Workshop: All about maize seeds, maize phenology and agronomic best practices

AREA held a maize seed system training at Bas Boën Rural Center for Sustainable Development (CRDD) on Aug. 22-23, 2018. Thirty participants attended the sessions, including lead farmers and extension agronomists from the Ministry of Agriculture and the CRDDs in the Cul-de-Sac plain, Kenscoff and lower Artibonite regions.

The modules covered the basic biology of seeds, the critical stages of corn development based on the Iowa system, seed quality, seed storage and best agronomic practices.    

The workshop was held in coordination with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the Bas Boën, Montrouis and Duvier CRDDs. The training facilitators were Freud Lucas of the Bas Boën CRDD, Jean Junior Auguste of the Montrouis CRDD, Colomb Louisma of the Duvier CRDD, and Ludger Jean-Simon, AREA maize research and extension specialist. They were supported by CIMMYT representative Levael Eugene and AREA training coordinator Absalon Pierre, Ph.D.