Create a neutral-incentive structure for all crops: Economist

Government should create a neutral-incentive structure for all crops, including maize, to give a boost to their production, a top agriculture economist said today.
Chair Professor for Agriculture at ICRIER, Ashok Gulati emphasised that for sustainable growth of maize, it is essential to vigorously propagate the crop as animal feed and enlarge the export basket.
Gulati, a former chairperson of Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices (CACP) was speaking at 'India Maize Summit 2014' organised by FICCI in association with NCDEX.
"There is need for policies which are based on neutral-incentive structure for all crops and not in favour of any specific crop," Gulati said.

He added that the government policies should support scaling up production of quality protein maize (QPM).
"...Domestic prices also play a critical role in determining demand. If the domestic price is higher than those prevailing globally, the demand of maize for export will decrease resulting in lower production," he added.

Speaking at the conference NCDEX MD & CEO Samir Shah said: "Price signals from NCDEX maize futures have ensured that benefits from increased consumer and industrial demand are translated into fair returns for small farmers."
Shah added that NCDEX is looking forward to closely working with the maize, starch and poultry industries to create a platform for collaboration and integration.

Experts at the conference advocated raising maize production in the country as higher availability of maize will give boost to the fast-growing poultry and livestock sector.