1) The study investigated new Quality Protein Maize (QPM) hybrids for productivity, adaptability, and nutritional benefits in Kongwa and Kiteto Districts of Tanzania, where frequent droughts and poor nutrition limit crop yields and diet quality. 2) The results showed that the QPM hybrids significantly outperformed existing varieties and non-QPM maize in grain yield, drought tolerance, and levels of lysine and tryptophan (essential amino acids). 3) Two best performing QPM hybrids, CZH132019Q and CZH132003Q, were released and are being scaled up with a private seed company to produce certified seed and promote adoption among farmers through demonstrations.

1. Productivity potential and nutritional quality of Quality Protein Maize (QPM) hybrids in
Kongwa and Kiteto Districts, Tanzania
Bright Jumbo1, James Njeru1, Patrick Okori2, Daniel Makumbi1, Elirehema Swai3, Peter Ngowi2, and Wilson Chacha4
1International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, 2International Crop Research Institute for the semi arid Tropics, 3Agricultural Research Institute
– Hombolo, 4Meru Agro-Tours and Consultants
Challenges & Study objective
 Frequent droughts and erratic rains in Kongwa and Kiteto limiting crop
productivity demonstrating the need for crop varieties adaptable to
these negative effects of climate change
 Poor nutrition (protein content) in maize based diets of majority poor in
Kongwa and Kiteto farming communities demand for search for nutrient
dense maize varieties with high levels of Lysine and Tryptophan,
precursors for protein synthesis
Main study objective: Investigate the potential of new Quality Protein Maize
for productivity, adaptability, nutritional benefits & profitability in Kongwa
and Kiteto.
This poster is licensed for use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence.
September 2018
We thank farmers and local partners in Africa RISING sites for their contributions to this work. We also acknowledge the
support of all donors which globally support the work of the CGIAR centers and their partners through their
contributions to the CGIAR system
Introduced technologies
(i) New Stress Resilient Quality Protein Hybrids
Evidence
• QPM hybrids have 5 times higher grain yield advantage over the farmer
preferred and non QPM maize, (Figures 1 & 2) and drought tolerant (DT)
QPM hybrids have higher productivity benefits over non QPM & Non DT
maize (Table 1).
• New QPM hybrids are more stable and adaptable in Kongwa and Kiteto
compared to Lishe2 and Kilima (old QPM), (Figure 3)
• QPM grain have higher human nutrition benefits (lysine and tryptophan)
than non QPM (Table 1).
• QPM hybrids have higher economic returns, (Table 1)
Approaches of taking the technologies to scale
CZH132019Q and CZH132003Q, the best performing QPM hybrids, have
since been released. Meru Agro Tours & Consultants, a private seed
company has been involved to multiply and commercialize the released
QPM hybrids. Seed of hybrid parents has been multiplied in 2018 to
produce foundation seed. Promotion through demo plots with engagement
of district agricultural officers & extension is planned.
Proposals for the future
Research: Optimize planting spacing to enhance productivity by
comparing high density planting vs traditional 90 cm x 60 cm, and 90 x 30
cm spacing under both sole cropping and intercropping with legume
(pigeon pea).
Scaling: Strengthen engagement with private sector (Meru Agro) to
produce certified seed in 2019/2020 and link with agro-dealers in
Kongwa & Kiteto. Conduct field demos through agric. extension
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CZH132019Q CZH132007Q ZS261 PAN 53
Wet chemistry Lys(%)
Wet chemistry Trp(%)
LysineandTryptophan(%)
Lysine and Tryptophan content in grain of selected new QPM
Hybrids VS regular maize
Maize Hybrids
Productivity
Indicator change Grain yield (t ha-1) under Optimal conditions Grain yield (t ha-1) under random drought conditions
Hybrid QPM Local Check
(LISHE2)
Indicator Change
(%)
QPM Local Check
(LISHE2)
Indicator Change (%)
CZH132019Q 8.8 7.2 22 1.77 0.91 94
CZH132003Q 9.24 7.2 31 2.03 0.91 123
CZH132015Q 2.4 0.9 43
Economic (Gross Margins)
Variety Total
production (kg)
Value of Sales
(USD)
Quantity sold (Kg) Production
Unit/ hectare
Input cost (all
costs $)
Gross margin ($)
CZH132019Q 1770 244.26 1062 3 100 102.37
CZH132003Q 2030 280.14 1218 3 100 122.30
Local Preferred 500 69 300 3 100 5.00
Human (Nutrition)
Hybrid Name QPM Non QPM (PAN53) Indicator Change (%) QPM Non QPM(PAN53) Indicator Change (%)
Lysine (%) Tryptophan (%)
CZH132019Q 0.39 0.24 0.15 0.30 0.04 0.257
CZH132003Q 0.33 0.24 0.09 0.09 0.04 0.041
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
CZH132003Q
CZH132019Q
CZH132011Q
CZH132007Q
CZH132020Q
Local check
LISHEH2
KILIMAQH06
Grain Yield (ton/ha)
Grain Yield (ton/ha)
Fig. 1. New Stress Tolerant Quality Protein maize (Left & Right Pic.) and Non QPM, Non DT Maize
(Center Pic.)
Hybrid
Code Name of Hybrid
1 CZH132019Q
2 CZH132007Q
3 CZH132020Q
4 CZH132003Q
5 CZH132011Q
6 LISHEH2
7 KILIMAQH06
8 Local check
Table 1. QPM & Non QPM hybrids productivity potential, human nutrition benefits & gross
margins Fig. 2. Productivity, Lysine & Tryptophan Content
Fig. 3. Adaptability and stability of new QPM in 5 sites in Kongwa and Kiteto
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