growth of yield in Andhra Pradesh was the highest (3.99%) followed by Maharashtra (2.80%). The study witnessed that maize is in the winning ground in India at country level more specifically in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar*, Gujarat, MP*, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh* as increase in yield coupled with decline in instability. The decline in instability and increase in yield in these states might be due to the adoption of modern varieties of maize as also evidenced from the decomposition analysis where yield effect was observed to be the major driver of growth in maize production. More over the expansion of maize in the high potential areas might also bring about increase in yield in the country.

Key words: Maize, growth, instability, decomposition, area effect, yield effect.