NATIONAL COORDINATED MAIZE, SORGHUM & MILLET PROGRAMME
NARC, Islamabad
MAIZE
OBJECTIVES
- Derivation/Maintenance of hybrid Linefor hybrid production.
- Development of early / medium maturity maize varieties and hybrids for specific climatic conditions.
- Evaluation / testing of national and international maize materials.
- Development of germplasm sources tolerant to drought cold, insect pests and other stress environments.
- Development of low cost production technologyfor farmers.
RESEARCH PROJECTS /ACTIVITIES
Germplasm Improvement
- Early maturity / Drought
- Cold / High altitude area
- Hybrid development
- Efficient Nitrogen utilization
Crop Stand Establishment
- Optimum panting geometry (up to 90,000 plants/ha)
Improved Nutrients Management
- Economical / Efficient use of nutrients under rainfed conditions
Research in CropProtection Measures
- Host plant tolerance for maize stem borer
- Efficacy of newly introduced insecticides.
- Host parasitoid interaction against insecticides.
Diversifying Maize Production & Utilization
- Development and promotion of baby corn
Economical Weed Management under rainfed conditions
- Efficient post emergence herbicide
- Innovation in herbicides application.
Seed Produciton
- Quality seed production of OPVs and hybrids.
- Processing and storage of maize seed.'
TECHNOLOGIES GENERATED/RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS
-
Grain cum fodder technique developed.
- Cost efficient package of production technology developed.
- Ridge planting of maize with economy of 30% water use introduced.
- Electrical / Manual maize Sheller designed and introduced to
farmers.
- A boom of hand sprayer for herbicide application developed
covering double the area.
ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE
Maize
Research Programme has developed and released a number of improved maize
varieties viz, Agaiti-85, Sultan, Golden, Sarhad White, Kissan, Pahari, Shaheen,
Gauhar, Kashmir Gold, Islamabad white, Islamabad Gold, Soan-3, Rakaposhi,
Sahiwal-2002, Agaiti-2002.These improved varieties have 2-3 fold yield potential
under appropriate crop management system.
White, Yellow and QPM genetically diverse pools / population have been
established at NARC Islamabad and provincial Cooperating Institutes.
Work towards hybrid development is in progress. Different maize hybrids YH 201,
FHY-421, FHY-810, YHDTC 606, Ghouri and Babar have been developed at CCRI
Pirsabak and MMRI Yousafwala.
Adaptability/National Uniform Yield Trial (NUYT) provide an opportunity to the
maize scientists to evaluate their material in different environments in the
country. The coordinated maize research programme regularly organizes two types
of NUYTs i.e. Short season and Full season. These trials are planted regularly
at about 35 locations throughout the country. The recommendation and release of
maize varieties for general cultivation in different ecologies of the country is
the out come of such activity. The quantum jump from 1870 kg/ha to 3037 kg/ha in
national average yield is attributed to Adaptability/NUYT Trials.
Cost effective fertilizer levels for rainfed and marginal areas delivered to the
farmers (121% increased income).
Efficient / economical weed control by Chemical herbicides identified and
recommended for general adoption (67% increased income).
Stem borer tolerant germplasm (MBR-1, MBR-2, MBR-3) has been developed.
Baby
corn is introduced in Pakistan and is liked by many people. Different varieties
for economical production of Baby corn are being tested.
Under heavy rainfall conditions planting of maize on ridges is recommended.
The
coordinated programme provide a very effective and strong linkage to maize
scientists both at National and International levels.
At national level it coordinates maize research activities among maize research
institutes, extension, agricultural, universities, private seed companies and
maize processing industries while at international level it has linked our
scientists with many international agencies i.e. CIMMYT, ICRISAT, and US
Universities. The exchange of maize germplasm, research information and exchange
of visiting scientists, have provided a global update to our scientists
regarding maize research activities.
The coordinated programme has played an active role in the development of
manpower in the country.
The maize programme organizes national, international workshop / seminars on important topics regarding maize, sorghum and millet research to provide an opportunity to maize scientists in the country for keeping them in touch with modern research findings and techniques. Since its beginning the following meetings have been organized:
International Workshops |
= 2 |
National Seminars |
= 2 |
Travelling Workshops |
= 4 |
The programme has been regularly disseminating the scientific information and research findings through publication the research findings, in scientific journals, review articles, brochures and handly pamphlets. So for 65 publications have been distributed to maize scientists, extension worker and interested growers.
In
addition the programme regularly organizes Annual Review and Planning Meetings
of maize, sorghum and millet scientists to discuss and present the research
findings and plan the annual maize research plans. It also provides a limited
financial support of about one million rupees annually to its research units for
very crucial research projects to be carried out on priority basis.
SORGHUM
OBJECTIVES
To evolve/develop / improve high yielding, early maturing sorghum and millet varieties and hybrids resistant to drought, pests and diseases responsive to optimum plant density and fertilizer.
To collect, evaluate and conserve local sorghum and millet germplasm in collaboration with PGRI, NARC, Islamabad.
To test national and international sorghum and millet germplasm in observation nurseries and replicated trials.
To study intercropping, weed control, sowing dates, fertilizer use and plant population for sorghum and millet varieties.
To develop production package of technology accessible/ acceptable and economical for the common farmers of rainfed areas.
To identify ways and means for transfer of improved technology through out-reach research activities.
RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS
In National Uniform Sorghum Yield Trials-2007 YSS-9 (3244 kg/ha) ranked top in grain yield followed by RARI-S-4 (2711 kg/ha) and SPV-462 (1911 kg/ha). RARI-S-4 produced the highest stalk yield (10.22 t/ha) followed by YSS-9 (10 t/ha).
In Participatory Sorghum Varietal Selection Mother Trial PARC-SS-2 (2584 kg/ha) and Johar (2222 kg/ha) were the outstanding varieties in grain yield.
MILLET
In
National Uniform Pearl Millet Yield Trial-2007 the hybrid RA-444 ranked top in
grain yield by producing 4000 kg/ha followed by JBBH-26 (3644 kg/ha), Bajra
Super-1 (3511 kg/ha), 86 M 32 (3244 kg/ha), 86 M 52 (3067 kg/ha) Mothi-3 (3244
kg/ha), RARI-C-4 (2799 kg/ha), PARC-MS-2 (2622 kg/ha), PARC-MS-5 (2622 kg/ha).
PARC-MS-5 ranked top in stalk yield by producing 18.22 t/ha followed by
PARC-MS-2 (15.55 t/ha) and Bajra Super-1 (15.33 t/ha).
TECHNOLOGIES GENERATED/RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS
Sorghum variety Johar and Pearl Millet variety Bajra Super-1 developed by Maize, Sorghum and Millet Programme at NARC has been approved by Variety Evaluation Committee (VEC).
Metolocholar+atrazine @ 1.00 kg (a.i)/ha with pre-emergence spray are most effective to control weeds in sorghum crop.
Application of 3G Furadan granules at sowing time @ 16 kg/ha i.e., soil application is most effective for control of insect attack in sorghum.
TRAVELLING SEMINAR ON MAIZE, SORGHUM AND MILLET 2007
Traveling Seminar on Maize, Sorghum and Millet crops was held during October-November-2007. Maize, sorghum and millet scientists from NARC, provincial cooperating research institutes and private seed companies participated in it. The participants went to Mirpur, Dudial, Bhimber, Bernala, Samahni (AJK) D.I. Khan, Pirsabak, Mansehra, Swabi (NWFP) Chakwal, Bhakkar, Layya, D.G. Khan, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Okara (Punjab) and observed the maize, sorghum and millet crops in farmers' fields and research institutes. At the end of the seminar recommendation for improvement of these crops were formulated.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF TRAVELLING SEMINAR-2007
|
1 |
Passport
data should be provided for every entry to be included in Adaptability
Trials. Not more than four entries per company should be included. |
|
2 |
Every
seed company should have its own internal system of evaluation of entries
i.e. they should first evaluate the entries to be included in Adaptability
Trials themselves. |
|
3 |
Objectives
of the entries to be tested must be specified i.e. whether they are going
to be marketed for early, medium or late maturity. |
|
4 |
Assigned
locations of adaptability trials must be observed. |
|
5 |
Adaptability
trails should not only be evaluated at harvesting time but they should
also be visited and evaluated at flowering stage by the teams consisting
of researchers and representatives of FSC & RD. |
|
6 |
The
trial should consist of entries for 3 segments. i.
Early: Planting should be completed by 20th
January. ii.
Medium: Planting should be completed from January 21 to the end of
February. iii.
Late: Planting should be
completed by March. |
|
7 |
Testing
fee contributed by the companies should be spent upon the execution of
adaptability trials. |
|
8 |
For
diversification of maize, special types of corn (sweet corn, baby corn)
need to be popularized in the country. |
|
9 |
For
early spring planting, maize hybrids with better cold tolerance have to be
developed and introduced. If both heat and cold tolerant hybrids of maize
can be grown successfully then maize, in many areas of Punjab and Sindh,
can be grown throughout the year. It can make sure year round supply of
maize grain for the feed and wet milling industry. |
|
10 |
Research
on quality protein on maize (QPM) varietal and hybrid development
initiated at NARC needs to be carried out at other institutes as well. The
private sector should also address this issue for improving the
nutritional status of maize. |
|
11 |
Since
the official agricultural statistics on these crops is not correct, there
is need to gather the actual statistics through extensive surveys, crop
cut surveys and diagnostic surveys. Also information on utilization of
these important cereals is more or less lacking e.g. the use of green cobs
has tremendously increased over the last several years but no official
statistics is available for this important component of maize crop.
Moreover, the fodder utilization of these crops is an important component
but no official data are available for these crops. Sorghum and millet are
the most important kharif fodders but no official statistics are available
in this regard. There is need to conduct surveys on economic return of
these crops in different parts of the country because the farmer is more
interested in profitability than the productivity of these crops. |
|
12 |
Sweet
Sorghum is good alternate source of raw material which can supplement the
use of Sugarcane for molasses production. It offers good opportunity for
producing molasses and ethanol to support the ever increasing fuel and
energy needs in the country. A project on sweet sorghum for exploring
possibilities of the production of molasses and ethanol should be
initiated on priority basis. |
|
13 |
The
lack of quality seed has been identified as the most important constraints
in production. The seed of improved varieties of these crops must be
multiplied through a reliable and dynamic crash programme to meet the seed
requirements of different ecologies. In addition to the availability of
improved seed, the farmers should be encouraged to adopt improved package
of production technology: |
Resource Person:
|
Muhammad Naeem |
National Coordinator |
| E-mail: | xsnaeem@yahoo.com |
[Last updated: May 2008]
