Agricultural Innovation Program (AIP) for Pakistan: Maize Semi-Annual Report, April-Sept, 2017

Abstract

AIP-maize is a collaboration work between public and private institutions in Pakistan aimed to enhance the availability, affordability and accessibility of maize seeds and varieties particularly by the smallholder farmers. AIP-maize currently works with 22 public and private partners across 37 districts in all provinces of Pakistan including Gilgit Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK). The program focuses on the evaluation and validation of diverse maize products sourced from international maize breeding hubs to fast track the deployment of best-bet products in Pakistan. So far 52 finished maize products have been allocated to both public and private institutions and more than 5000 kg of the parental seeds of these hybrids and open pollinated varieties produced in Pakistan. AIP maize works on the introduction and/or development of climate resilient maize germplasm; introduction and/or development of biofortified maize; development and/or introduction of maize tolerant to biotic stresses and enhancing the maize seed sector of Pakistan. In general, improving the capacity of national programs across the maize seed value chain is the centerpiece of AIP-maize. During the reporting period partners able to produce more than three thousand kilogram of parental seeds. In addition, partners able to validate the adaptability of 88 maize products for the diverse maize growing environments of Pakistan. These selected products included biofortified maize, heat stress tolerant hybrids, drought stress tolerant germplasms and diverse maturity group of white and yellow maize hybrids. The first time in Pakistan, the seed production of three biofortified maize hybrids started in this period which ensures continued provision of source seed for further seed multiplication and scale up. As part of maize products promotion and facilitation of linkages among stakeholders, AIP hosted the first ever national maize exhibition in Pakistan which was inaugurated by H.E Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan, Federal Minister for Ministry of National Food Security and Research. More than 220 participants including but not limited to policy makers, scientists, seed companies, food and feed processors, higher learning institutions, local and international research and development institutions, farmers among others attended the three days national event. Furthermore, AIP organized a national maize traveling seminar where stakeholders visited the different maize trail stations and various innovation platforms. The exposure was a valuable opportunity for experience sharing and lessons learning among the different value chain actors. A total of 50 maize professionals drawn from twenty eighty public and private institutions attended in the two phases of the traveling seminar which is termed by the participants as “a mobile school”. The program also tested eleven types of maize trials consists of 542 new products during the spring 2017 season. This semiannual report covers the period from April 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017 and includes a detailed summary and major results and outcomes as well as noteworthy operational achievements that contributed to the overall success of AIP.