The tribal farmers of Bastar region have shown interest in growing maize as a crop. In the last three years, the area of cultivation from 13,000 hectares has increased to 1.26 lakh hectares. It is an increase of almost 11 times.
The Chhattisgarh government had announced support price for maize and increased the number of procurement centres. A maize processing centre is coming up in Kondagaon district.
Growing maize was promoted during the Rabi season (summer crop). The area of production has in the last three years increased to 1.26 lakh hectares from 13,000 hectares, an official communication said on Saturday.
It states that against a target of sowing maize in 1.46 lakh hectares in the Rabi year 2021-22, till the end of March sowing has been completed in more than 1.26 lakh hectares.
In Bastar division, the area under cultivation has increased by more than eight times. In 2017-18, maize was sown in 10,000 hectares. This has increased to 78,000 hectares in the current season.
In Kondagaon district, maize has been sown in 45,750 hectares and in Kanker in 21,690 hectares. The other districts are Gariyaband, Balod, Bemetara, Durg, Rajnandgaon and Kabirdham districts where maize has been sown on 8,000 hectares on average.
