The Introduction of an Early Maturing Maize (Zea mays) Variety to a Mid-altitude Farming System in Ethiopia

Abstract

SUMMARYA farm survey conducted in Ethiopia in 1986 identified seasonal food shortage as an important problem facing farmers. The researchers proposed the development of an early maturing maize variety to alleviate the problem and by 1988, on-farm trials of a selected variety were initiated. About two-thirds of the farmers retained part of the harvested crop as seed for planting, indicating their strong interest in the variety. Farmer-designed trials were found to be especially effective for obtaining farmers' assessment of the new variety and for monitoring how they incorporated it into the farming system.Maíl con maduración temprana para Etiopía