Since the introduction (1975) of spring maize cultivation in Pakistan there has been gradual increase/shift in planting maize during spring season in the irrigated low land areas of Punjab. The adoption/cultivation of spring maize has specially increased since the active involvement of multinationals in Pakistan. To day the spring maize accounts for 12-15% of the total area planted during kharif and almost 30-35% of the total annual production. An annual increase of 20-25% in maize area during spring has been observed which in mainly because of very good yield levels (6-7 tonnes/ha).
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 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:
Present use of maize grain for poultry feed production
per annum.= 0.450 million tonnes
Possible demand for maize grain (if use of wheat
and rice banned) = 0.8-1.0 million tonnes.
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 flou | 13.14 |
1.77 |
1.0 |
2.88 |
| Blended with 5% maize flour | 13.0 |
1.80 |
1.2 |
2.68 |
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.