A Chennai-based company's initiative to grow popcorn maize domestically has reduced India's imports of the crop from 70 per cent a decade ago to 15 per cent currently, according to SBP Pattabhi Rama Rao, Managing Director of Gourmet Popcornica Pvt. Ltd. Domestic production has more than doubled from 15,000 tonnes to 85,000 tonnes over the same period, while the overall popcorn maize market in India expanded from 50,000 tonnes to 1.3 lakh tonnes.
Strategic Partnership and Expansion
Gourmet Popcornica was founded in 2014 through a strategic partnership with Preferred Popcornica of the United States, combining world-class farming expertise with Indian cultivation and processing. "Initially, we imported these seeds and cultivated them on a trial basis during the October-December period of 2016. Then, in January-March 2018, we started cultivating them on 840 acres," said Rao. Today, over 17,500 farmers across nine states grow popcorn maize on over 36,000 acres through contract farming. The crop is grown in Andhra Pradesh (where it began in 2016), Chhattisgarh (from 2023), Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat (since 2024), and Tamil Nadu (introduced last year and still being tested).
Farmer-Centric Model
To attract growers, Gourmet Popcornica provides crop inputs on credit, eliminating the main problem farmers face in getting loans. The company buys 100 per cent of the crop despite any quality issues and pays directly through bank transfers, with all financial details shared via WhatsApp. "All this, with a commitment on the part of Gourmet Popcornica to buy back the entire produce, is an industry first," said Rao. The company also employs 800 personnel and is investing in mechanization to reduce labour costs.
Mechanization and Technology Adoption
From 100 per cent manual planting in 2017, about 30 per cent of farmers now use seed planters—ranging from single-row to four-row units. The company has introduced drone spraying and plans to mechanize the harvest of at least 10 per cent of the 36,000 acres in 2026. "We have begun to deploy automated seed planters and will introduce corn cob harvesters this year. The target is to mechanise the harvest of at least 10 per cent of the 36,000 acres in 2026," said Rao. This mechanization is designed to increase yields and farmer incomes.
Processing and Supply Chain
Once harvested, the wet cobs are moved to the company's processing facilities at Musunuru in Andhra Pradesh. There, they are dried, sorted, processed, and stored in cold storage until dispatch. The company operates a vertically integrated value chain from hybrid seed development to kernel processing, storage, and supply to cinema halls and branded retail products. Rao noted that he began learning the popcorn business at Satyam Cinemas before venturing into popcorn maize cultivation. "Gourmet Popcornica began the effort towards the corporatisation of farming, with the recognition of the farmer as central to our efforts," he added.
Impact on Trade Flows
The reduction in imports from 70 per cent to 15 per cent of India's popcorn maize demand has reshaped the country's trade profile for this niche commodity. The table below summarizes the transformation over the past decade:
| Metric | 2015 (Approx.) | Current (2026) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market size | 50,000 tonnes | 1.3 lakh tonnes | +160% |
| Domestic production | 15,000 tonnes | 85,000 tonnes | +467% |
| Import share | 70% | 15% | -55 pp |
| Cultivated area | N/A | 36,000 acres | N/A |
| Farmers engaged | N/A | 17,500 | N/A |
Gourmet Popcornica is now India's largest grower of popcorn maize and the fifth-largest globally. The company's model demonstrates how import substitution can be achieved through farmer partnerships, credit support, and technology adoption. As mechanization scales up, further cost reductions and yield improvements are expected, potentially making India self-sufficient in popcorn maize in the near future.
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