The capacity of KARI and NARO national programs to produce breeder and foundation seeds has been increased through provision of infrastructure, including improved seed storage, irrigation, and small processing equipment.

The capacity to produce quality seed has been built through training of more than 120 KARI, NARO, government extension, Seed Company companies, and NGOs staff, and farmers in Kenya and Uganda in maize seed production and management.

Improved maize cultivars preferred by farmers have been identified through evaluation of more than 100 improved cultivars grown under optimal and sub-optimal fertility conditions, with research and farmer evaluation, and using the mother and baby trial designs that enables wide exposure of technology and includes dialogue and feedback among farmers and researchers.

Data from the on-farm mother and baby trials have been used to support release of varieties after testing in the national performance trials e.g. Kakamega Synthetics 1 and 2 released in Kenya in 2002.

Individual farmers and farmer groups are participating in on-farm seed production of seed of varieties of their choice involving the quality control authorities in Kenya and Uganda.

The mother and baby trials and the on-farm seed production plots served as focal points and demonstration plots for local extension staff to hold farmer field days for agronomic practices especially soil fertility management for maize production, especially in Uganda.