Maize: Boosting Sindh's Agricultural Economy

Maize or corn cultivation in Sindh province of Pakistan remains a critical component of the province’s agricultural landscape, yet it struggles to gain prominence amidst other dominant crops. This article delves into the status, challenges, and potential of maize farming in Sindh, highlighting the key issues that farmers face and the opportunities that lie ahead.

In Sindh, maize is primarily grown during the Rabi and Kharif seasons, where it is mostly cultivated for fodder to livestock. However, it occupies a significantly smaller area compared to wheat. In lower Sindh, maize cultivation covers only about one-third of the area allocated to wheat, and in upper Sindh, this figure rises to about half. During the Kharif season, maize struggles to compete for space within a highly competitive multi-cropping system. In terms of area allocation, maize ranks fourth after chilies, onions, and cotton in lower Sindh.

The reliance on hybrid maize seeds supplied by multinational seed companies is overwhelmingly high in Sindh. In lower Sindh, 97% of hybrid maize growers purchase seeds directly from these companies, while in upper Sindh, this figure stands at 78%. Despite this dependence, the availability of seeds remains a significant issue. Farmers cite limited seed information, high prices, and availability challenges as major barriers to adopting hybrid seeds.

Available literature highlights that the role of local seed companies, NGOs, and government research institutions in seed provision is negligible. Farmers express mixed satisfaction levels with the quality of seeds and the market. Nevertheless, a significant majority of farmers are willing to pay premium prices for hybrid seeds due to their higher yield potential.

Literature further highlights that the farmers in Sindh cultivate both hybrid and conventional varieties of maize. Hybrid maize is primarily grown for its higher grain yield, while conventional varieties are favored for fodder due to their cost-effectiveness. Hybrid maize growers in Sindh achieve yields, with grain production averaging 107 maunds per acre (ranging from 90 to110 mounds per acre), and fodder production average of 320 mounds per acre (ranging from 250 to 400 maunds per acre). This yield disparity may be attributed to better climatic conditions and a more consistent water supply. Farmers growing maize for fodder typically sell their standing crops directly to contractors or dairy owners, who handle harvesting and transport. During visits to a few maize fields in Sindh, it came to know that despite some logistical challenges, a vast majority of farmers report no significant difficulties in marketing their maize produce. On the other hand, the farmers were aware about other product of maize, like maize flour, oil, popcorn, etc. that’s why they were unable to fetch handsome revenue.

After expert opinion survey, it came to know that Maize is being cultivated in Sindh is predominantly for commercial purposes, with little portion is being used for home consumption. Farmers in both lower and upper Sindh prefer to sell their produce immediately after harvest, often at the farm gate. Prices for maize grain range from PKR 3,000 to 3,500 per 40 kilograms, while maize‑fodder fetch PKR 300 to 400. Due to unawareness about maize value chain, they could not sell value added products of maize.

Pest infestations, particularly by stem borers and caterpillars, pose a significant threat to maize productivity in Sindh. Both the farmers and experts have reported the common issue of stem borers, and caterpillar attacks on standing crops. While literature highlights that weed such as Bathoo, broadleaf weeds, and Deela limit the productivity, while competing with the crop.

A baselines study report (survey conducted by AIP for Pakistan during 2015) revealed that hybrid maize cultivation generates higher per-acre revenues and profits in upper Sindh compared to lower Sindh. In upper Sindh, hybrid maize growers earn approximately PKR 117,435 per acre, compared to PKR 49,500 for conventional maize growers. However, conventional maize grown for fodder yields higher net profits than hybrid maize cultivated for grain.

Recommendations for Enhancing Maize Productivity

To address the challenges and unlock the potential of maize cultivation in Sindh, several interventions are recommended:

1. Enhanced Seed Availability and Information:

- Strengthen the role of local seed companies and government agencies in quality seed production and distribution.

- Provide comprehensive information on hybrid seeds to farmers.

2. Introduction of Climate-Resilient Varieties:

- Promote drought-resistant maize varieties due to irrigation water shortage.

- Introduce low-input responsive varieties.

3. Improved Pest and Weed Management:

- Develop pest-resistant hybrid maize varieties to reduce input costs.

- Encourage the adoption of integrated pest management practices.

4. Targeted Support for Farmers:

- Provide complete production technology packages, including fertilizers, fungicides, and irrigation support.

- Facilitate access to affordable credit for small and medium-scale farmers (only for maize farmers).

5. Market Development:

- Inflate markets of corn flour, corn oil, and popcorn.

- Expand market linkages with the poultry and livestock industries for animal nutrition.

- Promote all possible maize value chain.

- Promote maize-based silage production to cater to the growing demand from urban dairies.

6. Awareness and Training Programs:

- Educate farmers on conservation agricultural practices to enhance soil fertility and sustainability.

- Offer specialized training on cultivating maize for specific purposes, such as grain or fodder.

- Awareness campaigns regarding the importance of maize products like corn flour, corn oil, popcorn, and maize silage.

Conclusion

Maize can hold a significant potential as a versatile crop in Sindh’s agricultural economy. With strategic interventions and targeted support, it can emerge as a more competitive alternative to traditional crops. By addressing the key challenges—from seed availability, pest management, to value chain—and fostering a supportive market ecosystem, Sindh can significantly enhance maize productivity and profitability. Thus, it will not only be benefiting the farmers, but it will be penetrating the national and international markets to strengthen Pakistan’s economy.

Please note that the views expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any organization.

Habibullah Magsi is Professor and Chairman Department of Agricultural Economics at Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam, Pakistan.

Related Stories