Farmers at the Kenyan coast lack a supply of affordable and timely maize seed- They often use unimproved and non- recommended seed, leading to poor yields. Since private companies have switched to hybrid maize varieties, the popular improved open pollinated variety, Coast Composite, is no longer offered in the market. To make this seed again available to the farmers. a seed production project was launched at the Coast. Pre-basic and basic seed of coast (Composite and two local varieties (Mungindo and Mengawa) was produced on-station, on 0.25 ha per variety and seed type, in total 1.5 ha. Commercial seed was produced by 4 community groups and 2 farmers in 5 sites, between 0.25 and 1.5 ha per site (4 ha in total). Isolation of plots from other maize farms at pollination was by time and space, and the seed plots were naturally random pollinated. Selection was done based on desirability of plant and ear characteristics before and after pollen shed. Emasculation before pollen shed and plant cutting above the ear was the roguing technique used. Total seed production was 2.8 tons. Seed was sold at harvest, on the spot and in bulk, at Ksh.100 per kilogram compared to the Current price for improved seed of Ksh.140 per kilogram. The demand for locally produced improved seed is large, but the costs of the project are high. Future activities should emphasize an increased production as well as a higher recovery of costs, in particular inputs such as basic seed, fertilizer and insecticide. Finally, the requirements for certified seed are prohibitively expensive for small-scale farmers and the market is too small for large-scale producers. Therefore, alternative delivery systems for improved maize seed as well as a new classification need to be explored.

Socioeconomics Program

English

0409|AGRIS 0401|AL-Maize Program

Juan Carlos Mendieta

INT2512

CIMMYT Staff Publications Collection