Tuesday, 24 June 2025
Marking a significant milestone in its journey, the ICAR–Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR), Ludhiana has, for the first time in its history, launched the branding and sale of its own hybrid maize seeds. This step reinforces the institute’s mission to make high-quality, affordable seeds accessible to farmers across India.
The first consignments of IIMR-branded seeds — LQMH 1, IMH 221 (DMRH 1417), IMH 229 (DMRH 1410), DMRH 1308, and IMH 222 — have been dispatched to Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and West Bengal.
Over the past seven years, ICAR-IIMR has developed and released 25 maize hybrids, all notified by the Central Varietal Release Committee (CVRC), with 15 more in the pipeline. These hybrids have earned widespread trust among stakeholders, reflected in their dominant 26–64 per cent share of national breeder seed indents from the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC), Government of India, over the last four years.
To address the challenge of high seed costs — largely due to production being concentrated in southern states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana — ICAR-IIMR partnered with the Department of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal, and the West Bengal State Seed Corporation (WBSSC). This initiative led to the standardization of hybrid maize seed production across key districts such as Nadia, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Murshidabad, Paschim Medinipur, and North 24 Parganas. As a result, 32,465 quintals of hybrid seeds, including estimates for Rabi 2024–25, have been produced locally.
Among the standout performers are DMRH 1301 and DMRH 1308, released in 2017. Together, they have accounted for a cumulative 15.98 lakh hectares of cultivated area and have been licensed through 24 MoUs with 18 private seed companies. Newer hybrids like LQMH 1, IMH 224, and IQMH 203 are also seeing rapid adoption, with multiple MoUs signed for their commercial use.
In total, more than 40 MoUs have been signed with 28 private seed companies, underscoring the rising demand and trust in ICAR-IIMR’s hybrids.
This initiative is a testament to the institute’s commitment to support Indian farmers by providing high-quality, reliable seeds at less than half the prevailing market prices. It also marks a significant stride in enhancing IIMR resource generation and national outreach.
With this step, ICAR-IIMR not only strengthens its role in the seed value chain but also empowers farmers with better choices, reduced costs, and improved productivity.
