China
11. Dr. Chen Zong-Long gave an account of the situation of maize production in the Yunnan province, which is one of the less developed provinces of China. Maize is one of the major sources of food, feed and income for the farmers. Presently, about one million hectares of arable land is under maize production in Yunnan, but 85% of the total maize area is under rainfed conditions. The total production of maize in 1997 was 3.66 million tons. The provincial average yield was 3.24-3.66 tons/ha in the past three years, which is much lower than the national average yield (5.2 tons/ha in 1996). Based on the provincial demand, there is a shortage of 340,000 tons of maize grain.
12. Maize production and yields in the Yunnan province appear to be affected to a large extent by abiotic and biotic constraints (drought, low soil fertility, pests and diseases). He highlighted the importance of breeding work for high yields and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses in the maize varietal/hybrid improvement programme. With more extensive planting of single cross hybrids and adoption of more advanced cultivation technology, a good increase in productivity could be obtained. In 1997 the hybrid maize area was 70.8% of the total maize area; over 50% of the total hybrid maize acreage was under locally developed hybrids. It is worthy mentioning that some of the QPM hybrids gave 10-20% higher yields than the normal hybrids. The provincial government’s plan is to extend the hybrid maize area to 75% of the total area under maize by the end of this century.
13. Cropping systems and yield improvements are the priority areas of research work. A public seed production and marketing system has been established in Yunnan since 1998. In 1997 about 21,000 tons of hybrid maize seed were sold, of which 80% was produced locally. The seed sold to the low income farmers is subsidized by the government. Until last year there was no private seed company, nor a private maize research institution in Yunnan. However, recently two private seed companies (CP and Cargill) have started business in the province. It is estimated that a total of 23,000 - 25,000 tons of high quality hybrid seed will be needed for Yunnan by the year 2,000.
India
14. Dr. N.N. Singh mentioned that in India, maize ranks fifth in area, and third in production and in productivity amongst cereal crops. During last year, 11.2 million tons of grain production was realized in an area of 6.2 million ha, more or less constant in the last decade. Production increased from less than 6 million tons to more than 11 million tons during this decade. Nevertheless, the average yield is far less than the world average as well as of some countries in the region like China, Thailand and Korea. However, yields as high as 5 tons/ha obtained in winter under irrigated conditions, suggest the existence of a sizeable untapped yield potential unlike other cereals. Exploitation of such a potential is one of the reliable strategies to sustain the production growth of maize in coming years. Constraints for low productivity are: (i) climatic conditions resulting in drought/excess water associated with increased pressure of diseases/pests; (ii) cultivation in kharif is mainly under rainfed conditions on marginal lands with inadequacy in irrigation; (iii) only about 30 per cent of the area is under hybrids; (iv) lack of development of single cross hybrid technology-a key to higher productivity gains like USA, China and other countries; (v) poor adoption of improved production-protection technology; (vi) deficiencies in the production and distribution system of quality seed; (vii) lack of Government policies for supporting procurement price of maize grain like wheat and paddy; and (viii) small farm holdings and poor resource farmers-basically making subsistence agriculture a prominent phenomenon.
15. Stock taking achievements are setting the stage for re-orientation of the research programme. Among the achievements of direct relevance to farmers is the release (by the project/ICAR) of 37 hybrids and composites at national level and 29 at States level. Recommendations developed on package of practices for various States in different cropping systems have made possible some qualitative changes in realizing higher productivity and expansion of winter maize, particularly in Bihar. The achievements in cultivar development were backed by efforts made in germplasm enhancement including generation of gene pools and heterotic pools as reservoirs of variability, germplasm screening against important biotic and abiotic stresses, and development of maize for diverse industrial uses. ICAR has taken policy initiatives like supply of public inbreds to both public and private sectors involved in maize seed production. The technology gaps witnessed in field demonstrations leave a lot of scope in augmenting productivity as well as production. A price-support system in maize, as in wheat and rice, is lacking and is felt as a major constraint for higher growth rates.
16. In future, the approach would be to develop early maturing hybrids/composites including single crosses for various environments, with biotechnology-assisted strategic research programmes as a long-term strategy. In the near future, areas to be taken care of for development of maize include generation of data based on district/village level for types of cultivars required, expanding maize cultivation in eastern and NE regions, extending winter maize technology to new areas, improving nutritional requirement by quality maize cultivation in hilly and tribal areas, revitalizing seed village concepts for quality seed production and supply, seed technology research, and DUS testing and finger printing of parental lines of released hybrids and of composites. For medium and long-term gains, development and improvement of pools/populations for cultivar development and diversification of cytoplasm base for hybrid development are considered as important areas.
Indonesia
17. Dr. Marsum Dahlan reported that maize is the second most important food crop (after rice) in Indonesia. It is grown over a wide range of agro-ecological zones, under different production systems, and for many purposes. The demand for maize as food, animal feed (mainly poultry and dairy cattle) and for the industry (oil extraction) is increasing steadily. Substantial growth in production has been made over the last six years, which is mainly attributed to yield increases and moderate expansion of the area under cultivation. The breeding programme has focused on the development of high yielding and early maturing open pollinated varieties and hybrids, which are resistant to major diseases. Since 1945, over 20 open pollinated varieties have been released to the farmers. Also, since 1983, 25 hybrids have been released for planting.
18. The maize area harvested in 1996 was about 3.74 million hectares with a total production of 9.31 million tons and an average yield of 2.49 tons/ha. It is predicted that Indonesia will be short of maize grain by 1.9 million tons in 1999, while the total demand of maize in the years 1999 and 2003 will be 12.5 and 14.8 million tons, respectively. Presently, about 73% of the maize area is under rainfed conditions and the remaining 27% is under irrigated conditions. The National Maize Programme is giving due attention to the production of single cross hybrids for the years to come. Most of the hybrid seed is produced in East Java. In 1996/1997 the production of hybrid seed was three times more than that of 1995/1996.
Iran
19. Mr. Rajab Choukan pointed out that there is an increasing demand for maize in the country for feed and industrial uses. In 1989, there was a need for about 1.5 million tons of maize grain; the local demand was raised to 2.2 million tons in 1997. About 85% of the demand is for feed for the animal husbandry (mainly poultry) and the other 15% for industrial purposes. In 1988 the total area under cultivation was 43,722 ha with a total production of 153,000 tons and an average yield of 3.5 tons/ha. In 1997 the total area under cultivation was 153,000 ha with a total production of 902,000 tons and an average yield of 5.8 tons/ha.
20. Research work on hybrid maize started in 1970 by introducing temperate hybrids mainly from Europe. Presently, germplasm is collected from all over the world and special attention is given to the use of tropical and subtropical materials which are being used directly or indirectly in the breeding programme. The Government plans and policies are very helpful in increasing maize production. According to the Second National Development Plan (1995-1999) the total area under maize will be increased to 220,000 ha by the year 1999. Hybrid maize seed production in Iran is concentrated only on single cross hybrids; the work is undertaken by the Government under the direct supervision of the Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Karaj.
Nepal
21. Mr. K. Adhikari reported that maize is the second most important staple food crop in Nepal. It is the main crop in the hilly and mountainous areas as well as in the intermediate zones, and it ranks second (after rice) in the terai zone. It occupies about 30% of the total cultivated land and represents about 27% of the cereal production. It is grown throughout the country both as a monocrop as well as an intercrop with finger millet, soybean, other legumes, potatoes, upland rice etc.
22. In 1997 the total area under cultivation was about 800,000 ha with a total production of 1,360,000 MT. The average yield was 1,700 kg/ha. The hilly and mountainous zone occupies about 8% of the total maize area (64,000 ha), the intermediate zone 70% (560,000 ha) and the terai zone 22% (175,000 ha). The yields are generally low at present, and there is a serious gap between potential and actual yields. The low yields are attributed to unpredictable monsoon rains, poor soil fertility, droughts, use of low yielding unimproved varieties, inadequate or even negligible use of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. The Agricultural Input Corporation (AIC) is the sole public sector organization for meeting seed demand and marketing of food crops including maize. A hybrid research and development programme has been recently initiated with the aim of developing suitable maize hybrids for the terai and inner terai regions.
Pakistan
23. Dr. Mohammad Aslam emphasized that maize is the third most important cereal (after wheat and rice) in Pakistan. It accounts for about 45% of the total cropped area. In 1997, the total area under cultivation was 882,000 ha with a total production of 1,250,000 MT and average yield of 1,429 kg/ha. The average annual growth rate of the area harvested during the period 1987-1997 was 0.4%. The average annual growth rate of production during the same period was 1.1%, and the average growth rate of yield was 0.8%. The overall static production for the last few years is due to the low investment for research, extension and education, lack of improved and suitable varieties/hybrids, lack of seed production/distribution system, marketing difficulties and lack of mechanization.
24. NWFP and Punjab are the major maize production provinces. Approximately 65% of the area under maize has access to irrigation, while the remaining 35% of the maize area is under rainfed conditions. Most of the maize area is still under unimproved local varieties of early maturity and low yield potential. However, about 26% of the area is planted with improved composite varieties. The most commonly used improved varieties at present are the varieties Golden, Sultan, Gauhar, Kisan 90, Pahari, Agaiti 85 and Kashmir Golden, which were released during the recent period from 1995-1998. Hybrid maize covers 10-15% of the total area at present. The use of hybrid maize is due to intervention of the private seed sector. Mainly single cross hybrids are in use, and the area is steadily increasing.
Philippines
25. Dr. A.M. Salazar indicated that maize in the Philippines is used as a food and feed crop. It is the staple food of 20% of the population. The total area under cultivation in 1997 was 2.73 million hectares, with a total production of 4.33 million metric tons and an average yield of 1.59 tons/ha. It is estimated that about 20% of the total area is covered by hybrid maize. Large quantities of maize are imported annually to meet the growing demand by the livestock industry. The major factors resulting in production shortfalls, as identified by the Department of Agriculture, are: a) limited adoption of modern technologies, b) declining maize area, c) limited access of farmers to credit, d) high transport and marketing costs, e) government monopoly on imports/exports, f) inadequate infrastructure support, g) weak institutional capacity and linkages, h) poorly organized maize producers and weak cooperative organizations, i) high post-harvest losses and aflatoxin infection.
26. About 600,000 households depend on maize cultivation for their livelihood. Over 80% of them live below the poverty line. The private and public sectors continue to be very active in trying to increase maize production and productivity in the country. The Institute of Plant Breeding is deeply involved in maize work, including research work on hybrid maize. A maize program called Agriculturang Makamasa (Agriculture for the Masses) is expected to be launched in 1999. This program aims at maize productivity improvement.
Thailand
27. Dr. Y. Chantachune stated that since 1950 maize has been one of the most important economic crops in Thailand. In fact, in 1995, maize was among the five most importanct economic crops (rice, rubber, sugarcane, cassava and maize). The value of total maize production was 400 million U.S. dollars in 1995. The maize area was more or less stable during the period from 1993 to 1997 (1.3-1.4 million ha). However, there was a slight increase in grain yield from 2.731 kg/ha in 1993 to 2.975 kg/ha in 1997; also, in the total production, from 3.33 million tons in 1993 to 4.12 million tons in 1997. The rapidly growing livestock industry has significantly increased the demand of maize grain in the country, up to 4.4 million tons in 1997. For this reason, Thailand had to import about 400,000 tons of maize yearly during the period from 1995 to 1997.
28. The improved open-pollinated varieties (OPVs), especially Sawan 1, played an important role in increasing maize yield during the period from 1950 to 1980. Later on the increase in yield was mainly due to hybrids. After the release of Sawan 1 in 1976 other improved OPVs released include Sawan 2, Rangsit (baby corn), Sawan 3, Nakhon Sawan 1 and Sawan 5. The most popular high yielding single-cross hybrid CP-DK 888 was released in 1991 and till now the farmers in Thailand and some other Asian countries (Vietnam, Indonesia) still continue to use this hybrid. Other hybrids released from 1989 to 1997 include KSX 2301, KTX 2606, KTX 3101, KBTX 3501 (baby corn), Sawan 3601 and Sawan 3851.
29. The preference of the farmers now is to grow crops other than maize, which are more profitable such as sugarcane, cassava, sesame, fruit crops etc. Because of this tendency there is little or no chance of expanding the maize area. Therefore, increase in production will come from yield increases. A wider diffusion of single cross hybrids will be required for this purpose. The use of high yielding single cross hybrids resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses, of good quality seed and other critical inputs, together with an efficient crop management system, could give the required production increases. This should be supported by proper pricing and an improved marketing system.
Vietnam
30. Professor Tran Hong Uy highlighted that maize is a very important crop in Vietnam. However, at present, maize is mainly used as animal feed. Significant increases have been recorded in recent years in the area under cultivation, total production and productivity. The total area under maize in 1997 was about 690,000 ha with a total production of 1,690,000 tons and an average yield of 2.45 tons/ha. About 43% of the total area was under hybrid maize.
31. Through the maize breeding work several Open Pollinated Varieties (OPVs) have been developed and released. Seven OPVs (TH2A, TH2B, VM1, TSB2, MSB49, TSB21 and HS36) were released from 1973 to 1993. Another five OPVs (MSB 2649 - Viamit, VN1, CV1, TSBs - sweet corn and VN2 - waxy corn) were released from 1994 to 1997. Through the work on hybrid maize six non-conventional hybrids (LS-3, LS-4, LS-5, LS-6, LS-7 and LS-8) were released from 1991 to 1993. In addition, 12 conventional hybrids were released from 1991 to 1997.
32. Further increases in production and productivity could be achieved by making available to farmers quality seed of improved high yielding open pollinated varieties and hybrids of different maturity groups, adaptable to each agro-ecological zone. Moreover, development and use of open pollinated varieties/hybrids resistant to certain abiotic and biotic stresses (drought, cold, saline and acid soil, downy mildew etc.) could help to expand the area under cultivation and further enhance maize production and productivity. In addition, strengthened cooperation between Vietnam and foreign seed companies, to produce high quality hybrid seed locally, could be very helpful.
