Dr Ligeyo, D. O. Dr Kiiya W., Onyango, R.,Margaret Kamidi,  Wanyonyi Mary, Barkutwo Joseph

Maize is the most important staple food crop in Kenya. Maize is also a major business crop and fulfils the two roles of food and cash for a majority of farmers in high and medium altitude zones of Kenya. This is therefore why maize is grown on basically all the 1.4 million small-holdings in the country and by nearly 80% of the large scale farmers in varying quantities. Owing to this importance maize is a priority research commodity.  Maize research involves genetic improvement to develop new and improved varieties, agronomic practices research and crop protection including insect and disease pests with emphasis on host plant resistance.  Social and economic impacts on maize production and post-harvest value addition studies are also undertaken.
In line with this year’s Field Day theme “Demand Driven Technologies Along Agricultural Product Value Chain for Wealth Creation and Improved Livelihoods” several maize production technologies are demonstrated during this 2008 field day. [more....]

Sub-programmes:
  Maize breeding sub-program
  Maize Agronomy Sub-program