The "New Seed Initiative for Maize in Southern Africa" (NSIMA) was launched for the purpose of conducting research into drought-tolerant maize varieties that can generate bigger harvests than conventional varieties, even in less fertile soil. The ultimate aim is to achieve greater food security. At the same time, NSIMA activities involve cooperation with government and private-sector stakeholders in the maize sector to encourage seed production and trade (also for small-scale producers).

Maize is one of the main staple foods in Southern Africa. In all, 9 to 12 million hectares of maize are planted in this region. However, droughts and poor soil often result in crop loss or even crop failure. Since 1996, NSIMA has been developing maize varieties that are drought-tolerant and resist certain diseases and adequately grow in nutrient-depleted soil.

Access to seed
The NSIMA is designed to give poor farmers access to seeds that are drought-tolerant and resist certain diseases and have a certain tolerance to nutrient depletion. This increases food security and creates potential income for smallholder farmers.

Implementation
The new maize varieties are the result of hybridisation of different seed varieties in the seed bank maintained by the CIMMYT (Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo, in Mexico). Crop yields using new maize varieties are considerably higher than the crop yields that can be achieved using indigenous maize varieties traditionally planted by local smallholder farmers. Every year, researchers located throughout the Southern African Development Community (SADC) produce create 30 and 40 improved maize varieties whose crop yields is then field tested by local farmers.

Most farmers favour so-called "Open Pollinated Varieties" (OPVs). Unlike hybrid seeds. OPVs can be stored and replanted every year without any decline in harvest yield. While hybrid seeds achieve a higher yield in the first year, the harvest is considerably smaller the year after if farmers attempt to use seeds derived from the first harvest. This forces farmers to buy fresh hybrid seeds every year in order to maintain high crop yields.

The NSIMA involves close cooperation with various maize sector stakeholders, such as government institutions in SADC countries, NGOs and private seed producers.

Greater food security
At present, drought-tolerant maize varieties developed through NSIMA activities are being grown on over one million hectares of land. This has resulted in improved food security and a higher income for the farmers from the sale of crop surpluses.

Most NSIMA teams distribute the newly developed maize varieties. New local seed businesses have sprung up, which has helped to generate local jobs and income. Regional cooperation between national research institutes and private seed producers has not only led to better exchanges of seeds and plants in Southern Africa. It has also made a major contribution to a sustainable maize market.

Links between NSIMA and other SDC-funded activities:

• The SDC provides substantial untied funding to the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), which sponsors the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico.
• The SDC provides funding to the Global Crop Diversity Trust, which aims to preserve the worldwide diversity of key crop varieties in gene banks.
• The SDC provides funding to the SADC's Seed Security Network, which seeks to improve seed production and supply to ensure greater food security in Southern Africa.

The project in brief