Study of the productive efficiency of (Zea mays L.) amylaceous and hard corn in Ecuador

Abstract

In Ecuador, corn production is mainly concentrated in the tropical and Andean regions, with variations in grain texture, color, production levels, and productivity. The objective of this study was to estimate the efficiency of corn production and productivity, as well as seed production in the two most important geographic regions of Ecuador. To make these estimates, a simple regression analysis (p ≤ 0.05) was used, considering the crop cycle as independent variables and production, grain productivity, and seed production as dependent variables. It is estimated that the planted area for 2023 was 362,196 hectares, with hard yellow and amylaceous corn. In the coastal region, the main producing provinces are Los Ríos and Manabí, which contribute 73 % of the total production of hard yellow corn; and in the Andean region, production is mainly located in the provinces of Bolívar, Chimborazo, and Cotopaxi, which account for 82 % of the national production of amylaceous corn. The productivity of the two types of corn varies. Hard yellow corn had an average of 4.17 ha-1 from 2018 to 2023, while amylaceous corn had an average of 1.31 ha-1 from 2018 to 2022. Over the next five years, an annual increase of 8.8 % in amylaceous corn productivity is estimated, while over the next six years, the productivity of hard yellow corn is projected to increase by 3.0 % annually. Seed is one of the most important components of agricultural production, and its production costs are an indicator of the rural environment. The supply is limited in the Andean region: projections indicate an annual increase of 5.8 % over the next five years. In the coastal region, the supply and demand for seed is covered by private companies, and there is no deficit for this important component of production. One of the types of corn that will have higher demand is black corn, due to its high nutritional value. The profitability estimates for the production of quality seed of this type of corn, with a benefit/cost ratio between 1.58 and 1.70, indicate that the production of black amylaceous corn seed is profitable.