Proceedings of the Fifth Asian Regional Maize Workshop - Search ...

POSSIBILITIES OF HYBRID MAIZE PROa.CTION IN BAfG.ADESH
Kazi Murtaza Kabi r.l1
Abstract
The production and use of hybrid maize in Bangladesh is limited due to the absence of
infrastructure required for the production and supply of seed at a commercial level. Maize is
cultivated on only about O.04~ of the total cropped area, but the crop has a great potential.
Areas that tend to be high and flood-free are best suited for maize cultivation. Economic
studies have indicated that when maize is harvested for green cobs or for both grain + cobs, the
profit is greater as compared to other field crops. In 1993, there was a more vigorous maize
market than in the previous year. Recently, the poultry industry has grown by as much as 1~.
The marketing system of maize is closely linked to wheat and rice markets. Development of
postharvest technologies has been neglected and should receive major attention in future work
plans (1994-95). The present strategy of the Bangladesh Agric. Res. Inst. (BARI) is to develop
and utilize ~ynthetics/compositesin the short-term and hybrids in the long-term. Inbreds have
been selected from CIMMYT and IITA germplasm for use in the development of synthetics/composites/hybrids.
A synthetic recently developed by BARI is to be released soon. A few
maize development agencies have studied the prospects of hybrid maize cultivation in Bangladesh.
Results are encouraging for a particular hybrid (Pac. 11), while yield superiority of the
other hybrids over the composites were less. Economic studies with hybrids have also indicated
that it might not be possible to get the highest yields at all locations/seasons and thus hybrids
would not be profitable since the seed and other inputs are costly. The success of hybrids
compared to BARI's composites suggests a future strategy of maize production consisting of two
phases:
1. The selection of composites/synthetic varieties in relation to the existing cropping systems
and seasons.
2. Development of infrastructure and programs for commercial production of hybrid seed to be
produced in selected areas, and their gradual dissemination throughout other maize growing areas.
Acronyms
BBS
FAa
GKF
CIMMYT
I ITA
DAE
BADC
IFDC
ICI
TSP
= Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
= Food and Agric. Organization of the United Nations.
= Rural Agric. Foundation (Grameen Krish Foundation),
a non government organization.
= Internatl. Maize and Wheat Improvmt. Center.
= Internatl. Inst. for Tropical Agriculture.
= Dept. of Agric. Extension.
= Bangladesh Agric. Developmt. Corp.
= Internatl. Fertilizer Developmt. Center.
= Imperial Chemical Industries.
= Triple Super Phosphate.
-!J Senior Scientific Officer, Maize Program. Plant Breeding Div., Bangladesh Agric. Res. Inst.
(BARI), Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh.
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