A total of 5 papers were presented in this session. The key points and suggestions made by each speaker are summarized below:||I. S. Pandey: Expressed growing concerns on increased demand of maize in the region which perhaps will be difficult to meet thus necessitating import of 44MT of maize by the year 2020. He talked about declining funding for research and emphasized the need to develop high yielding stable stress-tolerant OPV s and hybrids. He emphasized need to do more research on maize-based copping systems and to produce more on poorer soils without declining the resource base. The task indeed is too big and can be achieved through collaborative efforts of public, private and non-governmental organizations.|2. N .N .Singh: He described efforts of public funded institutions in India and free availability of this germplasm to indigenous and multinational seed companies. He pointed out the ICAR has further modified and implemented new seed policies to facilitate use of public-bred germplasm by private sector including multinationals. He further expressed hope that private sector in future will develop maize germplasm that is suitable for less-favorable environments and that different institutions in the country will work in a harmonious way.|3. Weerachai: He recognized that in their early efforts on hybrid maize research, the private companies in general benefited from the improved germplasm received from the public institutions. He pointed out that hybrid growth in the region is quite impressive and that to meet the challenge some minor issues and concerns should be considered with open mind by both sectors. He also emphasized the need to simply policies in the seed sector and to address issues, concerns and solutions in a balanced and constructive manner.|4. Chockchai: He discussed about germplasm development efforts in the Kasetsart University and by the Department of Agriculture, Thailand. Several source populations and at least 46 inbred lines have been developed and released to accelerate maize breeding and hybrid development efforts in the country .He referred to collaboration with private sector in cooperative hybrid trials and the best performing entries in each year. Since 1989 and thereafter the top yielding hybrids have been single crosses. He believes that both public and private sector have enjoyed good cooperation to meet needs of farmers for newer and better performing hybrids.|5. Tran Hong Uy: He mentioned about rapid growth in food production due to correct and sound agricultural policies of the government. The area and yield are both increasing in the country . From zero acreage under hybrids in 1990, the country has brought 43% of the area under maize hybrids with an average yield of 2.3 tons/ha. In the end he thanked various international organizations for their support.

English

0208|AGRIS 0201|AL-Maize Program|R01PROCE

Juan Carlos Mendieta

CIMMYT Publications Collection