Organized
research on maize improvement started in 1957 under the auspices of the
All India Coordinated Maize Improvement Project (AICMIP) and this was the
first in a series of coordinated projects under the ICAR system. The
project has been located at the Pusa Campus, New Delhi and was upgraded
into Directorate of Maize Research in January 1994 w
ith mandates to
organize, conduct, coordinate and generate technology for continuous
enhancement in productivity and production for meeting the ever increasing
demand of human food, animal feed and industrial utilization
for starch, oil, and other value-added products. The DMR is entrusted with
the over all responsibility of research, coordination and management of
the multidisciplinary programmes at national level and maintaining
linkages with International programmes on maize improvement as well.
Besides, the project aims at a stable production of maize through
avoidance/tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, improved
agro-techniques and quality improvement. The DMR will take up research on
post-harvest handling, value addition besides research on diversified uses
of maize for direct consumption and industrial uses as value added
products. It also undertakes scientific human resource development
programmes involving national and international agencies/organizations.
The other activities of the project include extension education programmes
and frontline demonstrations (FLDs) for the effective transfer of
technologies; provide help in breeder seed production programme and
monitoring of seed quality.
