Boost kharif maize cultivation for industrial biofuel needs

Updated: 10/3/2026
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Last Updated: 3 October 2026

2026-27: After the 2025 pilot, the Kharif maize scheme expanded from 6 to 16 districts, with ₹17,500 per hectare incentive for shifting from paddy[1]

Kharif 2025 result: Maize area rose 16.27% to 1 lakh hectares (from 86,000 ha in 2024)[2]

18 Ethanol plants in Punjab have a huge demand of an annual 35 lakh tonnes for maize[3]
-- Punjab’s average maize production is 5 lakh tonnes only

New HIGH yield maize hybrid variety PMH 17 introduced[4]
-- An average yield of 25 quintals per acre, with high starch content
-- Maturity period of only 96 days, aimed at conserving groundwater

Earlier 30% Lower Yield at average 15 quintals per acre against the potential average of 24 quintals due to lack of Quality Seeds[3:1]

2025 Result: Pilot shifted 11,000+ acres from paddy to Kharif maize in 6 districts (Sangrur, Bathinda, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala & Pathankot)[5]

Target 2025-26:
-- 3 Lakh acres for Maize[6]
-- 21,000 hectares to be diversified from paddy to Kharif maize[7]

Promotion:
-- Subsidy of Rs 17,500 per hectare for switching to Kharif maize cultivation, which will benefit ~30,000 farmers in Budget 2025-26[7:1]
-- 200 Kisan Mitra hired to encourage farmers to shift to maize[6:1]

Promotion Policies 2024-25

  • Quality Seeds for Better Yield: Rs.100 per kg subsidy provided on purchase of certified hybrid maize seeds[8]
  • Under maize demonstrations, a total area of 3500 hectares receive financial support of Rs. 6000/- per hectare[8:1]
  • Maize is being specifically encouraged in a 45-50-km radius of the distilleries for convenient transportation[3:2]

Maize vs Paddy[3:3]

  • Kharif maize is the best alternative to paddy as the former requires 4-5 irrigation cycles, a fraction of the water requirement to grow rice
  • Organic waste of maize is digested easily by the soil effortlessly
  • 100 kg maize produces 35-42 litres of Bio-ethanol, which is blended with petrol[9]

Spring Maize[3:4]

  • Spring maize cultivated in February-March is being discouraged, which requires large amounts of water during May-June when the days are long, hot, and dry
    • Spring maize successfully decreased from 66,817 hectares in 2023 to 44,834 hectares in 2024[10]

Area under Cultivation[11]

Year Area under maize in Punjab (in lakh ha.)
2024-25[8:2] 0.98
2023-24[8:3] 0.94
2022-23 1.06
2021-22 1.05
2020-21 1.09
2019-20 1.07
2018-19 1.09
2017-18 1.15
2016-17 1.16
2015-16 1.27
2014-15 1.26

REFERENCES:

  1. https://yespunjab.com/mann-govt-expands-kharif-maize-project-to-16-districts-offers-₹17500-per-hectare-subsidy-to-wean-farmers-away-from-paddy-khuddian/ (Punjab Govt Press Release, 3 May 2026) ↩︎

  2. https://www.babushahi.com/full-news.php?id=209071 (Punjab Govt Press Release, 14 Aug 2025) ↩︎

  3. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/punjab-agri-dept-to-boost-kharif-maize-cultivation-for-biofuel-needs-101708283428717.html ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  4. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/punjab-farmers-to-benefit-from-water-efficient-maize-hybrid-pmh-17-says-khudian-101741635731894.html ↩︎

  5. https://www.rozanaspokesman.com/news/punjab/190326/the-2025-agricultural-milestone-punjab-marks-2025-with-historic-crop.html ↩︎

  6. https://yespunjab.com/punjab-to-appoint-200-kisan-mitras-to-boost-kharif-maize-khuddian/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  7. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/rs-14524-crore-allocated-for-agriculture-with-focus-on-diversification-stubble-management/articleshow/119553200.cms ↩︎ ↩︎

  8. https://www.babushahi.com/full-news.php?id=196857 ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  9. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/ludhiana/sowing-maize-as-paddy-replacement/ ↩︎

  10. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/area-under-summer-maize-dips-by-32-in-2024-pau-experts-101744746431545.html ↩︎

  11. https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-economics/punjab-maize-area-plateau-8700210/ ↩︎

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