CIMMYT's maize improvement programme

Today, more than 70 countries grow maize on over 100 000 hectares annually, making maize the world's most widely distributed major crop. In terms of world cereal production, maize ranks third, closely following wheat and rice. During 1979–81, world maize production averaged about 420 million tons and was grown on roughly 130 million hectares: the importance of crop improvement research thus needs no emphasis.