Maize

Ethiopia is the third largest producer of maize in Africa. It is the most widely grown crop of Ethiopia in different agro ecologies. There are three agro ecologically based Maize cultivation practices: high lands, mid altitude and moisture stress area.

AGP-AMDe played prominent role in creating market linkages for seven maize FCUs and member cooperatives through partnership with World Food Program (WFP) under the purchase for progress (P4P). The hybrid maize technology transformation is activated through the Advance Maize Seed Adoption Program (AMSAP) partnership and BH-661 popularization program. AMSAP is being implemented in partnership with DuPont and the latter is implemented in partnership with several FCUs and local private sector seed producers. The purpose of these interventions is to create a showcase on the advantages of hybrid maize over open pollinated low yielding traditional maize and create demand for high yielding hybrid varieties.

Through the combined efforts of the project and other stakeholders, seven FCUs in Oromiya, Amhara and SNNPR regions were able to sell 12.3 thousand MT of maize to WFP, amounting over four million USD in sales, benefiting approximately 11, 000 smallholder member farmers and attracting much needed FOREX trade. WFP has a plan to double the amount of maize purchase in the coming year, ensuring reliable and sustainable market for the product. Project support on post-harvest handling of seed during cleaning of white maize at FCUs and PC level has helped the farmers to supply sound grade maize even above the quality requirement of the contract agreement with WFP and most of the FCUs have supplied over 93% purity level while the commitment was 92%.