ARTICALES 2

India, until now, has remained firm on restricting entry of GM crops into the country’s food chain. However, with US President Donald Trump’s push for greater market access for farm products, India could look into allowing GM soya and corn for industrial purposes only—a likely loophole in the country’s policy of a strong ban on GM crops in the food chain.

India’s maize output has grown steadily from 10 million tonnes in the early 1900s to 42.3 million tonnes today. To accelerate this growth, Chouhan urged states like Punjab and Haryana, which are traditionally focused on paddy, to diversify into maize cultivation. He also noted that maize prices, which had previously fallen below the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs. 2,400 per quintal, have started rising due to the government’s ethanol blending target of 20 percent by 2025–26.

14 July 2025, New Delhi: The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Pusa, has issued a warning to maize-growing farmers across India about a rising infestation of the Fall Armyworm (FAW), a destructive pest known to cause significant damage to maize crops. According to IARI experts, early signs such as wilting plants and holes in the leaves indicate the presence of this invasive pest, which can rapidly spread and devastate entire fields if not managed promptly.