Management of morphological attributes of local landraces of maize (Vaimim) by the Lushei and Paihte communities of Mizoram, North East India

Abstract

The Lushei and Paihte communities of Mizoram (North East India) cultivate maize (Mizo-Vaimim) landraces for their consumption as well as for marketing purposes. Maize locally known as Vaimim are grown as either sole cropping under shifting cultivation or with mixed cropping as an intercropped with paddy, local turmeric, ginger (GI tagged), other vegetables (brinjal, chilli, bitter gourd, pumpkin, cucumber, melon), pulses (green gram, black gram, cowpea) and oilseeds (groundnut, soybean, sesame etc.). Maize is also being practiced with different agro-forestry system in Mizoram like Subabul based agro-forestry system, Tree bean based agro-forestry system and Jack fruit based agro-forestry system in some cases. Introduction of Kaveri Maize 50, which is hybrid seed into Mizoram climate, perform well even if sown in late. It is well known that maize (Vaimim) is the second most important cereal crop after rice (mizo-Buh). So, agro-techniques for cultivation of maize is well known to Lushai and Paihte communities of Mizoram. So, The present research was carried out based on collection of 73 accessions of local maize (Vaimim) landraces during the year of 2021-2022 from 11 mizo-farmers of Thenzawl village under Serchhip district of Mizoram. Landraces are classified based on the Morphological attributes like Cob length (cm), Cob shape, Kernel shape and their colour. The mizo communities also used to maintain various landraces of maize by cultivating in their own lands in the existing agro-climatic condition. They used to market it for selling as well as consumption purposes.