Baby Corn: A New Challenges, Scope, Present Status and Strategies
G. Swapna *
University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore – 65, Zonal Agricultural Research Station, VC Farm, Mandya, 571 405, India.
G. Jadesha
University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore – 65, Zonal Agricultural Research Station, VC Farm, Mandya, 571 405, India.
P. Mahadevu
University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore – 65, Zonal Agricultural Research Station, VC Farm, Mandya, 571 405, India.
B. S. Shivakumar
University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore – 65, Zonal Agricultural Research Station, VC Farm, Mandya, 571 405, India.
B. T. Ravindra Babu
University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore – 65, Zonal Agricultural Research Station, VC Farm, Mandya, 571 405, India.
Mallikarjuna N.
University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore – 65, Zonal Agricultural Research Station, VC Farm, Mandya, 571 405, India.
Chandrakala Hanagi
University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore – 65, Zonal Agricultural Research Station, VC Farm, Mandya, 571 405, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Maize is gaining popularity in both food and feed sectors. Every part of corn cob posses’ potential to be used for different purposes, and have economic value. With the changing in living lifestyle, the demand of baby corn is increasing due to its nutritional value, and to be the best alternative income source for farmers. Baby corn is a commercial crop developed in late 70’s, it is used as vegetable crop and it is called as a catch crop, due to its delicious taste and their nutritional health benefits in human beings and its increased demand in market soon it became a cash crops. Being a perishable crop, the shelf life of baby corn is less. It is a good organic food which could be used to prepare wide range of baby corn value added products. The value addition of the baby corn makes its availability in the offseason and also provides employment opportunities to person under poverty line and besides foreign exchange is also possible in both food and feed sectors.
Keywords: Baby corn, nutritional value, health benefits, cultivation and processing