In Bangladesh maize has become a very popular cash crop in recent times and most of the maize seeds are utilized in the feed mills to produce poultry or fish feed. It is interesting to note that BRAC played a vital role in popularizing maize cultivation in Bangladesh. A major hindrance faced by the Bangladeshi farmers at the early phase of commercial maize cultivation is that they could not find markets to sell their produce. Therefore, initially set up BRAC Poultry Feed Mill where huge volume of maize seeds were required to produce poultry feed and thus a lucrative market for maize growers was created. BRAC also distributed maize seeds as relief material to promote maize cultivation and it has so far released 5 good quality hybrid maize with the help of national and international research institutes. As a part of maize research and strengthening maize sector in Bangladesh BRAC conducted on farm demonstration trial of HTMA 19 (Heat Tolerant Maize for Asian Countries) and white maize ( BARI Hybrid-12 & BARI Hybrid-13) this year and found both HTMA-19 as well as white maize BARI Hybrid-13 as promising varieties. The stress tolerant varieties HTMA-19 gave 8.57 Mt/ha yield while white maize variety BARI Hybrid-13 produced 7.21 Mt grains per hectare. The maize growers liked both the varieties; HTMA-19 for feed purpose and the white maize variety BARI Hybrid-13 for human consumption. And advance line of white maize ARS 3322 developed by BRAC was also evaluated. #Please enjoy my you tube video on maize cultivation after potato harvesting following the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVUP8r8t294

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On Farm Demonstration Trial of Heat Tolerant Maize for Asian Countries (HTMA) & White Maize
- Dr. Sitesh C. Biswas
Abstract
In Bangladesh maize has become a very popular cash crop in recent times and most of the maize seeds are
utilized in the feed mills to produce poultry or fish feed. It is interesting to note that BRAC played a vital role in
popularizing maize cultivation in Bangladesh. A major hindrance faced by the Bangladeshi farmers at the early phase of
commercial maize cultivation is that they could not find markets to sell their produce. Therefore, initially set up BRAC
Poultry Feed Mill where huge volume of maize seeds were required to produce poultry feed and thus a lucrative market
for maize growers was created. BRAC also distributed maize seeds as relief material to promote maize cultivation and it
has so far released 5 good quality hybrid maize with the help of national and international research institutes. As a part of
maize research and strengthening maize sector in Bangladesh BRAC conducted on farm demonstration trial of HTMA 19
(Heat Tolerant Maize for Asian Countries) and white maize ( BARI Hybrid-12 & BARI Hybrid-13) this year and found
both HTMA-19 as well as white maize BARI Hybrid-13 as promising varieties. The stress tolerant varieties HTMA-19
gave 8.57 Mt/ha yield while white maize variety BARI Hybrid-13 produced 7.21 Mt grains per hectare. The maize
growers liked both the varieties; HTMA-19 for feed purpose and the white maize variety BARI Hybrid-13 for human
consumption. And advance line of white maize ARS 3322 developed by BRAC was also evaluated.
Key words: Hybrid maize, human food, maize, maize cultivation, poultry feed, white maize.
Maize is a major cereal crop and due to its wider adaptability and enormous importance in food & feed
it is now being extensively cultivated around the globe including Bangladesh. In Bangladesh maize has
become a very popular cash crop in recent years (holds 2nd
position after rice) and its grains are chiefly being
utilized by the poultry, cattle and fish feed industries. Generally maize is grown in Bangladesh during the Rabi
season and as it grows well in the sandy loam soil, in Bangladesh vast tracts of land along the rivers and Chars
are now being occupied by this easy growing crop after the recession of river water during the winter season
once which were found to be kept as fallow land few decades ago. Being a profitable crop farmers are also
growing maize in the summer season as a Kharif crop after harvesting potato, mustard, garlic, onion etc. At
present in Bangladesh near about 3.078 million tons of maize seeds are being produced from around 3,53,000
ha of land during the winter season while 0.502 million tons of maize seeds are being produced from 81000 ha
of land during the summer season. As the hybrid maize varieties ensures better yield farmers prefer hybrid
varieties compared to composite varieties. In fact BRAC- the largest NGO of the world played a vital role in
popularizing maize among the farmers and the expansion of maize cultivation in Bangladesh. Considering
enormous potential of maize seed in the feed industry and huge scope of employment generation BRAC tried
to popularize and expand maize cultivation among the poor farmers. Therefore, in the early part of 1990’s
initially poor farmers were provided with training on maize cultivation by the BRAC personnel (who received
training from Government Organizations) and good quality maize seeds were supplied to the growers free of

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cost. But as then there were no big markets for selling of these maize seeds produced by the maize growers,
hence BRAC set up its own poultry feed plant at Sreepur, Gazipur in which huge volume of maize grains were
required to produce vast quantity of poultry feed. It can be mentioned here that as in Bangladesh poultry
business is a profitable business therefore , huge quantity of poultry feeds were required annually to provide
support these poultry farms. And BRAC itself had its own poultry program where part of these poultry feeds
was used to provide support to the BRAC Poultry Program. Thus BRAC then planned to purchase the maize
seeds from its contract maize growers by ensuring guaranteed actual selling price for its own poultry feed
making plant. Encouraged by the BRAC’s initiative and finding the scope of selling of maize seeds, gradually
more no. of farmers became interested to grow maize and huge production of this profitable cash crop is
ensured. By this time BRAC started to sell the high quality maize seeds among the growers to involve more
farmers in maize cultivation and to popularize maize farming in Bangladesh. And to meet the huge demand of
high quality maize seeds BRAC also started to import hybrid maize seeds from Pacific Seed Company and
other companies and supplied to the maize growers. Alongside from 1997 BRAC also started to produce high
quality hybrid maize seeds locally by growing suitable parents obtained from reputed companies. In the mean
time during the year 2000 BRAC established a Maize Research Centre at Bogura to develop new high quality
hybrid varieties suitable for growing in Bangladeshi agro-climatic conditions with the help of Government
Research Organizations (BARI) and International Research Institute (CIMMYT). So far BRAC released 5
good quality hybrid maize varieties (3 own developed hybrid varieties and 2 hybrid varieties with the help of
imported parents). Besides every year BRAC is conducting evaluation trial of huge no. of maize varieties and
through this variety screening method BRAC is selecting potential hybrid maize variety/ varieties for
Bangladeshi maize growers. Record of on farm maize trials and demonstrations of the last 3 years conducted
by the PDS (Product Development Support) has been presented in Table.1.
Table.1. On-Farm trials of maize under PDS section (last 3 years data).
Year 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
No. of
varieties
No. of
experiments
No. of
varieties
No. of
experiments
No. of
varieties
No. of
experiments
Evaluation 6 28 8 9 14 24
Demonstration 6 55 8 37 9 101
Total 12 83 16 46 23 125
BRAC is also promoting maize cultivation in different parts of Bangladesh by providing maize seeds
as relief goods and also providing financial support to the growers as well. Already it has been mentioned that
the lion portion of these maize seeds in Bangladesh are used in the feed mills but as the white maize are the
only type of maize can be used for human consumption besides pop corn & sweet corn this is why it has
enough implications with the food and nutritional security situation of Bangladesh where wheat cultivation is
gradually diminishing owing to the effect of climate change. Again, considering the adverse effect of climate
change in Bangladesh it is also imperative to grow maize other than the normal winter season i.e. in the
summer season and before releasing a variety its trial is inevitable. Therefore, as a part of collaborative
research activities BRAC planned to diversify maize market and to enrich maize seed market of Bangladesh
BRAC introduced HTMA (Heat Tolerant Maize for Asian Countries) materials and white maize this year in its
research program and demonstration trial of these maize varieties were conducted in maize growing areas and
results of those trials have been discussed in this article.
Seeds of 3 BARI hybrid maize varieties were supplied to BRAC to determine the adaptability, stability
of the supplied varieties and to assess the marketing opportunities of these varieties by setting up

3. 3
demonstration plots in the framer’s plot at different maize growing areas of Bangladesh. Therefore, through
BRAC Seed and Agro Enterprise HTMA-19 was grown in 5 locations viz., Dinajpur, Rangpur, Rajshahi,
Chuadanga & Patuakhli districts; BARI 13 was grown in 5 locations viz., Dinajpur, Rangpur, Rajshahi,
Chuadanga & Bogura districts while BARI -12 was grown in Dinajpur districts only. Seeds of BARI -12 & 13
were sown during the month of December & within the 1st
week of January while seeds of HTMA-19 were
sown during the month of January and in the early part of February. Standard maize cultivation practices were
followed by the farmers to raise a good crop in all the varieties. Days required for 50% silking as well as
tasseling were noted; other yield data were recorded during the harvesting period which has been presented in
Table. 2. Summary of the results has been described as follows:
Table. 2. Mean values of yield parameters of different BARI supplied hybrid maize varieties.
Vari-
ety
name
No.
of
locat
-ions
Plant
height
(cm)
Cob
height
(cm)
Lodg
-ing
(%)
50%
silking
No.
of
rows/
cob
No.
of
grain
s/row
Total
no. of
grains/
cob
1000-
grain
wt.
(gm)
She-
lling
(%)
Yield
(Mt/
ha)
Comments
HTM
A-19
5 194.80 108.60 0 98.60 14.4 41.6 604.4 351.20 80.8 8.57 It is a good variety as
it gives satisfactory
yield in the late
season (suitable for
cultivation after
potato & mustard
harvesting).
White Maize
BARI
13
5 216.40 109.40 0 95.80 12 37.40 462.6 366.87 76.80 7.21 Uncommon type
white maize variety,
moderate yield.
Marketing niche
needs to be explored.
BARI-
12
1 235.00 115.00 14.00 125.00 12 39.00 471.00 295.00 74.00 6.30 Uncommon type
white maize variety,
lower yield. Small
seeded type white
maize variety.
HTMA-19: Seed germination & seedling emergence were found to be satisfactory of this variety and a good
crop of HTMA-19 was established in all the 5 locations (Fig.1). But the populations of this variety were less
uniform than the other commercial hybrids. Plant height & cob height of this traditional type yellow seeded
variety was recorded as 194. 80 cm & 108.60 cm respectively. Silking of 50% plants were recorded at 98.60
DAS and good seed setting was noticed even after the plot affected by temporary water logging due to unusual
heavy rain at the early stage of plant growth and development. No. of rows per cob were counted as 14.40
while the no. of grains per row was recorded as 41.60. Good cob filling was noticed in HTMA-19 and the total
no. of grains per cob was recorded 604.4 (Table.2). There were good uniformity in the seed size and its 1000-
seed wt. was recorded as 351.20 gm. Desired level shelling per cent in HTMA 19 was recorded (80.80% ) and
moderate yield was recorded in this variety (8.57 Mt/ha) as a late season crop. Due to its good cob filling,
healthy nature of seeds, nice seed colour and moderate yield, farmers have shown their interest to grow this

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variety particularly as a late season crop especially after harvesting of potato and mustard (Fig. 2). Moreover,
this variety performed better compared to another popular commercial variety ‘Super Sun shine’ (Debgiri
Seeds) in high soil moisture conditions caused by heavy rainfall at the early stages of growth in Patuakhali
region which indicates that it is a stress tolerant variety. However more research is needed to validate its stress
tolerant characteristics.
Fig.1. HTMA-19 maize plot at Patuakhali. Fig.2. Cobs of HTMA-19 & PAC 999 Super (Rangpur).
BARI hybrid maize 12 & 13: Actually both these hybrid maize varieties were white seeded type.
Due to the uncommon white seed colour at first the farmers showed less interest to grow these
varieties. But finally the farmers were convinced when its benefits were explained to them (making
‘Chapaties’ of maize flour mixing it with wheat flour). Compared to variety BARI hybrid maize 12
less seed germination was observed in BARI hybrid maize-13 but plants of this variety were
relatively stronger, shorter and were found to be lodging tolerant (Fig. 5). It can be mentioned here
that the plants of BARI maize 13 though had stronger normal plants; in Rajshahi district most of the
plants of this variety exhibited the tendency to develop side branching from its lower nodes. Cob
height in BARI maize 13 was found to be relatively shorter (109.40 cm) and its cobs were also larger as
well. In both BARI maize 13 and BARI maize-12 no. of rows of seeds per cob were the same i.e. 12
rows per cob. No. of seeds per row & total no. of grains per cob were found to be different in both the
white seeded maize varieties (Table.2). Compared to BARImaize-12 yield and shelling percentage in
BARI maize 13 were also found to be higher (Table.2). Yield of BARI maize 13 was found to be
14.40 % higher than small seeded BARImaize-12 as 1000-seed wt. of BARI maize 13 was found to
be much higher than BARImaize-12 (almost 24.36% higher seed wt.). Although these 2 white
coloured maize varieties are relatively new to the farmers but they showed interest to grow these
white seeded varieties provided the marketing opportunity for selling of white maize is created.

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Fig. 3. BARI maize-12 plot at Thakurgaon. Fig. 4. BARI maize-12 cobs showing white
grains.
Fig. 5. BARI maize-13 plot at Birganj, Dinajpur. Fig. 6. BARI maize-13 cobs after harvesting.
Very recently BRAC also has developed a promising advance line of white maize (ARS 3322) which
was evaluated in the experimental plot of BRAC Agricultural Research & Development Centre (BARDC),
Gazipur during the Rabi season of 2017-18 and the result has been presented in the following table (Table.3).
The plants of this uncommon white maize line had excellent vigour and had medium plant height with
desirable cob height (Table.3). Although silking of this white maize line was found to be delayed by 6-7 days
than other commercial variety but this hybrid exhibited brief gap between tasseling & sulking and excellent
cob filling was observed in this advance line. Its larger cobs had 14 -18 rows while no. of grains per row was
counted as 41 to 44. Nice shiny white healthy kernels were the speciality of this hybrid and the farmers liked
these grains very much (Figs. 7-10).

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Table. 3. Evaluation trial results of BRAC developed white maize hybrid.
Advan
-ce
line
Total
no. of
plants
Plant
height
(cm)
Cob
hei-
ght
(cm)
Lodg-
ing
(%)
50%
silk-
ing
Silk
col-
our
Gap
bet-
ween
tassel-
ing &
silking
No. of
rows/
cob
No. of
grains/
row
Total
no. of
grains/
cob
Grain
colour
She-
lling
(%)
Comments
ARS
2233
97 145.00 108.00 Nil 95 Light
green
3 days 16.00
(14-18)
42.33
(41-44)
670.28 White 74.30 This is a lodging tolerant
high yielding white maize
hybrid having attractive
white grain colour.
Fig.7. Cobs of BRAC developed white Fig.8. Cob & grains of white maize line ARS 2233.
maize line.
Fig.9. Grains of white maize line ARS 2233. Fig.10. Grains of ARS 2233 (close view).
Conclusion: Among the 3 supplied BARI maize varieties HTMA-19 was found to be promising and
a second phase trial of HTMA-19 was recommended in the next season covering more maize growing

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areas. Between the 2 BARI white maize varieties BARI hybrid maize 13 performed better and 2nd
phase trial was also recommended before releasing this uncommon variety. Side by side on farm
evaluation of BRAC developed white maize (Code ARS 3322) advance line will be conducted in the
next year.
Prepared By:
Dr. Sitesh Chandra Biswas
Manager (PDS)
BRAC Agricultural Research & Development Centre (BARDC)
Jogitola, BRRI, Joydebpur, Gazipur
BANGLADESH
Phone: 9294208
Mobile Phone: +8801730349845
E-mail: sitesh.cb@brac.net
or, siteshchbiswas@yahoo.com
Sitesh C. Biswas http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2179-8608
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