Maize (Zea mays), commonly known as corn, is a versatile grain widely consumed both as a staple food and as a key ingredient in various food and industrial products. It is available in several forms, such as whole kernels, dried maize, maize flour, and maize products like cornmeal, corn starch, and corn oil.

Features:

• Rich Nutritional Content:
  Maize is an excellent source of carbohydrates, providing energy. It also contains dietary fiber, vitamins (especially B-complex vitamins), and essential minerals like magnesium, potassium, and iron.

• Multiple Varieties:
  Available in different varieties like yellow maize, white maize, and sweet corn, each suited to different culinary and industrial uses.

• Versatile Usage:
  Maize is used in various forms such as fresh, dried, and processed. It is consumed as a staple food (cornmeal, tortillas), used in animal feed, and serves as a raw material in the production of biofuel (ethanol) and other industrial products.

• Extended Shelf Life:
  When dried, maize has a long shelf life, making it ideal for storage and export, especially in bulk quantities.

• Gluten-Free:
  Naturally gluten-free, maize is suitable for people with gluten intolerance or celiac disease and widely used in gluten-free products.

  Industrial Applications:
  In addition to food, maize is processed into starch, ethanol, and bio-plastics, serving various industrial purposes.

Grades:

Maize is categorized into different grades based on quality, moisture content, purity, and appearance. The grading helps in determining its suitability for food consumption, animal feed, or industrial use.

• Grade A (Premium Quality):
  Highest quality maize with uniform size, shape, and color.

  Low moisture content (usually below 14%).

  Free from mold, impurities, and foreign material.

  Used for human consumption, premium food products, and high-grade industrial use.

• Grade B (Standard Quality):
  Good quality maize but may have slight variations in kernel size and color.

  Acceptable moisture levels (14-15%).

  Small amounts of impurities or broken kernels allowed.

  Suitable for both food production and animal feed.

• Grade C (Economy Quality):
  Lower quality maize with noticeable size variations, higher moisture content (above 15%), and some impurities or broken kernels.

  Typically used for livestock feed and certain industrial applications.

• Feed Grade:
  Maize specifically designated for animal feed, often lower in quality with higher tolerance for impurities and defects, but still safe and nutritious for animals.