Maize (makka) was introduced into India in the seventeenth century via

Maize (makka) was introduced into India during the seventeenth century via Africa and Spain [1]. While the Portuguese are often credited with the general dissemination of New World crops like pineapple, papaya, and chillies to India [1], specific historical records and academic texts highlight that maize followed a distinct diffusion route through Africa and Spain before becoming a major crop in western India by the 16th and 17th centuries [1]. This introduction was part of the broader Columbian Exchange, where American crops were integrated into the Old World agricultural systems. By the seventeenth century, maize was already listed as a significant crop in western India [1]. Although some sources mention Portuguese involvement in the 16th century, the specific geographical route cited in standard historical texts for its 17th-century prominence is via Africa and Spain [1].

Sources

1. [1] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Peasants, Zamindars and the State > Agricultural prosperity and population growth > p. 201