Beyond Bushels and Borders: India’s Maize Journey of Faith and Freedom

Dr. Mamtamayi Priyadarshini
Environmentalist, State Chairperson of Indian Industries Association, Delhi, Social Worker and Author of Maize Mandate

Recently, Mr. Ram Kaundinya, in his article “Building a Resilient Maize Economy” (The Pioneer, 22 October 2025), quoted the U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Mr Lutnick said that India, a country of 1.4 billion people, does not buy even a bushel of corn from the U.S. At first glance, this comment may sound like a harmless trade observation. But in reality, it overlooks the very heart and spirit of India’s farming system. Our maize story is not about imports; it is not about what we purchase from other countries. It is about self-reliance, small farmers, and the steady progress in maize cultivation achieved through our own efforts. It is also about protecting what we have built, our country’s non-GM identity and a strong reputation among European countries from the risks that cheap, genetically modified (GM) maize imports could bring.

India remains predominantly an agrarian economy where more than 45% Indian population still depends on agriculture for a living. Most of them are small farmers who work hard on limited land and depend on seasonal crops like maize for their income. In the last decade, maize cultivation in India has grown impressively. Today, we produce over 40 million tonnes across 10 million hectares of land. Our average yield is around 3.5 tonnes per hectare, and the government aims to almost double it to 6 tonnes per hectare. The government, private sector and farming community are collaborating to boost productivity via single-cross hybrids, improved seed systems, irrigation, soil health management, nutrient balance and mechanised harvest. Together, these efforts have helped maize farmers improve productivity and strengthening farmer incomes. Currently, India is self-sufficient in maize production. Imports are discretionary which is often driven by industrial or feed-stock exigencies rather than staple shortfalls. As such, cheap bulk imports, especially of GM origin, may accidentally destabilise domestic markets and hurt smallholder interests.

Why are GM corn exporters persuading India to import maize? There may be a reason that global maize markets are shifting. China, once a massive buyer of U.S. corn, has significantly reduced its purchases from these countries. As a result, international GM exporters are seeking alternative large markets, with India identified as a high-potential target. However, India is a country deeply committed to welfare of its farmers. So it is strongly resisting the wholesale opening of its maize market to GM maize imports. A recent analysis notes: “India is unlikely to agree to U.S. demands to accept genetically modified (GM) corn.” (The Indian Express.). The reasons are many, including rising farmer incomes, food and feed security, protection of smallholders, price stability, stringent regulations on GM crops etc. Indeed, trade discussions show that India is exploring the possibility of importing non-GM corn from the U.S. rather than GM varieties. Such an insistence reflects both farmer and environmentalist sentiments and policy caution. India’s biotech regulatory environment remains cautious: while the cultivation of only one GM food crop is permitted, no commercial planting of GM maize for food or feed has been approved. Looking at another dimension, India imposes high tariffs on maize imports (a 15% duty up to a certain threshold, and higher beyond) and prohibits large-scale GM maize imports. If foreign policymakers view India’s “lack of corn imports” as a trade anomaly, they fail to understand the structural realities of India’s agriculture. They overlook our country’s mission to protect millions of small farmers, its emphasis on self-sufficiency and the price sensitivity of key crops to cheaper imports.

If India were to relax its safeguards and allow large volumes of cheap GM maize imports, several risks would emerge. Maize has become an attractive crop for many farmers, replacing less profitable crops. In parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and other states, maize area has risen sharply as farmers responded to higher returns. If cheap imported maize floods the market, local prices could fall, directly impacting farmers who recently invested in maize. Domestic price resilience matters. With the government pushing for higher maize productivity, encouraging domestically-grown maize is vital. Imports risk creating a disincentive for farmers to invest in improved practices and seeds if market signals are distorted by cheaper external supply. A study found that in India, more than 15% of tested maize food products contained GM maize, despite GM maize not being legally permitted for food. (Down To Earth). India has a strong non-GM segment catering to premium markets domestically and internationally. The flooding of cheap GM maize undermines the ability to maintain this segmentation, affecting value-chain diversification, branding, and export competitiveness. Agriculture remains a key pillar of India’s socio-economic landscape. Reliance on imported maize, especially if GM, weakens the link between policy and smallholder farmers. The government’s role in protecting farmer incomes and domestic security would be challenged if import liberalisation is driven by external trade pressure rather than domestic welfare.

From the viewpoint of non-GM advocacy, India is in a strong position to champion a maize economy grounded in non-GM, farmer-centric, productivity-driven, and resilient principles. Improved non-GM hybrids, mechanisation, soil health, balanced fertilisation, water-use efficiency and better agronomy can drive productivity to meet the 6 t/ha target without resorting to GM. This approach improves yield, stabilises incomes, and maintains farmer agency. With exports and import volumes volatile and global supply chains under stress, a non-GM domestic supply chain offers resilience. Non-GM maize carries premium value in global markets such as Europe and the Middle East, where consumer awareness of GM is high. By investing in non-GM pathways, India can aim at higher value-chains rather than competing purely on volume with global GM maize exporters. Since India does not yet have widespread commercial GM food crops, imports of GM maize raise regulatory, traceability, consumer trust, and biosafety concerns. A non-GM maize strategy reinforces national self-reliance in food and feed crops, shields smallholder farmers from external price shocks, keeps value-chains domestic, and protects against trade-driven erosion of farmer interests.

To consolidate India’s maize sector around a resilient non-GM pathway, several policy and implementation imperatives emerge. Investment is needed to develop, deploy, and scale locally adapted non-GM single-cross hybrids that meet the 6 t/ha target. This includes public sector support, extension services, seed certification, and farmer incentives. Smallholders need access to mechanisation (planting, harvesting, shelling), integrated pest management, and improved irrigation. Governments must partner with the private sector and banks to make financing, rental services, and training accessible. While imports may play a role (especially for feed or industrial use), they should not undermine domestic producer incentives. Tariffs, import quotas, GM-status certifications, and non-GM procurement preferences should be used to protect core farmer interests. The government should develop robust protocols for non-GM maize cultivation, storage, transport, processing, and offtake. Non-GM identity preservation enables premium marketing domestically and for export. It also enhances consumer trust and regulatory clarity. Given the large share of small farmers, extension, credit, training, and market linkages are essential. Non-GM cropping systems must be farmer-friendly and inclusive, ensuring smallholders benefit from productivity gains. Non-GM maize should be communicated as a choice aligned with farmer welfare, food system resilience, and value-chain upgrading. With global consumer demand for non-GM food growing, India can leverage this opportunity.

To conclude, the maize sector in India stands at an important inflection point. With rising demand, shifting global supply chains, and trade pressures, the choices made today will define the trajectory of farmer incomes, domestic value-chains, and the country’s non-GM credentials. The call by international exporters to open the Indian maize market is understandable from their perspective, but India must respond from its own farming and food system vantage point. The 1.4 billion people of India deserve more than simply being buyers of bulk maize; they deserve a resilient, farmer-empowered maize economy. For non-GM advocacy, this is a moment of opportunity. India can show that it is possible to build a high-productivity maize sector with non-GM seed, strong agronomy, inclusive smallholder participation, and domestic value-chain development. In short: India should not import “just a bushel” to satisfy trade optics. Instead, it should scale domestic maize production, deepen non-GM pathways, protect smallholder livelihoods, and chart a course for a resilient maize economy, one where farmers prosper, value is added within the country, and food and feed systems remain under national control. In doing so, India will not only support its 10 million+ hectares of maize farmers but also set a global example of how a major agrarian nation can pursue productivity, sustainability, and non-GM integrity all at once.

By Dr. Mamtamayi Priyadarshini
Environmentalist, Social Worker and Author of Maize Mandate