“Food, Nutritional and Livelihood security through
Single Cross Hybrid Maize production in NER: an
experience of convergence” ‘To the hungry, God is bread; the God of bread should prevail in every home and hut of the country’. - Mahatma Gandhi (Naokhali in 1946) Introduction: Food security means “access by all people at all time to enough food for an active and healthy life” (World Bank, 1986). It entails both the availability of food and ability of all members of the society to have access to adequate amounts of food. But only adequate amount of food is not sufficient unless it does not assure the supply of all the essential nutrients in required quantity. The availability of balance food assures nutritional security. Whereas livelihood security refers to adequate and substantial access to income and resources to meet the basic needs. The basic needs include adequate access to food, potable drinking water, health facilities, educational opportunities, housing and time for community participation and social integration. Food security is directly related to livelihood security of a household as household income increases the percentage of income on food expense decreases (Engel’s law). Agriculture sector in north eastern region (NER) provides livelihood to almost 84% population but it accounts for only 30% of Net State Domestic Product (NSDP). Contribution of this region to national food grain production is hardly 1.5%, which is insufficient to sustain 3.8 percent of country’s population. Though agriculture in NER grew at a much higher rate (3.8 per cent) than the average for the country (0.6 per cent) between 1993-94 and 2002-03 but still the region has to import food grains for its consumption. The meat production per head (1.3 kg) is higher than the national average (0.93 kg) but still region imports meat and other animal products as the people of this region is non vegetarian in their food habit. Production of fish is also lower (5.9 kg) than national average (6.2 kg). The low production coupled with high demand for fish results again on dependency on imports. Cultivation of the maize holds the promise to solve the problem of poor nutritional status and dependency on imports as the climatic condition of the NER favours its cultivation, but average productivity of the region (1236 kg/ha) is for low than the national average (2435 kg/ha). The farmers are cultivating local cultivars. An on farm trial (OFT) was conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Phek in 2008 to test the performance of single cross hybrid maize varieties, HPQM-1 and Shaktiman-3. Both the varieties have performed exceptionally well, the yield recorded was 4930 kg/ha and 4589 kg/ha respectively for HPQM-1 and Shaktiman-3 as against to local check (3198 kg/ha). The results obtained clearly demonstrate the potential of the crop. Population Growth, Density and Per Capita Income of the NER: The north eastern region is comprised of eight states located in India’s north-east cover an area of 2,62,179 sq. km. constituting 7.9 per cent of the country’s total geographical area, but have only 39 million people or about 3.8 per cent of the total population of the country (2001 census). The density of population varies from 13 per sq. km. in Arunachal Pradesh to 340 per sq. km. in Assam. Table1: Population growth and density in North Eastern states Population Decadal Growth(%) Density* Urban (lakh) Population(%) States 1981 1991 2001 1981-91 1991-01 2001 2001 Arunachal 6.3 8.6 11.0 36.8 28.0 13 20.4 Pradesh Assam 180.4 224.1 266.6 24.2 18.9 340 12.8 Manipur 14.2 18.4 22.9 29.3 24.9 108 23.9 Meghalaya 13.4 18.8 23.2 32.9 30.8 103 19.6 Mizoram 4.9 6.9 8.9 39.8 28.8 42 49.5 Nagaland 8.8 12.1 19.9 56.1 64.5 120 18.8 Sikkim 3.2 4.1 5.4 28.5 33.1 86 11.1 Tripura 20.5 28.6 32.0 34.3 16.0 304 18.0 India 6,833.3 8,464.2 10,288.4 23.9 21.5 324 28.8 Source: Office of the Registrar General of India, Ministry of Home Affairs. Note: *Population density is measured in number of people per square kilometer Over 84 per cent of the population lives in the countryside. The region is identified as one of the world's biodiversity hotspots; it hosts species-rich tropical rain forests and supports diverse flora and fauna and several crop species. The forest cover in the region constitutes 52 per cent of its total geographical area. Thus, a large part of the area of the region is used to providing global public goods, which limits the availability of arable land and enhances the cost of delivering public services to the sparse population. Per capita income of the region as per estimate for 2007-08 is Rs. 25321 i.e. about 76 per cent of the national average per capita income (Rs. 33,283). Why Maize: Maize is the third important crop of the country after wheat and rice and second important crop of the NER after rice. Currently it occupies 0.2 million ha area in the region and average productivity of maize is 1236 kg/ha. Maize is basically used as livestock feed, around sixty four percent of the maize produced in the world and 72% in the developed markets is used as animal feed. Country wide its consumption as human food is 25%, rest is used as animal feed (12%), poultry feed (49%), industrial products (12%) and 1% each in brewery and seed. However in NER maize is the most prefered cereal crop under jhum cultivation and it is consummed basically as human feed (20%), poultry feed (20%,), cattle feed 8%, pig feed (50%) and seed (2%). People of the region are basically non vegetarian in their food habit and they raise all kind of livestock basically for meat, even the cattle and buffalo is also raised chiefly for meat instead of milk. Approximately 78% of the total maize production of the region is used as livestock feed but it is not sufficient to meet the requirement and region depends on imports of maize, industrial byproducts and compound feed to sustain their livestock. This clearly signifies the importance of the crop. Why Single Cross Hybrid Maize: The productivity of the maize (1236 kg/ha) in NER is far less than the national average (2435 kg/ha) and if we see the change in production pattern, productivity has not changed much in the region as the farmers are still taking the land races as evident from table 2. On other hand if we take in account at national level then, there is a significant increase in productivity of maize after adoption of Single Cross Hybrid (SCH) maize varieties i.e. after 1990. It is evident from figure 1. Table 2: Area, Production and productivity of Maize in North Eastern Region. State 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 Area Prod. Pro. Area Prod. Pro. Area Prod. Pro. Area Prod. Pro. Area Prod. Pro. Arunachal 38.6 54.5 1411 37.8 55.0 1455 41.9 57.9 1373 46.3 63.5 1363 47.7 72.0 1580 Pradesh Assam 20.0 14.0 700 19.2 13.9 724 19.0 13.7 721 18.0 14.0 778 19.8 15.6 788 Manipur 2.3 7.5 3261 3.2 8.9 2781 2.9 7.9 2724 2.9 7.9 2724 NANA NA Meghalaya 16.9 25.9 1533 16.9 24.0 1420 16.9 24.1 1426 17.0 25.0 1471 16.9 24.1 1426 Mizoram 10.5 20.3 1939 7.5 15.7 2132 11.7 20.7 1917 10.7 21.0 1942 7.3 7.2 995 Nagaland 45.1 80.3 1394 46.4 83.5 1607 51.6 92.9 1587 64.7 108.3 1655 63.4 115.3 1809 Sikkim 36.7 57.1 1556 36.7 58.2 1586 37.9 56.5 1491 37.9 56.5 1491 40.8 64.89 1588 Tripura 2.2 2.2 1000 2.8 3.0 1071 2.2 2.2 1000 2.5 2.4 960 2.7 2.6 962 Maize is a good source of carbohydrates, fats, proteins and some of the important vitamins and minerals. But normal maize has a drawback, its deficient in two essential amino acid i.e. lysine and tryptophane. This leads to poor net protein utilization and reduces the biological value of the maize. On other hand varieties developed through Single cross hybrids like Shaktiman and HPQM series has opaque -2 gene. These varieties have lower concentration of zein by 30% and higher lysine and tryptophane level. Digestibility of the protein is also higher than the normal maize protein. The biological value is almost twice of the normal maize. Therefore this type of maize has been identified as quality protein maize (QPM). Adoption of QPM varieties on one hand can enhance the production of maize and on other hand will enhance the performance of the livestock raised on it thus finally it will reduce the dependency on import.
Source: Technical Bulletine; Directorate of Maize Research, ICAR
Figure 1: Area, Production and Productivity of Maize in India Seed availability is a major problem for the farmers, particularly if we look the terrain of the region. Single cross hybrid (SCH) maize has only two parental line in contrast to double top cross lines and three way cross lines, this makes seed production very convenient and farmers can easily maintain parental lines and also can produce hybrid seeds. Measures Adopted to Popularize SCH in NER: On farm trial on QPM was conducted at different location of the Phek district of Nagaland in Kharif 2008. The results were very encouraging, both the varieties HPQM-1 and Shaktiman-3 have performed exceptionally well, the yield recorded was 4930 kg/ha and 4589 kg/ha respectively for HPQM-1 and Shaktiman-3 as against to local check (3198 kg/ha). The results obtained clearly demonstrate the potential of the crop. The results were discussed in the zonal workshop of zone III and finally it was decided to have a separate workshop in consultation with Directorate of Maize Research (DMR). The workshop was organized on 15th December 2008 at NRC on Mithun, Jharnapani. 29 KVKs (Annexure-I) of the NER have participated in the programme and a three pronged strategy i.e. demonstration of SCH-QPM in the region, production of SCH seeds and multiply the parental lines were finalized to popularize SCH-QPM in the region. Following the strategy, demonstration in 180 acre area was organized in Kharif 2009 by all 27 participating KVKs of the region. The KVKs participated in the programme includes West Kameng, Tirap, Lohit, Lower Dibang Valley, East Siang, West Siang and Papumpare from Arunachal Pradesh, Karbi-Anglong, Kokrajhar and Sonitpur from Assam, Ri Bhoi from Meghalaya, Aizawl, Kolasib, Lunglei, Champai, Mamit, Serchhip, Saiha and Lawngtlai from Mizoram, Kohima, Mokokchung, Mon, Phek, Tuensang and Dimapur from Nagaland and East Sikkim and South Sikkim from Sikkim. 12 KVKs has also started SCH seed production programme and 4 KVKs had also started parental lines seed production for further seed multiplication. Key learning: Production potential of the SCH maize is about 30% higher than the local cultivar without any supplementation of additional nutrients under jhum and terrace cultivation. The farmers found the fresh cobs sweeter and softer than the local cultivar. Seed availability is the key issue for success of the programme, so certain villages have to be identified as seed village and the farmers of the selected villages should be trained extensively for Hybrid seed production technique. Livestock farming has a significant role in the economy of the farmer of the region. Piggery and poultry are the commonly raised livestock; however broiler rabbitry is also gaining momentum in the region. All afore mentioned animals are simple stomached and they require quality protein in their diet. The Single Cross Hybrid/QPM varieties cultivation can be an answer to meet the requirement of the quality protein. Conclusion: Single cross hybrid maize production holds promise of reducing the food and nutritional insecurity as 84% of the population is involved in agriculture and maize is 2nd major crop of the region. Livestock keeping is the integral part of farming in NER and maize is the most common feed which is being cultivated in the region, any improvement in the quality and yield potential will directly influence the livelihood of the people. The key to success of the programme is the systematic approach followed in the implementation of the programme. At the end of this kharif region has about 37.0 tonnes of QPM grain to be used as feed and 6.8 tonnes of QPM seed to be used for cultivation in the next Kharif. This all could happen because of the convergence of the efforts of innovative farmers, KVK functionaries, ZPD’s boosters and DMR’s supports. R. K. Singh Programme Coordinator, Krishi Vigyan Kendra - NRCM, Porba, Phek, Nagaland