There has been insufficient rainfall in India, says Samir Singh, business promoter for Indian fresh produce exporter Mersel Foods. He states that this could lead to supply issues for sweet corn compared to last season: “Sweetcorn is cultivated round the year in various states in India. In Maharashtra, where our company operates, the peak season starts in mid-August and continues until the end of April. The main varieties of sweet corn grown in Maharashtra are Sugar 75 and Mithas. It hasn’t been completely smooth sailing this season, as there have been insufficient rains so far in the corn-growing regions of Maharashtra. Looking at the current monsoon season, there will be a shortage in supply, compared to the previous season.”
Next to the problems induced by the weather, sweet corn growers are also having issues with costs that are increasing significantly, Singh explains. “There have been several challenges when it comes to the cultivation of sweet corn. First off, we’re dealing with an irregular climate and a dry monsoon have resulted in a drought-like situation in measure cultivation areas. Next to that, the increased costs of agriculture inputs, like pesticides and fertilizers, have made it difficult for growers to manage their cultivation costs.”
As there isn’t an abundant supply of the sweet corn this season, the price could increase, Singh states: “As the season has just begun, we’re hoping for a good season, if it rains in the last phase of the monsoon. Our product is very well accepted in the EU countries, in fact the product is rather preferred in some countries, because of its colour, sweetness and taste. The scarcity of the product this season could lead to a price hike in the near future, though.”
“We process sweetcorn using retort technology, which allows us to preserve the freshness, taste and nutritious values, extending the shelf life of the product to 18 months without using preservatives. This product is a perfect, healthy and ready-to-eat snack, which is widely enjoyed in grilled form and along with other dishes,” Singh concludes.
