Maize & Millets Research Institute, Yusafwala, Sahiwal

The Institute is located at a distance of about 11 kilometers from Sahiwal city towards east on Lahore-Multan Highway. It is situated at latitude of 31°41 N and longitude of 73° 12 E and the elevation of 175 meters. The land of Yusafwala, District Sahiwal was converted into Government Seed Farms in the year 1925 and was handed over to the Agriculture Department (Extension Wing) for multiplication of quality seed of wheat, maize and cotton etc. Research work on maize was started in the 1940’s which was abandoned in its infancy with the partition of Sub-continent. A regular research work on maize was restarted after partition in the year 1953-54 at Faisalabad. The Seed Farms were transferred to Research Wing of Agriculture Department in the year 1958-59 and was converted into Hybrid Maize Seed Farms for conducting research and seed production of hybrid maize on large scale. In 1968-69 the status of this farm was raised to a research institute, named as Maize & Millets Research Institute, Yusafwala-Sahiwal. Research work on Sorghum and Pearl Millet was also initiated in addition to maize with the establishment of the Institute.

Maize, Sorghum and pearl millet are important subsistent summer grain crops of Pakistan, which have been helpful in averting many food crises of the country in the past. Prior to early seventies, about 75 percent of the maize produce was consumed as staple food in villages of NWFP and Punjab during winter season. Remaining 25% of maize produce was utilized in wet milling for production of different products including starch, modified starch and value added products. Some of the by-products were used in poultry and animal feed. Similarly sorghum and pearl millet were also used as staple diet in the production zones in Barani areas but its industrial use has been negligible in Pakistan. Later on with the change in dietary habits of the people wheat became the only staple grain in NWFP and Punjab province. Maize ranks third with respect to cultivated area after wheat & rice and first in case of grain production per unit area. Two maize crops in a year i.e. Kharif and spring are successfully grown in Punjab. Now-a-days maize grain is being used, as novelty food while sorghum and pearl millet is restricted to poultry/animal feed and pet birds. Around 60% of maize grain is used in poultry/animal feed industry, 30% in wet milling, 6% as food and 4% as seed / other purposes. The wet milling produces an array of products, by products and value additions.

Mission & Objectives

The objectives of the institute are:- 

• To evolve high yielding hybrids/varieties of maize, sorghum and pearl millet
• Breeding for biotic and abiotic stresses
• To develop improved package of production technology
• To demonstrate promising hybrids/varieties and improved production technology
• Transfer of technology through print and electronic media
• To produce BNS, pre-basic, basic and certified seed

Research Activities

Maize

Maize OPV

• Maintenance/ improvement of base populations.
• Evaluation of local, national (NUMYT) and international (CIMMYT) material.
• Production of BNS, pre-basic, basic and certified seed.

Maize Hybrid

• Maintenance and derivation of yellow maize inbred lines.
• Derivation of white maize inbred lines.
• Derivation of sweet corn inbred lines.
• Derivation of popcorn inbred lines.
• Screening / development of germplasm against stalk rot and heat stress.
• Constitution of new single cross hybrids.
• Evaluation of new hybrids in preliminary, micro, macro and hybrid yield trials.
• Development of inducer lines with high induction rate under local environmental conditions.
• Evaluation of national (NUMYT) & international (CIMMYT) material.
• Seed multiplication of inbred lines for promising maize hybrid constitution.
• Seed production of single cross maize hybrids.
• Demonstration / on-farm testing of promising hybrids.

Sorghum

• Maintenance of gene pool.
• Maintenance of cytoplasmic male sterile (A) lines.
• Maintenance of fertility restorer (R) lines.
• Development of dual purpose sweet sorghum varieties.
• Sorghum varietal yield trial.
• Constitution of varietal crosses.
• Constitution of sorghum hybrids.
• Sorghum hybrid yield trial.
• Evaluation of sorghum varieties/ hybrids in national (NUMYT) and on-farm yield trials.
• Production of BNS, pre-basic, basic and certified seed.

Pearl Millet

• Maintenance of gene pool.
• Maintenance of cytoplasmic male sterile (A) lines.
• Maintenance of fertility restorer (R) lines.
• Derivation of fertility restorer (R) lines.
• Constitution of pearl millet hybrids.
• Development of dual purpose pearl millet varieties.
• Constitution of varietal crosses.
• Pearl millet varietal yield trial.
• Evaluation of pearl millet varieties in national (NUMYT) and on-farm yield trials.
• Production of BNS, pre-basic, basic and certified seed.

Agronomy

• Standardization / finding of optimum plant spacings and irrigations for different OPV’s and hybrids of maize, sorghum & pearl millet crops for getting maximum and economical yields
• Testing of new herbicides against weeds in maize, sorghum & pearl millet crops.

Soil Chemistry

• Standardization of fertilizer doses for maize, sorghum & pearl millet crops for obtaining economical returns.

Plant Pathology

• Testing of maize hybrids /OPVs against stalk rot.
• Testing of different seed dressing fungicides against diseases.

Entomology

• Testing of different seed dressing insecticides against shoot fly.
• Testing of spray able insecticides for the control of maize and sorghum borer.

Achievements

Maize & Millets OPVs Developed:

The Institute has released following OPVs of maize, sorghum and pearl millet crops since its establishment i.e. 1958-59.

Maize Hybrids Developed:

The Institute has released following maize hybrids for general cultivation.

Introduction of Spring Maize in Pakistan

This Institute has introduced spring season maize crop in Punjab during 1960’s after conducting successful research trials. Now the share of spring maize in Punjab with respect to area and production is 33% and 40% respectively.

Adoption of Maize Hybrids

The Institute is pioneer in maize hybrids development in Pakistan and 1^st maize hybrid DC-59 was released during 1966. Recently, three maize hybrids i.e. YH-1898, FH-1046 and FH-949 with yield potential of 12,400 & 13,500 Kg/ha, and 13,000 respectively, have been approved by the Punjab Seed Council in 2016 for general cultivation.

Introduction of Modern Production Technology

The Institute is actively working for standardization of sowing methods, fertilizers doses, weedicides, fungicides and insecticides for maize, sorghum & pearl millet to obtain maximum and economical yields.

Initiatives

Provision of Additional Research Facilities for Development of Heat Resilient Maize Hybrids at Maize & Millets Research Institute

Introduction & Benefit of The Initiative

In Pakistan, maize is third important cereal crop after wheat and rice. Maize is being grown on an area of 1.318 million hectares with annual production of 6.309 million tons and average being 4,787 kg grains yield per hectare during 2018-19. It contributes 2.5% to the value added in agriculture & 0.5% to GDP of the country. Punjab is major maize growing province of the country having 68 % share in area and 94 % in total production (2018-19). Two-grain crops of maize i.e. spring and autumn are successfully grown in the Punjab. Spring maize is one of the success stories in Pakistan agriculture.

High temperature (above 37.3 °C) is harmful for grain setting of maize crop. During spring season maize crop sown during 2nd fortnight of March after potato crop harvesting, pollination and grain filling stages reaches in May - June when average maximum temperature goes above 40 ˚C that affect pollination and grain filling, ultimately, reduction in yield. Hybrids developed and screened under high temperature conditions will have the ability to tolerate high temperature and naturally will be well adapted to local environment, ultimately, high and stable yields. Development of heat resilient local hybrid and their seed production will make availability of quality seeds at cheaper rates to farmers and will check monopolization of Multinational Companies in the country.

In this project, Maize & Millets Research Institute, Yusafwala (Sahiwal) has developed and got approved one heat tolerant maize hybrid; YH-5427 from Punjab Seed Council during 2019. Another hybrid; YH-5482 is also at final stage of approval. These hybrids will be auctioned to the local seed companies for commercialization through auction system. The Seed Production Technology of these hybrids have also been standardized for getting maximum good quality seed under changing climate scenario.

Contact Us

Facilities

This institute provides pre basic, basic & certified seeds of Maize, Sorghum & Pearl Millet to the companies/ growers on reasonable rates and production technology is delivered free of cost. 

Services

Introduction

This institute involves in evolution of new Varieties / Hybrids of Maize, Sorghum & Pearl Millet crops. It produces the Breeder Nucleus Seed (BNS), Pre- Basic, Basic & Certified seed of OPV varieties of these crops and provides to the farmers, Seed Companies and Punjab Seed Corporation on limited scale. It also produces the Hybrid Seed of Maize, Sorghum & Pearl Millet crops and provides to the farmers on small scale.

How to avail the service?

Seed of all these varieties / hybrids are available at affordable prices at the office of Maize and Millets research Institute, Yusafwala Sahiwal in office timings from Monday to Friday at (9:00 AM to 5 PM)

Place

The Institute is located at a distance of about 11 kilometers from Sahiwal city towards east on Lahore-Multan Highway. 

Contact of the Focal Person

History

Objectives

Research Activities

Contact Us

Millets Research Station, Rawalpindi

Millets Research Station Rawalpindi is working on the genetic improvement sorghum and pearl millet crops. The idea of this station at present location was to enhance the production of Sorghum and Pearl Millet crop through high yielding varieties and modern crop production technology in rain fed areas of Punjab. Millets Research Station is the only spot under high rainfall areas of the Province engaged for the genetic improvement of the said crops. Moreover, the station has pivotal position having access to the national organizations and varied ecological zones of Barani tract.

History

Millets Research Station, Rawalpindi was established in 1976 under the administrative control of Maize & Millets Research Institute, Yusafwala (Sahiwal).The post of Associate Millet Botanist was made as drawing and disbursing officer (DDO) during the financial year 2002-2003.

Objectives

• Collection and maintenance of pearl millet germplasm for high grain and fodder yield.
• Evolution of high yielding and well adapted pearl millet variety under rain fed condition.
• Testing of promising lines of sorghum and pearl millet under rain fed condition.
• Formulation of crop production technology for the farmers of Barani areas.

Future Plan

• Development of high yielding grain and dry stalk Pearl Millet varieties through hybridization for the Barani areas.
• To transfer the production technology of sorghum and pearl millet through on-farm testing and other audio – video links.

Research Activities

• Maintenance of pearl millet germplasm.
• Breeding for the development of dual purpose pearl millet cultivars under rain fed conditions.
• Conduction of national/varietal yield trials of  sorghum and pearl millet crops under rain fed conditions.
• Demonstration of crop production technology of sorghum and pearl millet crops through on farm testing.
• To provide information regarding sorghum and pearl millet crops through radio talks, farmer field day and other audio/ visual aids.

Contact Us

Maize Research Station, AARI. Faisalabad

Maize Research Station is located in Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Jhang Road, Faisalabad. This research station was established in the year 1982 under the control of Maize and Millets Research Institute Yusafwala, Sahiwal. Total area of the research station is 10 acres.

Research Activities

Following are the research activities of the station:

• Evolution and evaluation of high yielding, insect pest and disease resistant varieties/hybrids of maize
• Development of high yielding hybrids of different maturity groups
• Development of seasons specific single cross maize hybrid
• Development of package of production technology for economic returns
• Production of BNS, pre-basic and basic seed of approved varieties
• Hybrid seed production of maize for general cultivation
• Demonstration of approved varieties, hybrids & production technology through on-farm research, print and electronic media

Contact Us

Contact Us