KARI to develop new maize varieties

16 July 2012. The Kenya agricultural research institute has said it is developing maize varieties for all ecological zones in Kenya.

According to principal scientist Dr. Stephen Mugo the new varieties will increase farmers' yields as well as withstand the changes in climatic conditions.

The same research is being carried out by regional states namely Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Ethiopia and South Africa.

The research under the water efficient maize for Africa project focuses on developing maize which is disease resistant and that can easily adapt to climate change.

The research is being carried out jointly by the international maize and wheat improvement center-Kenya and the Kenya agricultural training institute and will result to increased farmer earnings once seeds are introduced to the market late this year.

The WEMA project - The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) is leading a public-private partnership (Water Efficient Maize for Africa -WEMA) to develop drought-tolerant African maize using conventional breeding, marker-assisted breeding, and biotechnology.