Agri body to develop drought tolerant maize varieties

William Chebusit,64,a former Councillor with his maize farm at Elenerai In Narok West.He lost several heads of beef cattle to deadly lumpy skin disease but that never stopped him from pursuing beef farming. PHOTOS:ROBERT KIPLAGAT.

A maize research body has launched a project to curb devastating effects of the environment on crop production in Sub-Saharan Africa. The International Maize and Wheat Improvement centre (CIMMYT) and its partners will develop new and improved maize varieties and hybrids with resistance and tolerance to drought, low soil fertility, diseases such as Maize Lethal Necrosis and pests. The project is known as Stress Tolerant Maize for Africa (STMA).

“STMA will use modern breeding technologies that will confer the desired resistance to pests and diseases and tolerance to climatic stresses like drought and heat to benefit farmers within their socio-economic capabilities, that often dictate their access to important farm inputs like fertilisers and improved seed,” said Tsedeke Abate, Project Leader of STMA.