Maize Research and Development in NARC:

Status, Challenges and new Intervention Initiatives

Dil Bahadur Gurung and Jiban Shrestha

National Maize Research ProgramRampur, Chitwan, Nepal

Maize in Nepal and in Global scenario Life saving and staple

food for crop for Nepal

Maize consumption 45.5 and Rice and wheat 78, &

37.9 kg/capita/ yr

Important for Food security

25.8 % share in total edible food production

Major ingredients of feeds & 40% used in feeds

Raw materials for industrial uses

Crop of options ( hybrids, synthetics, composite s and many more)

140 million hectares grown worldwide

Staple food in 22 countries 17% food & 66% feed

Highest productivity and lead crop

Two or more crops per year

Status of Maize in Nepal

99.4487.17 86.56

0.56 12.83 13.440

50100150

Terai Hills Mountain

Percentage of improved and local maize area in different regions in 2009/10

Percentage contribution of maize in different sectors in 2009/10

Area (ha), production (mt) and productivity (kg/ha) of maize in 2009/10

Improved Local

Area, production and productivity of maize at different agro-ecozones, 2009/10

Period Area Production Yield

1970-1974 1.48 2.50 0.85

1975-1979 -0.69 -10.30 -9.71

1980-1984 5.96 3.22 -2.57

1985-1989 6.31 12.14 5.47

1990-1994 0.41 2.07 1.65

1995-1999 0.99 2.67 1.68

2000-2004 0.84 4.03 3.17

2005-2010 0.87 2.45 2.28

Growth rate of area, production and productivity (%) of maize (1970-2010)

Popular released maize varieties based on

domain/regionsTerai: (3)Arun-1Arun-2Rampur Composite

Mid hills: (8)Manakamana-1Manakamana-3Manakamana-4Manakamana-5Manakamana-6Poshilo Makai-1DeutiShitala

High hills: (2)Ganesh-1Ganesh-2

Yield potential (t/ha)

 Number Varieties

High yielding (>5 t/ha)

8 Mana-4, Mana-5, Mana-6 Shitala, Poshilo Makai-1, Deuti, Mana-3 Gaurav,

Medium (4-5 t/ha) 7 Khumal Yellow, RC, Rampur-2, Mana-1, Arun-1, Rampur-1, Ganesh-1

Low yielding (<4 t/ha)

2 Ganesh-2, Arun-2

Grouping of maize varieties based on yield potential

Major cereal crops and their contribution Crops Total edible

production (Mt)% contribution Contribution in

GDPContribution in AGDP

Rice 2185936 44 7.97 29.14

Maize 1282438 25.8 2.5 7.35

Wheat 1248333 25.1 2.8 10.24

Major Achievements

Germplasm under evaluation

Pipeline genotypes Mid hills Terai

OPVs ( early) 13 -

OPVs ( QPM) 17 -

OPVs (full Season) 17 40

Total 47 40

Major diseases resistant germplasm

Diseases OPVs Synthetics Inbreds

NLB 7 2 pop 18

SLB 7 - -

BLSB - 2 pop 14

GLS 4 - -

Varietal development of QPM (Poshilo Makai-1 released and S99TLYQB in the process of release)

Yield potential (S99TLYQB): 4.5 t/ha

Germplasm collections

Karnali zone (5 districts) :137 seed samples

Mid hills (17 districts):355 seed samples

Contd. Achievements

Maize seed production trend of last 6 years

Source seed production and distribution Seed class Area Expected F/S

seeds from B/SArea Expected certified

seeds

1. B/S 2.8 ton 140 ha 210 ton 10500 ha 21000 ton

2. F/S 74 ton 3700 ha 7400 ton C/S 370000 ha (41% area)

925000 ton grains

Efforts made towards the development of hybrids

Hybrid Maize Breeding (1987-2010)1987 : hybrid work initiated

1988-1993: work on this period poorly documented

1994: developed S3XS3 crosses and developed and yields at par with ProAgro and Pioneer

1997: 9 Indian hybrids evaluated and received TAMNET hybrid trial regularly

1998: started developing inbred s from popular OPVs from (R/C and Arun-2 ) and ABD developed 100 S4 lines from Mana-2 and Arun-4

NMRP received 109 inbreds CIMMYT and 169 from AMRP and 127 hybrids tested at multi-locations

1999: NMRP started systematic work on hybrid and carried out testing at multi-locations locations and regularly received hybrid trials from CIMMYT

2003: Gaurav released for the first time in Nepal ((NML-2/NML-1)

2006-2008: Hybrid work supported by KOICA through ICF, a Korean NGO due to irregular funding, the project taken up by NARC from 2009

NMRP has now maintained 162 stable inbred lines, 3 heterotic groups of OPVs and 5 heterotic groups of inbred lines

Grain yield of NMRP developed hybrids

Hybrids evaluated from 2008-2010 winter at NMRP, Rampur

Hybrids Mid hills Terai Year

1. Top cross (Yellow & White) 77 2008

2. Double cross 85 2008

3. Three way cross 48 2008

4. Single cross hybrids 53 2008

5. Single cross hybrids 324 2009

6. Single cross hybrids 411 2010

7. Promising hybrids

8. Total hybrids 77 921

SN Nepali hybrids Grain yield (kg/ha)1 RML-7/RML-8 109072 RML-4/RML-5 107523 RML-6/RML-8 100624 RML-4/RML-5 100255 RML-6/NML-1 100086 RL-30/RL-35 98337 RL-14/RL-35 98218 RL-14/RML-8 97889 RML-3/RML-8 954610 RML-3/RML-7 953011 RML-3/RML-6 945912 RML-4/RML-3 942513 NML-2/RML-6 939214 NML-2/RML-5 938315 RML-5/NML-1 932716 RML-3/NML-1 932117 RML-6/RML-7 925718 RML-4/RML-7 920819 NML-2/RML-6 920120 RML-5/NML-1 911821 RML-8/NML-1 907722 RL-17/NML-1 906823 RL-30/RL-5 9047

Average 9589.348

SN Hybrid GY

1 NML-1xRML-8 6663.52 NML-1xRML-6 6293.3

3Pioneer-30G10xRML-8 6978.5

4 NML-1xRML-5 6367.45 RML-4xNML-2 57016 NML-1xRML-8 79107  NML-1xRML-6 60308 NML-1xRML-8 79109  NML-1xRML-6 6030

10 NML-1xRML-5 6367.411 RML-4xNML-2 570112 NML-1xRML-8 6663.513 NML-1xRML-6 6293.3

Average 6494.2

On station tested superior Nepalese hybrids

Promising Nepalese hybrids with their yield potential

Germplasm for hybrid work

Testing of Hybrids under Maize Mission Program

Seed Company

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Bio-seed 125 150 130 178 250

Pioneer 72 100 120 130 170

Pro-agro 70 70 70 35 30

Seed tech 80 80 70 60 50

Monsanto 25 25 43 68 150

Others 15 150 97 66 180

Total 522(2.98%)

575(3.29%)

5303.03%)

576(3.29%)

720(4.11%)

500 ( 2.77%)

Hybrids seeds marketed into Nepal

Multi-national hybrids tested at Rampur, Parwanipur and Tarahara

Grain yield (above 9 t/ha)

Domains (grain yield > 9 t/ha)

Parwanipur Rampur Tarahara

P 3856Bisco prince

Bisco heera DKC 9081 MM-1107

NMH 666 (Sandhya) P 3856

Bisco x 97 gold Bisco x 81 Bisco x 92 9681 P 3856 C-1946

Bisco x 97 gold

C-1946 Naya 940 Madhur MM-1107 30B11 Pinnacle Shaktiman

Bisco princeBisco bumper C-1950 CP-808 Prabal NMH 1242 C-1945

P 3404 P 3856Proagro 4642

Bisco heera

Bisco x 97 gold T.C.S.-9696 P 3540

Shaktiman MM-1109Dekalb DK 984 MM-7705 30B11 NMH 909

9681 C-1945 Pinnacle NMH 1242 900 M Gold Tx 369Prabal T.C.S.-9696 C-1946 Tx 369 CommandoNMH 666 (Sandhya)

Bisco x 97 gold Prabal MM-1109 P 3404

Bisco x 81 P 3404 CP-828RML-4/NML-2 9681

Pinnacle C-6485 CP-666   10V20MM-1107 Rajkumar P 3785   9220Tx 369 Shaktiman P 3522  

Superior hybrids of multinational seed company hybrid, 2010

Fast Track Hybrid Breeding Program

Agronomic traits of RML4 and NML2 inbreds  

Parameter RML-4 NML-2 

Days to 50% silking 62 75  

Plant height (cm) 120 190 

Grain yield (kg ha-1)

1250 1500

Agronomic traits of a Hybrid ( RML4/NML2

Parameter Winter Summer

Early Late

Days to 50% silking 71 (68-78)

107 (95-122)

67 (59-71)

Plant height (cm)

203 (153-225)

126 (95-176)

166 (153-181)

Grain yield (kg ha-1)

7005 (5224-8694)

5579 (4395-7188)

3555 (2308-4802)

Proposed “Rampur Hybrid-2” for release in 2011

Research Priority Areas

Development of OPVs for Hills (Yellow and White)

FS Normal Early QPM OPVs Drought and GLS tolerant varieties

Development of Hybrids for Hills (Yellow and White)

Accessible Areas

Conventional + Non-Conventional

Remote Hills

Non-Conventional

Research Priority Areas for High and Mid hills

OPVs Hybrids

Composites QPMSynthetics

Normal hybrids QPM hybridsHeat/ Cold stress tolerant

Hybrids for Industrial Purposes

Research Priority Areas for Terai/Inner Terai

Research priority for addressing the effects of climate change

Development of resilient maize

varieties

Drought for hills

GLS for hills

Cold stress for

terai

Heat stress for

terai

Major Issues

Major Issues

1. Low productivity

2. Big Yield Gap01234567

Experiment yield Attainable yield National average yield

6.75.7

2.2

0

2

4

6

8

10

Experiment yield

Attainable yield National average yield

8.157.27

2.63

Yield gap of hybrids

Yield gap of OPVs

Contd …… Major Issues

3. Low Seed Replacement Rate ( 12%) and desirable SRR is 33%

4. Very limited hybrid varietal options (Gaurav)

5. Inadequate crop management technologies (plant density, nutrient and weeds)

6. Gray Leaf Spot (Cercospora zea

maydis), a great threat Local Vs Manakamana-3

Contd …… Major Issues

7. Low level of mechanization

8. Climate change (drought,

heat and cold stresses)

9. Less involvement of private sector

in cereal seed production

Local Vs Manakamana-3

Variety Seed Company Losses ( %)

1. Pioneer 30V92 PHI 85

2. Pioneer 30B07 PHI 20-39

3. Pioneer 30 B11 PHI 20-39

4. Pioneer 30B30 PHI 20-39

5. Pinnacle Mansanto 20-39

6. TCS 9696 Tropical Co 85

7. Sandhya Nuzibidu Co 85

8. Super Prince Visco

Seed Tech 85

Losses due to grain setting problem

Recommendation on PPP

Potential Areas for PPP

Capacity building of partners

Trainings/ visits/

internships

Potential areas for PPP with NARC

Sharing of information

and materials

Benefits of Partnership

Collaboration and coordination with Research and development

Access to germplasm and information and enrich the germplasm base

Multi-locations testing for hybrids

Capacity building

Value addition and market linkage through PPP

Employment generation through seed production, processing and marketing

Research more relevant to farmers and for industries

Private knowledge of market dynamics

Exchange of knowledge and germplasm

Access to technology and knowledge to the private sector

Increased productivity of maize

Development of high yielding hybrid

Development of varieties for climate change: Drought/heat stress/cold stress

Development of Disease and insect pest resistant varietiesTraining and

human resource development

Popularization of new available cultivars

Development of low N stress tolerant varieties

Improved agri tools and machineries

•Development of crop production technology with emphasis on cost reducing, input efficient and resource•Seed production technology•Soil fertility improvement

Production Enhancing technologies

Productivity Enhancing Technologies

Issue: Low productivity of maizeWays to address:

Increased seed production of maize

Bring FS into seed cycle (GoN should check miss use of FS)

Strengthening CBSP/Farmers seed producer group

Training to seed growers

Market linkage (seed companies/agrovets)

Distribution of seed only to capable seed growers

Monitoring of seed plot by seed inspectors

Increase availability of inputs and provision of subsidy to inputs

Issue: Low seed production of maize (I/S)Ways to address:

Issue: Inadequate hybrid research and developmentWays to address:

Think for future generation