Table of Contents
Introduction
Maize is a vital crop globally and holds immense significance in both food and industrial applications. Originally domesticated in Central America, maize has now become one of the most widely cultivated crops worldwide. In India, it serves as a staple food, livestock feed, and a key raw material for industries such as biofuel, starch, and poultry feed.
While different types of maize are grown worldwide for various purposes, India cultivates several varieties adapted to diverse climatic conditions.
Now, letās explore in detail the Top 10 maize-producing states in India for 2021-22.

Top 10 Maize-Producing States in India
- Karnataka
- Madhya Pradesh
- Maharashtra
- Tamil Nadu
- Bihar
- West Bengal
- Telangana
- Rajasthan
- Andhra Pradesh
- Uttar Pradesh

Karnataka

Karnataka ranks first in maize production in India in 2021-22, with a total production of 5,220.70 kilotonnes. Maize was cultivated in a total area of around 15,924 km² in the state. The major maize-producing regions in Karnataka are Belagavi, Bagalkote, Haveri, Bellary, Chitradurga, and Davangere.
Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh ranks second in maize production in 2021-22, with a total output of 4,607.40 kilotonnes. Maize was cultivated across 14,000 km² in the state. The major maize-producing regions in Madhya Pradesh are Chhindwara, Seoni, Betul, Barwani, and Dhar.
Maharashtra

Maharashtra ranks third in maize production in 2021-22, with a total production of 3,584.78 kilotonnes. The crop was cultivated over 12,510.3 km² in the state. The major maize-producing regions in Maharashtra include Jalgaon, Pune, Nashik, Buldana, Sangli, Jalna, Dhule, and Nandurbar.
Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu ranks fourth in maize production in 2021-22, with a total production of 2,826.94 kilotonnes. Maize was grown across 4,000.8 km² in the state. The major maize-producing regions in Tamil Nadu include Salem, Dindigul, Erode, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, and Namakkal.
Bihar

Bihar ranks fifth in maize production in 2021-22, with a total output of 2,668.59 kilotonnes. The crop was cultivated over 6,628.5 km² in the state. The major maize-producing regions in Bihar include Begusarai, Khagaria, East Champaran, and Bhagalpur.

West Bengal

West Bengal ranks sixth in maize production in 2021-22, with a total output of 2,525.44 kilotonnes. Maize was cultivated over 3,613.4 km² in the state. The major maize-producing regions in West Bengal are Murshidabad and Nadia.
Telangana

Telangana ranks seventh in maize production in 2021-22, with a total production of 2,226.48 kilotonnes. The crop was cultivated across 4,121 km² in the state. The major maize-producing regions in Telangana include Warangal, Khammam, Nirmal, and Siddipet.
Rajasthan

Rajasthan ranks eighth in maize production in 2021-22, with a total output of 2,044.87 kilotonnes. Maize was cultivated over 9,517.3 km² in the state. The major maize-producing regions in Rajasthan include Dungarpur, Chittorgarh, Bhilwara, and Rajsamand.
Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh ranks ninth in maize production in 2021-22, with a total production of 1,899.26 kilotonnes. The crop was grown across 3,420 km² in the state. The major maize-producing regions in Andhra Pradesh include Guntur, West Godavari, Srikakulam, and Vizianagaram.
Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh ranks tenth in maize production in 2021-22, with a total output of 1,620.99 kilotonnes. Maize was cultivated over 7,470 km² in the state. The major maize-producing regions in Uttar Pradesh include Prayagraj, Mathura, Azamgarh, and Basti.

Top 10 States Based on Maize Farming Productivity
- Tamil Nadu
- West Bengal
- Andhra Pradesh
- Telangana
- Delhi
- Bihar
- Assam
- Punjab
- Madhya Pradesh
- Karnataka
Fun Facts About Maize
- The first ancient farmers to cultivate maize were the native people of present-day Mexico about 10,000 years ago.
- Maize is a starchy cereal crop primarily grown for grain, which can be milled into flour or used for animal feed and industrial applications.
- Maize kernels come in various colors, including yellow, red, blue, purple, black, and multicolored varieties, depending on the cultivar.
- The tallest corn plant was 14.6 meters, recorded in Costa Rica in 2021.
- Maize cobs always have an even number of rows, typically ranging between 8 and 24 rows per cob, due to their genetic arrangement.
- Maize is widely used in non-food applications, including biofuel, biodegradable plastics, adhesives, textiles, cosmetics, paints, and explosives.
Common FAQs
Q. Which state is the largest producer of maize in India in 2021-22?
A. Karnataka is the largest producer of maize in India in 2021-22.
Q. Which state ranks second in maize production in India in 2021-22?
A. Madhya Pradesh ranks second in maize production in India in 2021-22.
Q. What are the top five maize-producing states in India in 2021-22?
A. The top five maize-producing states in India in 2021-22 are Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar.
Q. Which state has the largest area under maize cultivation in India in 2021-22?
A. Karnataka has the largest area under maize cultivation in India in 2021-22.
Q. What is the total area under maize cultivation in India in 2021-22?
A. The total area under maize cultivation in India in 2021-22 is 99,579.5 km².
Q. Which state has the highest maize productivity in India in 2021-22?
A. Tamil Nadu has the highest maize productivity in India in 2021-22.
Q. What is the scientific name of maize?
A. The scientific name of maize is Zea mays.
Q. To which botanical family does maize belong?
A. Maize belongs to the Poaceae family.
Q. What are the common Indian names for maize?
A. Makkai, Makka Cholam, and Bhutta, Mokkajonna are a few other Indian names of Maize.Ā
