Gourmet Popcornica Pvt Ltd (a popcorn company) received an award on Monday at the Founder’s Day of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR) for its ongoing work in the popcorn maize ecosystem.
A media statement said ICAR-IIMR, in collaboration with Gourmet Popcornica, is witnessing successful results of a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening India’s popcorn maize value chain, enhancing farmer incomes and furthering India’s ambition to become a global hub for high-quality popcorn maize production.
Over the past five years, the scientific and agronomic expertise of ICAR-IIMR, combined with the experience of Gourmet Popcornica in large-scale high-expansion popcorn maize cultivation, has strengthened niche value chains such as popcorn maize, it said.
The partnership began in February 2021 with the signing of an agreement for an IIMR-bred popcorn hybrid. Over the last four years, with the guidance of ICAR-IIMR scientists and its own breeding team, Gourmet Popcornica has developed new hybrids with high yield, high popping and resistance to diseases and pests.
market expansion
Currently, Gourmet Popcornica works with more than 17,500 farmers and cultivates popcorn corn on more than 36,000 acres in nine states across India. The statement said that through structured contract farming, capacity-building programs, sustainable packaging initiatives and responsible sourcing practices, the company ensures product integrity, supply reliability and measurable farmer impact.
In the last decade, India’s popcorn maize market has grown from 50,000 tonnes to more than 1.30 lakh tonnes. It said this growth was largely driven by the successful development and domestication of high-extension popcorn maize cultivation. Earlier, almost 100 percent of popcorn consumed in India was imported. It said domestic production now accounts for about 65 per cent of the market, significantly reducing import dependence and creating a new and sustainable source of income for Indian farmers.
Published on February 13, 2026
