IITA’s hybrid maize rated high in Africa

Raphael Ede

President of the International Corn Foundation, Dr Soon Kwon Kim, said that improved maize germplasm developed by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and disseminated across Africa is improving livelihoods, and the impact on the continent is greater than earlier imagined.
Dr. Kim made the disclosure in a seminar organized by IITA West Africa Hub last Tuesday themed, “Promotion of IITA maize streak resistant (SR) varieties and Striga tolerant or resistant (STR) varieties to ten African countries with Korean Government Support”.
While he reviewed the contribution of maize streak resistant varieties and Striga tolerant or resistant varieties across the continent, explained the believe that the most devastating disease that attacks maize in Africa is maize streak virus (MSV), which he said leads to stunting, and farmers lose 100% of the crop. Striga (a parasitic weed), on the other hand, attacks cereals and legumes and losses are in the neighbourhood of US$8bn, endangering the livelihoods of millions of farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.

Dr. Kim is currently also Chair-Professor, Handong Global University, Pohang, South Korea had worked at IITA at a time when MSV ravaged maize farms in sub Saharan Africa (SSA), and he was part of the team that developed the maize streak resistant varieties. The work earned IITA the first King Baudouin award. The team also made remarkable breakthroughs in developing Striga tolerant / resistant maize varieties.
He noted that after the development of those varieties, IITA with funds from the Korea International Cooperation Agency, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea, promoted them in Bénin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and Togo with the joint efforts of FAO-PASCON (Pan African Striga Control Network) and the Semi-Arid Food Grain Research and Development (SAFGRAD) project.
Dr Kim who recalled that Kenya’s maize that was ravaged by streak virus two / three years ago, recovered after germplasm from IITA resistant to the disease was introduced, however called on IITA to do a more in-depth study that would put into perspective the contribution of IITA improved maize varieties across the continent.

Sharing some thoughts on the way forward for Africa’s agriculture, Kim emphasised the need for sustainable programme that would not abuse the natural resource endowment of the continent.
“If we adopt and use IITA’s approach to breeding, we will solve Africa’s problems… My suggestion has always been that IITA should be given the first consideration when it comes to funding in Africa,” he said.
Dr Sam Ajala commended Dr Kim for his work in helping the maize program in Africa in particular and global maize research in general, stressing that most of the high yielding maize varieties grown in the continent were built on past efforts/foundation laid by Dr Kim.
Though he left IITA 17 years ago, Dr Kim has kept touch with IITA and the Nigeria’s Maize Association.