Drought-tolerant maize offers a practical solution to water stress and unreliable rainfall that reduce maize productivity across Sub-Saharan Africa. It can improve productivity, stabilize production and strengthen resilience, contributing to food security, poverty reduction, climate adaptation and the SDGs. Gender-inclusive access can further promote equitable agricultural development.

To integrate this technology into your project, plan activities around:

Assessing the project area and implementation requirements to determine the number of hectares, target farmers, local rainfall conditions, delivery arrangements, training needs and potential implementation partners.

Estimating seed requirements according to the project area. At a planting rate of 25 kg/ha, the calculation is:

Project area (ha) × 25 kg = total seed required

At US$0.80–1.20/kg, the indicative seed cost is US$20–30/ha, excluding delivery and import-related costs.

Securing quality seed and organizing timely delivery from suppliers in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia or Zimbabwe. Include transport to the project site and, where relevant, insurance, import permits, phytosanitary clearance, customs handling and duties.

Establishing demonstration plots and training farmers and extension agents on planting, crop management, harvesting and correct use of the technology. Budget for trainers’ fees, travel, training materials, demonstration inputs and post-training technical support.

Developing communication and awareness materials such as flyers, videos, radio broadcasts and local-language extension messages, with targeted outreach to women and underserved farmers.

Combining the technology with complementary practices for better optimization, including specialized pre-plant fertilizer blending, nitrogen topdressing, and maize–legume rotation or intercropping.

Building implementation partnerships with agricultural development institutes, extension services, seed regulators and seed multiplication companies to support testing, supply, multiplication and scale-up.

The following table presents the suitable individual varieties by country, including their agro-ecology, maturity duration, yield under optimal rainfall and moderate drought, and special characteristics:

For best results, combine reliable seed supply with farmer training, sustained extension support, effective communication and complementary crop-management practices. Monitor adoption, productivity and participation by women and vulnerable groups to support inclusive and sustainable scale-up.