SIRDC Releases Three New Maize Hybrids
The Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC) is pleased to introduce onto the market SIRDAMAIZE 115, SIRDAMAIZE 117 and SIRDAMAIZE 119, a follow up to the successful drought tolerant SIRDAMAIZE 113. The new varieties will be available on the market in the 2017/2018 summer cropping season.
Maize production in Zimbabwe is being negatively affected by drought, diseases and pests as well as poor soil fertility. In light of this, SIRDC and its research partners have developed three maize hybrids that have enhanced drought tolerance, nutrient use efficiency and disease resistance. The new varieties have unique characteristics that give them a competitive advantage over other varieties in the same category currently on the market. These maize hybrids are highly suitable for the developing regions of the world, particularly the sub-Saharan Africa, where drought and low soil fertility are major impediments to the attainment of high yields. Currently Zimbabwe is experiencing one of the worst food shortages due to the failure of the maize crop in the 2015/16 farming season.
