Uses of Quality Protein Maize

In India, the maize is mainly consumed as feed (61 %) and food (25 %) and hence, QPM being superior in quality has better option in these sectors. The main uses of QPM are described as under

A. For food and nutritional security: The Quality Protein Maize (QPM) has got special distinction among the cereals due to presence of high amount of two essential amino acids viz., lysine and tryptophan and low content of non desirable amino acid (leucine). Therefore, the QPM can be utilized for diversified purposes in food and nutritional security as infant food, health food/mixes, convenience foods, speciality foods and emergency ration. It is also useful in fulfilling the protein requirements of different sections of society (infants, lactating mothers’ convalescing patients, Kwashiorkor diseased, old persons and infirm, etc.) to prevent malnutrition. It's green cob is very nutritious, tasty and liked by people. The Quality Protein Maize (QPM) has been found superior food for human being. The results of the feeding trials on childrens for 6 months at Rajendra Agricultural University (RAU), Pusa Bihar on the efficacy of Quality Protein Maize over normal maize grain revealed that the anthropometric measurements i.e. body weight (Figure 2) and arm circumference (Figure 3) of childrens fed with QPM were remarkably higher compared to children fed with normal maize grain (DMR, 2006, singh, 2006). Therefore the QPM could be a cheaper source of protein for children and can thus be used effectively as mid-day meal for which Bihar state of India has already taken good lead (TAAS, 2008).

B. Providing nutritious feed: The recent projections of International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has indicated that there will be 85 and 45 % increase in global demand for poultry and pork during 25 years (between 1995 and 2020) for which maize is the major source of feed that indicates growing demand for maize globally. India being the 5th largest poultry producer in the world with a very high growth rate of 7.94% during 2000-01 to 2006-07(NAAS, 2008). Similarly, the poultry growth rate in India is very high and 49% of the total maize production is consumed as feed in poultry sector in India. This sector has alsofurther enormous growth potential (about 15 % p.a.)that would raise the further demand of QPM (TAAS, 2008). Therefore, Quality Protein Maize (QPM) with its high carbohydrates, fats, better quality proteins, some of vitamins and minerals, it is nutritious feed for poultry, livestock, swine, fish, etc. Use of QPM as poultry feed leads to early development of broilers, save energy and feed, and also the extra cost incurred on lysine and tryptophan fortification.

C. Promoting maize based entrepreneurship: The nutritious products developed from QPM can replace fancied and highly priced industrial foods. These products can also be prepared in villages and thus could be a great source of rural entrepreneurship. Therefore, QPM based rural industries has a wider scope for employment generation and rural prosperity.