| Abstract |
In 1976, a dozen farmers in Mulunguishi, a tiny village in southeastern Zaire, harvested 6000 kilograms of maize a hectare -a yield that would be respectable for any maize farmer. These farmers were participating in a supervised credit scheme organized by the national maize program of Zaire. The scheme aims at debunking some widely held ideas about Zaire: that the soils and environment condemn maize to low yields and that, even if ways to improve maize productivity could be found, the farmer is somehow uninterested in new ideas and better livelihoods. The scheme has been in operation for 3 years in villages scattered over an area the size of Spain. The results are illuminating. In 1973/74, 15 farmers participated. Their maize yields averaged 5100 kg/ha. In 1974/75, 146 participants averaged 3200 kg/ha. In 1975/76, 168 participants averaged 4700 kg/ha. The neighbors of participating maize growers had yields of 1,000 to 1,500 kg/ha. The results of the credit scheme underscore two important points. First, during its short existence, the national maize program has developed varieties and found practices that can double and triple the yields of Zaire's maize growers. Second, the typical maize farmer, lacking cash, poorly educated, equipped with only a short-handled hoe, is eager to produce more maize and capable of doing so, with a little help. Part of that help is coming from the well-trained, enthusiastic scientists of Zaire's national maize program. But how many farmers the innovations of the maize program reach will depend largely on what national priority is given to finding and training extension workers and to making farm inputs more readily available coupled with efficient marketing systems and outlets. |
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