The advent of Crop Intensification Program (CIP) in 2007 made significant advances in cereal crop commodities production and food security. The landmark of these advances was the maize crop made a top priority due to several economic advantages over other crops. The research objectives evolved to the development of high yielding and climate resilient varieties with superior traits. The shift, for maize, from the utilization of Open Pollinated Varieties (OPVs) to hybrid varieties bred locally led the formation of emerging seed companies that are currently produce all the needed maize seeds at national. This change in maize variety initiated the development of seed sector by making it public private partnership led. The achievements so farm include the official release of 25 maize hybrid varieties including seven which are widely grow by farmers, 28 rice varieties, ten wheat five barley varieties, and ten seed producers using maize hybrid cultivars.

The current research topics include:

a) Maize

1- Development, official releasing and dissemination of high yielding maize hybrid varieties with superior traits. The targeted traits are: drought tolerance, Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) tolerance or resistance, fall armyworm tolerance, foliar disease resistance including Turcicum Leaf Blight (TLB) and Maize Steak Virus (MSV) diseases resistance, earliness and extra-earliness, especially for high altitudes;

2- Seed production optimization for purity and maintenance of varieties though morphological and molecular markers;

3- Breeder’ s seed production from parent inbred lines of the maize hybrid varieties widely grown by farmers;

4- Backstopping seed companies in maize hybrid seed production and marketing.

b) Rice

1- Development, official releasing and dissemination of high yielding rice varieties with superior traits. The targeted traits are: long grain; aromatic grain, cold tolerance, blast and Rice Yellow Mottle Virus diseases resistance;

2- Breeder’s seed production for the varieties widely grown by farmers

2- Backstopping the rice value chain actors for high quality rice produce.

c) Wheat and barley

1- Development, official releasing and dissemination of high yielding wheat varieties with superior traits. The targeted traits are: yellow and stem rusts, powdery mildew and blast diseases resistance, waterlogging and sprouting resistance and grain high gluten content;

2- Development and utilization of best agricultural practices including: planting depth, planting date and use of herbicides;

3- Development, official releasing and dissemination of high yielding barley varieties.

d) Sorghum

Advance sorghum lines to F2, F3, F4 and F5 generations.