Maize Productivity for the 21st Century: the African Challenge

Abstract

Maize is a major food crop in southern and eastern Africa. It is widely grown by smallholders, and forms an important part of the transformation of smallholder agricultural systems that has taken place this century. But, despite commendable efforts in technology development at both the national and the international level, agricultural productivity is well below that necessary to help create strong, healthy African economies. No single solution is likely to be found for this problem. In this paper, two major possible foci are outlined. First, there is a need to match advances in crop improvement (through breeding) with developments in crop management. Second, and directly associated with the search for improved crop management methods, a concerted effort, involving public and private agricultural service agencies, as well as local farmer groups, NGOs, and other rural associations, is needed so that priorities are set correctly, that the right questions are asked, and that the solutions found are delivered quickly to those who need them.

Soil fertility management in sub-Saharan Africa

“…Many researchers contend that basic problems of availability, for example "getting the right fertilizer to the right place at the right time", are at least as important as price-response Soil Fertility Management in Sub-Saharan Afrtica 38 interactions in determining fertilizer use (Fontaine 1991;Pinstrup-Andersen 1993;Blackie 1995). Though these are often referred to as non-price factors, distribution problems affect prices and are not separable from them.…”

The incidence of Fusarium moniliforme on maize from Central America, Africa and Asia during 1992–1995

“…Recent discussions with breeders, farmers and researchers indicated that stalk and cob rots are one of the major constraints on this staple food crop (Blackie, 1994;Nowell, 1994;O. CIMMYT, 1995, Jeffers personal communication).…”

“…Maize is one of the major staple food grains grown throughout both the developed and the developing world. In developing countries much is grown by small growers, for their own consumption and also in order to provide a modest source of income (Blackie, 1994;Julian et al 1995). Stalk and cob rots are still major constraints to production.…”

A review of evidence, agreements, concepts and tools relating to participatory agricultural research

“…Economic growth in rural areas has been insufficient to offer alternative means of employment for the rural poor. Profits from farming at low levels of productivity have been too small to allow farmers to reinvest in their farms and maintain productivity at acceptable levels (Eicher, 1990;Blackie, 1994). Meanwhile, continual increases in population have depleted both the available resource base and social entitlements which hitherto provided a state of equilibrium in rural areas (Lele, 1989).…”