Developing and commercializing hybrids in Zimbabwe has not benefited many of the smallholder farmers in the country because the varieties are poorly adapted in the semi-arid areas (natural regions 3–5) where 91% of the smallholder farmers live. Removal of government subsidies in the 1990s saw astronomical increases in the cost of fertilizer and hybrid seed. This has resulted in a sharp decline in the use of N fertilizer and an increase in the use of hybrid seed that has been retained. This in turn has led to a sharp decline in yield, thereby compromising household and national food security.

An open-pollinated variety (OPV) ecosystem breeding program targeting the semi-arid areas of the country was started during 2000/01 to promote the use of improved maize OPVs instead of retaining seed from hybrids or planting poorly adapted hybrids. This program involved on-farm and on-station evaluation of existing local and regional OPVs as well as the development of new synthetics. The on-station evaluations were done to assess yield as well as characterize varieties for disease resistance: gray leaf spot (GLS) (Cercospora zeae-maydis), rust (Puccinia sorghi), turcicum leaf blight (TLB) (Exserohilum turcicum), maize streak virus (MSV). Varieties were also assessed for tolerance to drought and low N, while on-farm evaluation included generations of information on farmers’ perceptions of the varieties, that is, their qualitative traits such as grain texture, husk cover and taste. The initial phase of evaluation saw 36 varieties being evaluated across 20 sites in the target zone. Significant differences (p < 0.01) were obtained among varieties for yield, with varieties such as ZM303, ZM421 and ZM521 yielding higher than the local OPV checks Matuba, Hickory King, KEP, Salisbury White, and hybrid checks R215 and ZS225. A further two seasons evaluation of these and other newly developed varieties further confirmed significant differences among varieties for yield, maturity (anthesis dates), anthesis silking interval (ASI), standability (root and shoot lodging) and disease resistance. The ASI score was used as the standard parameter to measure stress tolerance for both drought and low N evaluations. During this period the national program also developed five new synthetics that were evaluated in on-station and on-farm trials. These synthetics were bred for earliness, drought and low N tolerance and disease resistance (GLS and MSV). Two of the synthetics (01ZimSynE and 01ZimSynIL) were also evaluated in South African Drought and Low Fertility Network (SADLF) regional trials and were found to be very promising. The evaluation process across sites and seasons saw the release of two synthetics, ZM421 and ZM521, a first in 30 years of ‘silent OPV ban’ in the country. Synthetic 01ZimSynE has also been put forward for a second season’s evaluation in the regional program and distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) testing (2004/05 season) before release in the country. A seed multiplication program to increase seed of the released and farmer-preferred varieties was started with about 60 extension staff and 500 farmers having been trained. In winter 2004 the national program facilitated the production of 500 tonnes of seed through farmer training programs.