Martin et al. (2013) found, under the current farmer practices in Samlout, the main factors constraining maize yields are choice of variety,
poor plant nutrition and lack of early weed control.
Maizeon- cob yields can be doubled from 4.5 t/ha to 9.0 t/ha by minimizing
cultivation, better control of weeds, using better seed
quality and applying fertiliser.
Attention to these details gave an increase in the gross margin for maize from $300/ha to $800/ha in
2015.
The majority of farmers perceived that there was less rain in the late dry season and a later finish to the wet season e and this
was consistent with the predictions (Touch et al., unpublished).
With rising temperatures, the late dry season is expected to become both drier and hotter, and more risky for sowing crops in February-March