07.05.2008 | permalink
Under the quality protein maize (QPM) programme, there are atleast 10 varieties of maize available in the country. Protein content in QPM is about 74% while it is only 37% in normal maize. Interestingly, protein quality of QPM is 90% of that of milk, they said. “These hybrid seeds have increased maize yields from 16 quintal per hectare to 24 quintal per hectare resulting bumper production of 18.51 million tonne in 2007-08. Hybrid maize can create a bigger revolution than bt cotton has done so far in the country,” director general, Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) Mangala Rai told PTI.