Proceedings of the Sixth Asian Regional Maize Workshop

Abstract

The Asian Regional Maize Workshop has been an important activity in the region to bring together scientists from the public and private sectors to interact and exchange results oftheir work through various presentations. Also, in having a field demonstration of the important and new germplasm available from each country, scientists were able to examine the performance of these materials at the time of the workshop. The previous workshops were held in Thailand, Indonesia, Pakistan, Vietnam, and China. This particular workshop was unique in a way as the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (lCAR), the Maize Directorate and the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) took the initiative in organizing the workshop providing not only the facilities but also accommodation, food and travel to some of the participants. The first part of the workshop was held in Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana October 30-31, and the second part in the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi from November 1-3, 1995. The workshop was indeed a success as participants from all the maize growing countries in the region attended. Of particular importance was the presence ofthe private sector and their very active participation and interaction during the discussion sessions were most welcome. A workshop ofthis nature is extremely important as it brings awareness to the rapidly changing scenario of maize demand and supply in the region. Some ofthe senior officials of ICAR, in particular, Dr Mangala Rai made an excellent presentation to bring to the scientists attention the changing scenario of maize needs for food, feed and industrial uses in the region so the scientists, while presenting their country reports can highlight these points in their presentation. The need for maize as feed is increasing dramatically in the region over the past decade or so. Some ofthe countries have shifted from the position of being exporter to a net importer of maize grain in recent years. The regional workshop has been very useful in defining new research activities to cope with new emerging problems and challenges that have been observed in recent years. This region has been particularly effective in developing proposals for collaborative research projects, designing problem solving strategies, and providing useful germplasm for such constraints. An exceedingly important effort was made in strengthening of collaborative research projects that are difficult, resource consuming and involve problems of biotic and abiotic nature. This workshop provided the forum for exchange of results and progress made in various collaborative research activities that are underway in the region. Country reports have been a very important feature ofthe workshop as each scientist brings the latest information from his country and presents it to collegeaues in this region. Country reports are also very useful in presenting the changing situation of maize production and use of germplasm products. The interesting highlight ofthe workshop was a very timely theme, "Maize seed production and seed situation in Asia" which was thoroughly discussed by maize scientists from each country. The organizing committee of the workshop also requested special lectures by inviting the Director of Maize Program, CIMMYT to talk on the "Current Status of Maize Research at CIMMYT". In addition, a special lecture on "Concepts and Use of Testers in Maize Breeding Research" provided information on hybrid technology so that scientists from different countries were made aware ofthe new research initiatives that they may have to take in the future. Highlighted in the workshop was the increasing importance of strengthening private-public interactions and developing partnership in areas where one can benefit from the other and working in the spirit of togetherness. Commitments and offers were made from private and public sectors to identify and even financially supporting areas of common interest. The shifting trend in the use of germplasm products in each country and in the region as a whole was underscored. It was important to point out the rapid change in thinking and exploitation of the various hybrid options that are available to the maize scientist. A few examples from some countries which have rapidly shifted to two parent single cross hybrid maize should encourage thinking to shift breeding methodologies to adopt the best hybrid options to increase maize productivity in each country. We are going to witness dramatic growth in hybrid maize in several countries in the region. It is imperative that we strengthen the available maize networks like TAMNET and more testing activities are done on hybrid maize technology. Apart from the presentations and country reports, the workshop gave the scientists the opportunity to look at various germplasm products that have been developed and are in use in each country. A lot can be learned by examining the field demonstrations and by studying the behavior of the materials where they have not been tested before. In this particular workshop the field demonstration trials were planted both in PAU, Ludhiana and at IARI, New Delhi. At Ludhiana the materials were harvested at the time of demonstration and the scientists were able to examine and take notes on the yield and plant types and some reactions to leaf diseases. Unfortunately, in New Delhi only the harvested piles could be observed as the materials could not be left in the field any longer. The regional workshop got a very positive support from the private sector. They contributed to provide meals and at times directly supported the travel of key speakers.