Maize crop in HP faces pest infestation; farmers report shortage of urea and quality seeds
Shimla, Aug 17
Maize growers in several parts of Himachal Pradesh are reporting infestation of stem borer and other pests soon after the kharif crop was sown, raising concerns over possible losses to one of the state’s important cereal crops.
Farmers said the infestation has appeared at an early stage of crop growth. Some growers attributed the problem partly to inadequate availability of urea and other agricultural inputs, which they believe may have weakened the crop. They also claimed that traditional local maize varieties have shown greater resilience, while some commercially supplied seeds appear more vulnerable to pest attacks. These observations, however, require scientific assessment.
Maize is generally sown in Himachal Pradesh in June and harvested between September and October. Besides being consumed as bhutta or roasted corn, it is used for flour, popcorn, poultry feed and other food and industrial purposes. It is also traditionally used for liquor production.
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The crop faces several threats during its early growth, including attacks by birds and wasps. Farmers in vulnerable areas also report damage caused by wild boar, jackals and antelope.
According to the Himachal Pradesh Economic Survey 2025-26, maize production was estimated at 691.54 thousand metric tonnes (6.92 lakh MT) in 2024-25, against 607.94 thousand MT in 2023-24. The production target for 2025-26 has been fixed at 689 thousand MT, with maize accounting for 18.63 per cent of the targeted total crop production.
The state has also promoted naturally farmed maize by fixing its procurement price at Rs 50 per kg. During 2025-26, 217.70 MT of naturally farmed maize was procured through 28 centres.
Himachal’s traditional maize varieties are known for their considerable diversity, with kernels occurring in white, yellow, red, purple, blue and mottled colours. Salooni Safed Makka of Chamba has also received GI recognition, adding value to the state’s traditional maize heritage.
With maize cultivation entering its critical growth phase, farmers are seeking timely availability of fertilisers, quality seed and effective pest-control measures to protect the crop before harvesting begins in September-October.
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