Maize

Maize is a dual-purpose crop — it serves both as a food grain for humans and as fodder for livestock. It is grown in semi-arid climatic conditions and can be raised on inferior soils where other crops might not do well.

Despite its adaptability, maize occupies only about 3.6 per cent of the total cropped area in India. This is a relatively small share, indicating that it is not a dominant crop in terms of area coverage.

One notable feature of maize cultivation is that it is not concentrated in any specific region. Unlike rice or wheat, which have clear heartlands, maize is sown all over India. The only exceptions are Punjab and the eastern and north-eastern regions, where it is not grown.

The leading producers of maize are Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. These states together account for the bulk of India's maize output. …