Drought Tolerant Maize Varieties and Hybrids
The following table contains some of the drought tolerant open-pollinated maize varieties and hybrids released in sub-Saharan African countries. In extensive testing, these varieties and hybrids have been shown to produce higher yields under drought relative to other maize varieties and hybrids of equivalent maturity and vigor.
Contacts listed in the table can advise on seed companies which produce seed of these varieties and hybrids.
We advise:
- Only source seed from reputable seed companies which has been certified by the country’s authority (“certified seed”) and is provided in an original seed bag
- Not to grow these varieties in other countries before testing them and observing country-specific regulations
The table presents the most current information available. Some of these varieties and hybrids are also released in other SSA countries. Also, there are other maize varieties and hybrids that perform quite well under drought. A more complete list, based on region -wide testing results, is currently under development.
For input to this table, please contact Wilfred Mwangi, Project Leader DTMA, CIMMYT, Kenya.
Go to: Seed suppliers map
| Country | Open-pollinated variety | Hybrid | For further information contact | Contact |
| Angola | ZM421 | Instituto de Investigacao Agronomica (IIA) MINADER | Fernando Sito | |
| ZM423 | Instituto de Investigacao Agronomica (IIA) MINADER | Fernando Sito | ||
| ZM521 | Instituto de Investigacao Agronomica (IIA) MINADER | Fernando Sito | ||
| ZM523 | Instituto de Investigacao Agronomica (IIA) MINADER | Fernando Sito | ||
| ZM621 | Instituto de Investigacao Agronomica (IIA) MINADER | Fernando Sito | ||
| ZM623 | Instituto de Investigacao Agronomica (IIA) MINADER | Fernando Sito | ||
| Burundi | ECAVL1 | Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Burundi (ISABU) | Athanese Manirakiza | |
| ECAVL2 | Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Burundi (ISABU) | Athanese Manirakiza | ||
| ECAVL16-STR | Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Burundi (ISABU) | Athanese Manirakiza | ||
| ZM521 | Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Burundi (ISABU) | Athanese Manirakiza | ||
| ZM621 | Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Burundi (ISABU) | Athanese Manirakiza | ||
| Ethiopia | Melkassa 2 | Ethiopian Institute for Agricultural Research (EIAR) | Mosisa Worku | |
| Melkassa 3 | Ethiopian Institute for Agricultural Research (EIAR) | Mosisa Worku | ||
| Melkassa 5 | Ethiopian Institute for Agricultural Research (EIAR) | Mosisa Worku | ||
| Kenya | KDV1 | Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) | James Gethi | |
| KDV2 | Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) | James Gethi | ||
| KDV3 | Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) | James Gethi | ||
| KDV4 | Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) | James Gethi | ||
| KDV5 | Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) | James Gethi | ||
| KDV6 | Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) | James Gethi | ||
| KDH3 | Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) | James Gethi | ||
| KDH4 | Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) | James Gethi | ||
| Kakamega Synthetic 1 | Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) | James Gethi | ||
| Kakamega Synthetic 2 | Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) | James Gethi | ||
| WH403 | Western Seed Company | Saleem Esmail | ||
| WH502 | Western Seed Company | Saleem Esmail | ||
| WH504 | Western Seed Company | Saleem Esmail | ||
| WH904 | Western Seed Company | Saleem Esmail | ||
| WS102 | Western Seed Company | Saleem Esmail | ||
| WS103 | Western Seed Company | Saleem Esmail | ||
| WSQ104 (QPM) | Western Seed Company | Saleem Esmail | ||
| WS202 | Western Seed Company | Saleem Esmail | ||
| WS909 | Western Seed Company | Saleem Esmail | ||
| Malawi | ZM309 | Seed Co Malawi | Dellings Phiri | |
| ZM523 | Seed Co Malawi | Dellings Phiri | ||
| ZM309 | Demeter Seeds | Martin Andrews | ||
| ZM523 | Demeter Seeds | Martin Andrews | ||
| ZM621 | Demeter Seeds | Martin Andrews | ||
| ZM623 | Demeter Seeds | Martin Andrews | ||
| ZM721 | Demeter Seeds | Martin Andrews | ||
| Mozambique | Chinaga | Instituto Nacional de Investigacao Agronomica Mocambique (IIAM) | David Mariote | |
| Djanza | Insituto Nacional de Investigacao Agronomica Mocambique (IIAM) | David Mariote | ||
| Swaziland | ZM521 | Ministry of Agriculture Cereasl Agronomy Research | Hanson Hlophe | |
| South Africa | CAP9001 | Capstone Seeds | John Klopper | |
| CAP9003 | Capstone Seeds | John Klopper | ||
| ZM1421 | Agricultural Research Council (ARC), Potchefstroom | Kingstone Mashingaidze | ||
| ZM1423 | Agricultural Research Council (ARC), Potchefstroom | Kingstone Mashingaidze | ||
| ZM1523 | Agricultural Research Council (ARC), Potchefstroom | Kingstone Mashingaidze | ||
| Uganda | Longe9H | National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) | Godfrey Asea | |
| Longe10H | National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) | Godfrey Asea | ||
| Longe11H | National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) | Godfrey Asea | ||
| Tanzania | Situka | Selian Agricultural Research Institutes (SARI) | Peter Matowo | |
| Situka M1 | Selian Agricultural Research Institutes (SARI) | Peter Matowo | ||
| TAN250 | Tanseed International | Isaka M. Mashauri | ||
| TAN254 | Tanseed International | Isaka M. Mashauri | ||
| Zambia | ZM421 | Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI) | Catherine Mungoma | |
| ZM521 | Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI) | Catherine Mungoma | ||
| ZM621 | Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI) | Catherine Mungoma | ||
| ZMS402 | Zambia Seed Company (ZAMSEED) | B.N. Verma | ||
| ZMS737 | Zambia Seed Company (ZAMSEED) | B.N. Verma | ||
| Zimbabwe | Chariot | Seed Co | Dennis Zaranyika | |
| Chitima | Seed Co | Dennis Zaranyika | ||
| ZM421 | Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Research and Extension | Danisile Hikwa | ||
| ZM423 | AgPy Limited | Tsungai Bwerzuva | ||
| ZM521 | Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Research and Extension | Danisile Hikwa | ||
| PAN53 | Pannar Seed Zimbabwe | Nick Goble | ||
| PGS61 | Progene Seeds | Andrew Henderson |