Pulpally: The corn which grows in abundance in Karnataka has now become the favourite food of the natives of Wayanad. Steaming hot corn cob rubbed with salt, chilli powder and other spices is the perfect snack for the visitors thronging the various tourist destinations in Wayanad.
Loads of corn reaches the various markets across Wayanad on a daily basis. The merchants too vouch that the golden yellow-hued cereal grain is very much in demand, especially in the rural areas. There are people who collect corn from Gundlupet in Karnataka early in the morning to sell it in Wayanad.
The farmers in Karnataka sow maize seeds immediately after the rains. The advantage of maize is that it can be harvested within months of sowing the seeds. Corn is widely used for the large-scale production of cattle and poultry fodder and also corn powder. The natives of Wayanad have always included roasted and steamed corn in their diet. Corn was cultivated in Wayanad too. However, after the introduction of many new agricultural techniques, the farmers of Karnataka monopolised it.
The farmers say that it is profitable to sell the maize plants to prepare cattle fodder than selling it as a cereal grain. The dairy farmers of Wayanad mostly depend on the maize plants for fodder when there is a scarcity of grass in the district during summers.
Last year, large areas of maize fields in Wayanad were washed away in heavy rains.
