Corn (Maize)
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PICTURE
Maize, popularly known as Corn, is a large grain plant.Maize popularly known as Corn is one of the most versatile emerging cash crops having wider adaptability under varied climatic conditions.It is called queen of cereals globally.Maize is one of the most versatile emerging crop shaving wider adaptability under varied agro-climatic conditions. Globally, Maize is known as queen of cereals because it has the highest genetic yield potential among the cereals. It is cultivated on nearly 150 m ha in about 160 countries having wider diversity of soil, climate, biodiversity and management practices that contributes 36 % (782 Mt) in the global grain production. The United States of America (USA) is the largest producer of Maize contributes nearly 35% of the total production in the world and Maize is the driver of the US economy. The USA has the highest productivity (> 9.6 t ha-1) which is double than the global average (4.92 t ha-1). Whereas, the average productivity in India is2.43 t ha-1. In India, Maize is the third most important food crops after rice and wheat. According to advance estimate it is cultivated in 8.7m ha (2010-11) mainly during Kharif season which covers 80% area. Maize in India, contributes nearly 9 % in the national food basket and more than Rs. 100 billion to the agricultural GDP at current prices apart from the generating employment to over 100 million man-days at the farm and downstream agricultural and industrial sectors.
Apart from satisfying the taste buds of its users, maize is also a good source of vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.The nutritional value of cornflakes is almost similar to that of cooked maize. One large ear of cooked yellow maize contains almost 4 grams of protein, 3.5 grams of dietary fiber, around 30 grams of carbohydrates, 1.5 grams of fat, 3.6 grams of sugar, around 100 grams of water, no cholesterol and amounts to 126 calories. Below is more maize nutrition facts and information about the vitamin and mineral content in one large ear of yellow maize, which is cooked without salt.
The composition of maize endows it with many health benefits. The high fiber content prevents constipation and colorectal cancer.Antioxidants neutralize the effects of harmful free radicals that cause diseases like cancer. The antioxidant betacryptoxanthin prevents lung cancer, while lutein prevents age related vision loss. Antioxidants slow cognitive decline and conditions like Alzheimer's. Vitamin C boosts immunity and fights infections, while the presence of vitamin E gives maize anti-aging properties.
Health Benefits
- Good for digestion due to its fiber content.
- Helps in lowering LDL (bad) Cholesterol.
- Prevent diabetes & hypertension.
- Has anti-cancer properties.
- Helps in improving vision.
- Beneficial for heart.
- Helps in preventing Alzheimer’s disease.
- Helps in preventing skin Problems.
- May combat with Hair loss.
In addition to staple food for human being and quality feed for animals, Maize serves as a basic raw material as an ingredient to thousands of industrial products that includes starch, oil, protein, alcoholic beverages, food sweeteners, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, film, textile, gum, package and paper industries etc.The industrial uses based on the physical properties of the cob when ground to powder are as fillers for explosives in the manufacture of plastics, glues, adhesives, reyon, resin, vinegar and artificial leather and as diluents and carrier in the formulation of insecticides and pesticides. Based on the chemical properties the processed cobs find their use in the manufacture of furfurol, fermentable sugars, solvents, liquid fuels, charcoal gas and other chemicals by destructive distillation, and also in the manufacture of pulp, paper and hard boards.Maize, being popular as a food item, is enjoyed by people in various forms, like, whole Corn, Corn flour, Cornstarch, Corn gluten, Corn syrup, Cornmeal, Corn oil, Popcorn, Cornflakes, etc.
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USES
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Corn Fritters
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Corn Flour Chapati
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Corn Salad
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Corn Soup
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Popcorn
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Sweet Corn
