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

3. Plant protection:
a. Diseases
The major diseases of maize in Nepal are:
Ear rot
Sta"lk rot
Downy mildew
Common rust
Turcicum and maydis leaf blights
Leptosphaeria leaf blight.
The recommended varieties Rampur Composite, Sarlahi Seto, Rampur 2, and Arun 2 are relatively
resistant to downy mildew and have been recommended to farmers. None of the recommended
varieties have been found resistant to ear rot, stalk rot, and leaf blights. The Kakani local
and Palung local (white and yellow) have shown some degree of field tolerance to ear rots.
b. Insect pests
In general, a large number of pests have been found causing significant damage to the maize
crop both in field and storage conditions. The most destructive field and storage insects are:
i. Field insects:
Cutworm (Agrotis spp.)
Maize stem borer (Chi70 parte77us)
Armyworm (Mythima separate)
Field cricket (Brachytrupes portentsus)
ii. Storage insects:
Maize weevil (Sitophi7us zeamaise)
Rice weevil (Sitophi7us oryzae)
None of the maize varieties so far developed are resistant to any field and storage insects.
These insects are controlled satisfactorily by using insecticides. The whorl application of
Sevin 4% granules or Furadan 3% granules are very effective to control field and storage insect
pests.
Seed production
The Maize Research Program is responsible for producing and maintaining the foundation seed
of the maize varieties with coordination of different farms/stations (Table 3). The foundation
seed is supplied to the Agric. Input Corp. (AIC) for production of certified seed. The certified
seed is produced by contact farmers under the Agric. Developmt. Bank and under technical
assistance from the AIC Seed Division and MRP staff. The private seed companies existing in
Nepal are not well equipped to handle maize seed business.
Seed produced by contract farmers is bought by the AIC at a premium over the grain market
price based on a favorable seed inspection report and other related criteria. In general, the
farmers use their own or locally produced seed. The use of hybrids in area adjoining to the
Indian border has been reported.
4. Future strategies:
In the near future the Nepalese Maize Program needs to direct its research towards the
following aspects:
1. Development of high yielding varieties with pest tolerance/resistance and environmentally
stable genotypes for hills.
2. Priority to develop stress tolerant varieties.
3. To develop location specific, problem-oriented research and production practices appropriate
to the farmers economically and environmentally.
4. Continue to link with international research organizations to get appropriate research
technologies.
5. To assess locally available and exotic germplasm suited to further use in developing broadbased
and high yielding varieties.
6. Study optimum seed rates for adequate plant densities by different sowing methods.
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