Modern breeding techniques for maize

ITP did not happen on the dates mentioned, it is postponed to a later (yet to be determined) date in 2021 or 2022.

Maize is a major crop worldwide and also an important staple food for more than 1.2 billion people in sub- Saharan Africa (SSA) and Latin America. Africa produced in 2014 approximately 75 million tons or 7.3% of the worldwide production, and uses 95% of it as food. Maize accounts for 30-50% of low-income households expenditures in Africa. Maize production in Africa is very vulnerable to diseases, pests, and drought. Additionally, there is a lack of fertilizers, insufficient quantities of performant hybrid seed and not enough irrigated area resulting in a very low yielding maize cultivation. Indeed, the average maize yield in Africa is approximately 2 tons per hectare (even below 1ton/ha in some countries) which is 5 to 10 times less than the yield in the developed world.  However, since the 1950s, there is a steady growth of maize production in Africa which could be highly amplified by integrating latest scientific advances in the running variety amelioration programs. This ITP will provide participants through lectures and hands on exercises with the most updated scientific knowledge, regulatory procedures and communication skills to serve ongoing and future research projects to develop an efficient and sustainable agriculture and agricultural research in SSA.