CIMMYT, IITA Conduct Training on Seed Production and Field Trials Management

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) conducted a training course on management of field trials and nurseries and seed production of open pollinated and hybrid maize varieties. This training is a support activity of the Drought Tolerant Maize in Africa (DTMA) Project coordinated by both CIMMYT and IITA to provide insurance against the risks of maize farming, using conventional breeding to develop and disseminate varieties that can provide a decent harvest under reduced rainfall.

The training course particularly tackled the importance of good trial management, advanced experimental designs, management of maize nurseries and variety trials, and key aspects of seed production. The training also included practical field sessions in which the participants applied appropriate experimental designs for various fields and learnt how to lay out a field trial. They also tried various pollinating techniques used in maize breeding and variety maintenance.

For more information, visit http://blog.cimmyt.org/?p=9147.