Maize is critical to livelihoods and food security in the mid-hills of Nepal but area, production and yields during 1990-2006 were not encouraging. Improved seed contributes about 25% of the production increment, which ought to be a focal point of interventions. The public seed supply during last ten years has been plagued by problems (145 t in 1996 and 2.11 t in 2005). Against that context, participatory maize varietal selection (PVS) was carried out to determine farmershighly preferred varieties Man-3 and Sitala were selected for seed production. A community-based seed production (CBSP) program was carried out in Palpa district of Nepal with the aim of establishing a maize seed production and marketing system as an enterprise for women farmers. Women farmer groups were involved in dissemination of improved maize production technologies after receiving hands-on training. The area used for this program ranged from 4.20 ha in 2003 to 12.45 ha in 2007 and income from US$ 689 in 2003 to US$ 3239 in 2007. The net benefit per ha from maize grain and maize seed was US$ 212 and US$ 525 respectively. Additional household income from CBSP ranged from US$ 54 to US$ 77. In essence, maize seed production can be an opportunity for improving household incomes and the food security status of women farmers.

Conservation Agriculture Program|Global Maize Program

Text in English

INT0317|INT3018