North Island maize production, 1983-84
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Date
1985-05
Type
Discussion Paper
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Fields of Research
Abstract
Maize is used primarily for domestic requirements in compound
stock food, starch, distilling, breakfast foods, with limited amounts
exported. A small area of maize is used as a fodder crop (3813 ha in
1982) for cattle and sheep. Grown in the North Island, maize is
susceptible to cool summer temperatures which prevent extensive South
Island plantings of high yielding varieties. The versatility of maize
in its uses as grain, greenfeed and silage gives it a significant
advantage over other crops.
Maize exports are small being 22,471 tonnes in 1980/81,
returning $3.33m f.o.b.: Iran (56%), Fiji (27%), New Caledonia (9%)
Western Samoa (5%), Singapore and Fiji were the major export markets.
Imports are small and strictly controlled. Diseases such as
southern leaf blight and boil smut being of primary concern.
Imports are used as basic seed sources although the New Zealand Starch
Company is able to utilise imported maize since it is sterilised during
processing.
The distribution of maize grains production for the 1981 and
1982 harvest is presented in Table 1.
In excess of 99.0 percent of total maize production is
concentrated in the North Island with the South Auckland / Bay of Plenty
area producing two thirds of the total North Island crop. Sixty one
percent of the increased production between 1981 and 1982 can be
attributed to an increase in the area of maize planted in the South
Auckland / Bay of Plenty districts.
Per hectare production has increased from 3.9 tonnes per
hectare in 1961 to 9.1 tonnes per hectare in 1982. The increase in per
hectare production has partly offset a decline in area which peaked at
28,600 ha in 1977.
Much of the increased yield is attributed to improved
cultivars. Prior to the late 1960's the hybrid seed production was
controlled by the Department of Agriculture, but increases in maize
areas led to the involvement of seed firms. Seed merchants now
develop, produce and market imported seed hybrids in association with
the United States franchise holders. In 1969 southern leaf blight
devastated United States maize crops leading to the establishment of
the first post quarantine growing area in New Zealand for maize
cultivars. This allowed continued cultivar development without the
risk of importing exotic diseases.