Maize is the world's most widely grown cereal and a dietary staple throughout the Third World, but its full potential has only begun to be tapped. This book thoroughly examines the biological and economic issues relevant to improving the productivity of maize in developing countries. The authors explore a wide range of practical problems, from maxi

Divided into four parts, this volume first lays out the importance of maize seed industries and presents a conceptual framework. The second section describes the key products and processes associated with maize seed industries, including varietal development, marketing, and industrial regulation. The third section offers nine country case studies, while the fourth part discusses the likely future course of seed industry development and alternative organizational forms. Paper edition (unseen), $29.95. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

The stages of technological change in maize production in commercial and small-scale semisubsistence systems are discussed and variation in the use of improved varieties/hybrids and adoption of associated inputs are noted. The impacts of the new biotechnologies and the increasing emphasis on resource-conserving technologies are also discussed with respect to prospects for technological progress in maize production in developing countries. Finally, strategic decisions that must be made by national agricultural research systems in developing countries are reviewed, especially decisions related to the relative emphasis to give to development of improved open-pollinated or hybrid maize varieties; the participation of the public and private sectors in research to achieve technological progress in maize production; and the types of farmers on which the public research system should focus its efforts.