Maize Production in Telangana, India: What’s Holding Back Productivity?

Abstract

The study aims to identify the production constraints faced by farmers in maize cultivation in Kamareddy and Warangal districts of Telangana state during 2024. A sample of 120 farmers was selected by using a multistage random sampling method. The Garret ranking results revealed that the fall army worm infestation was the prominent constraint with a mean score of 70.97, followed by high cost of seed, and crop damage by wild boars in maize cultivation. Loss of produce due to mechanical harvesting, and watch and ward to protect the crop from birds were ranked fourth and fifth in the Warangal district and overall,  whereas in the Kamareddy district, watch and ward to protect the crop from birds was ranked  fourth. High cost of agrochemicals, lack of technical knowledge on pesticide spraying, and non-availability of farm yard manure have been found to be the limitations in maize cultivation in the study area. The study recommends strengthening extension services to promote Integrated Pest Management adoption for fall armyworm control and emphasizes the need for research and development to improve harvesting equipment compatibility with maize to reduce post-harvest losses.