Phase II Field days

In Nepal, CIMMYT’s Heat Stress Tolerant Maize for Asia (HTMA) project organized a hybrid maize field day on September 28, 2019, at the Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS) in Khajura, managed by R.D. Chaudhary (RARS) and M. Tripathi (NMRP) in the Nepalgunj district. The event attracted over 80 participants who evaluated and scored maize hybrids based on their preferences and specific criteria. Attendees included local maize farmers, representatives from Nepali seed companies, agricultural input dealers, government seed system officers, maize researchers from NMRP and other research stations, officials from the National Agricultural Research Council, the Director of Crops & Horticulture at NARC, and Hailu Wordofa, Agricultural Development Officer from USAID. From CIMMYT, P.H. Zaidi, senior maize physiologist and HTMA project leader, was also present. Participants toured the demonstration plots, evaluating the performance of the hybrids, and submitted their selection lists to CIMMYT.

Field-visit in Bhairahawa in Nepal

Sixteen hybrids that had been developed and licensed to various partners of the HTMA project were displayed in the demonstration plots at Bhairawa in Nepal. These hybrids were demonstrated by Lumbini seed company on their demonstration plot on 21 August 2024 to the HTMA partners. Each of the sixteen hybrids were planted in a 30 m square plot and  detailed explanation about the hybrids and demo plot given by Dr. M.P. Tripathi, NMRP and Mufid Alam, Lumbini Seeds. In addition, the partners of the HTMA project had extensive discussion on the performance of these hybrids with the farmers.