Corn (maize) has long been the stepchild amongst Pakistan’s preferred choice of cereals. Despite highest yield per hectare, corn’s lack of popularity as a major staple may be attributed to cultural and socioeconomic nutritional reasons unique to subcontinent.

For one, while corn has similar nutritional value compared to other grains such as wheat and rice, the latter two have historically been more suited to subcontinent’s climate and abundant freshwater supply of Indus-Ganges basin. Moreover, as a staple, its lower protein and vitamin B3 content means it remains an inferior among grains.

In more recent times, corn’s mediocre performance as an alternative (to cotton) Kharif crops is mainly a consequence of underdeveloped value chain. On one hand, paddy is increasingly becoming popular for exports to Gulf; on the other, sugarcane continues to be widely in demand in food manufacturing despite excess supply.

However, corn has a potential to uproot sugarcane as Pakistan’s next generation crop for a variety of reasons. Reasons that need not necessarily require a top-down drive to force change country’s grain preferences and habits.

For one, unlike other major crops such as wheat, rice, and sugarcane, maize farming in Pakistan has established self-sufficiency without any significant government support or intervention. Furthermore, Pakistan’s corn yield per hectare at 5 metric tons, while not amongst the top ten, is regionally very competitive. For context, China’s corn yield stands at 6MT whereas India’s at just 3MT.

This is remarkable considering Pakistan’s annual corn output stands at a little over 6 million tons, compared to 225 million tons in our corn-loving northern neighbour. Pakistan’s early investments in hybrid corn varieties during early 1990s are usually credited for this success. However, despite the success in farming, prosperity has eluded corn in commercial sector.

But the future could look very different for corn thanks to changing climatic patterns and water availability. At 1,200 cubic meter per ton, corn’s average water footprint is lowest among all major cereal crops. Moreover, while value-added sector in corn products is significantly underdeveloped, that can theoretically be said just about any major grain grown in Pakistan.

Commercial uses of corn derivatives such as dextrose, cornstarch, edible oil, corn syrup range from use in confectionary, desserts, medicine, soaps and cleaners, adhesives, among myriad others. In the developed world, corn syrup has long replaced cane-based sugar as the primary source of food-grade fructose.

Corn also has potential to replace hydrogenated palm oil as a possibly healthier source of vegetable fats, the preferred choice of dairy and processed food industry. Similarly, while corn oil has long been present in the domestic market, lack of support has kept public interest ambivalent in this substitute to palm and Vanaspati. After all, among edible oils, corn oil has one of the lowest footprints in the choices available.

Most significantly, with baseline encouragement, domestic corn growers have the potential to fulfill China’s growing mismatch between corn supply and demand, which has hitherto been met by imports from North America. The trade war between the two bulls has presented a short window of opportunity for Pakistani growers to explore corn’s trade potential. What’s the harm?