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

Farmers must constantly strive to meet higher standards for production, to maximize yields,
and to minimize their cost of production.
A company like Pacific must ensure the high quality of the seed it sells, and of the sales
and "after-sales" service.
Fooctions of Pacific seeds.
OUr main functions in Asia are:
1. Breeding We are active from Turkey in the West, to JaPan in the East.
2. Production: We produce directly or with partners at more than 7 strong production
bases in Asia and the Pacific.
3. Processing: We designed the VIAPAC long-life seed packaging to ensure that farmers
get fresh, vigourous seeds.
4. Marketing: We have strong farmer-centered marketing throughout Asian countries for
the principal field crops. OUr marketing staff are highly trained in
technology of crop production.
5. Industry-building: It is a key point of Pacific policy to build strong crop indus
tries, in which we can then play our role.
c. Pacific com in Asia.
Pacific Seeds are actively involved in corn improvement throughout Asia, from Turkey to
Japan. We are fortunate in being able to use our Zeneca (ICI) seeds global network for consultation,
advanced genetic biotechnology, and to speed up plant breeding and seed increases.
Pacific Seeds places strong emphasis on breeding for high yield under stress conditions.
Stresses which are common are:
a. Moisture stress: In Asia, a lot of corn is produced in the semi-arid tropics, where
rainfall distribution is erratic.
b. Heat stress: some countries in the region experience temperatures in excess of 40 C.
c. Light stress: In the humid tropics, cloudy skies represent less than optimum solar
radiation.
d. Flooding: High intensity storms and tropical depressions often lead to temporary
flooding of upland maize crops.
e. Nutrient stress: In the past, Asian farmers have often applied low levels of nutri
ents to maize, and natural fertility has decreased.
D. Oi seases and pests.
Resistances are also central to our program. In fact, we are fortunate that good genetic
resistance is available to nearly all serious pests and diseases of maize in Asia. Often,
incorporation of resistance can be complemented with use of integrated pest management programs,
and prophylactic fungicide treatments.
selected planting patterns and agronomic practices are also being used to ensure that
farmers obtain best results from the levels of disease and pest resistances in their maize
hybrids.
Export qual ity grain is a very important consideration in the Pacific seeds programs.
Because of our strong involvement wi th corn produced in Asia for nearly 20 years, we know that
todays corn importer may be tomorrows exporter, and that export markets will pay a premi l.IlI for
Asian f1 int corns. This is why you will find all Pacific seeds corn (and sorghl.lll) hybrids have
export quality grain.
In summary, Pacific Seeds is an Asian seed service company, approaching the final customer,
the farmer, with a market orientation. In the past 30 years we have developed technology which
works well at the small farmer level, and yet comes from some of the worlds most advanced
biotechnology research. Because of this, we can invite your to join with us in "growing for a
better future".
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