Maize crop can help meet domestic nutrition requirements and reduce the import bill of various food items, said Dr Ishtiaq Hussain, Additional Director General of Training & Adoptive Research in Punjab.

Speaking at a meeting of agricultural scientists during the review of “Maize Production Project 2022-23” at Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI), Dr Ishtiaq said that Pakistan is experiencing a mushroom population growth which has increased nutrition needs manifold and also created food security issues. Increasing maize cultivation is crucial because it can play a major role in overcoming food security and nutrition issues, he added.

Dr Ishtiaq said that a number of maize factories work in Faisalabad, Lahore, Gujranwala, Multan, Sahiwal, Rahim Yar Khan and Rawalpindi where a large number of products are prepared from maize crop only. Pakistan can also earn foreign exchange through the export of maize products by introducing modern technology for its value addition, he observed.

Maize is ranked as the third most important food crop after wheat and rice in Pakistan, he said. Its production not only meets the food requirements of human beings but also fulfils the feed demand of the poultry sector, he added.

Principal Scientist of Maize Research Station, AARI, Ahsan Raza said that the maize crop can be cultivated twice a year. He said that its Bahariya crop can be sown from January to February whereas the suitable time for its Kharif cultivation is from July to August. Farmers should use seeds of hybrid varieties to get maximum production, he added.

After thorough discussion and some amendments, the meeting approved the Maize Production Project 2022-23.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk