The Impact of Investments in Maize Research and Dissemination in Zambia Part I: Main Report

Michigan State University (MSU) is currently assessing the impact of agricultural research on various commodities in seven African countries: Cameroon (maize, cowpea, sorghum), Kenya (maize, wheat), Malawi (maize), Mali (maize), Niger (sorghum, cowpea, millet), Uganda (oilseeds), and Zambia (maize). These countries were selected because they represent a variety of agro-ecological regions, and because their research systems have received significant levels of funding from USAID. The country studies undertaken by MSU are part of a series of research works recently commissioned to help USAID and the U.S. Congress analyze the effectiveness of aid given to strengthen national agricultural research systems in Africa. In Zambia, MSU collaborated with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (MAFF) and the University of Zambia's Rural Development Studies Bureau (RDSB) to assess the impact of investments in maize research and dissemination made during the late 1970s and early 1980s. This research resulted in the release of ten new hybrids and open-pollinated varieties between 1984-88. Major support for maize research and dissemination came from the Government of Zambia (GRZ), the Centro Internaciónal de Mejoramiento de Maiz y Trigo (CIMMYT), the Food and Agriculture Organization/United Nations Development Program (FAO/UNDP), the Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).