KILOSA
 In Kilosa, the FSR/E team
worked with 50 farmers in
conducting 10 different experi-
ments over four seasons (two
years), including varietal evalua-
tions, agronomic practices, and
cropping patterns. The most
conclusive experiments are
detailed here.
 Kilosa farming systems are
greatly influenced by the exis-
tence of two rainy seasons -
short rains from November
through January and long rains
from February through May.
Prior to the initiation of the
Farming Systems Project, resear-
chers in Kilosa were recom-
mending that all crops be planted
at the start of the more reliable
long rains. Farmers, however,
eager to end their "hungry
season" as early as possible, had
always planted full-season maize
in the short rains. This enabled
them to harvest maize in March
(the normal "hungry season")
and then use their labor and
fields for other crops.
 The FSR/E team focused on the
design of sequential cropping
patterns which would better
satisfy farmer goals and needs.
The solid breeding work of the
National Maize Program (sup-
ported by USAID) provided a key
input through the development
of the newly released, early
maturing Kito maize variety.
While this variety had been
developed and recommended for
planting during the long rains,
the FSR/E team recognized the
potential benefit of planting it
during the short rains.
 Through two years of experi-
mental work, the newly developed
Kito gained wide acceptance


among hundreds of farmers who
were able to harvest their maize
crop a month earlier. Satisfied
farmers called Kito "The
Liberator" for liberating them
from hunger.
* On-farm trials demonstrated
 that Kito, when planted during
 the initial short rains in


Dr. L. Lev, Production
Economist, displays Kito,
which earned the title of
"The Liberator" from
enthusiastic farmers.


 November, achieved similar
 yields as other maize varieties
 but also provided several
 advantages:
 0 Increased production in
 kilograms per growing day:
 exceeded that of full-season
 maize varieties by 30 percent.
 D A more rapid harvest, permit-
 ting the farmer to avoid the
 "hungry season."
 D Reduced competition for land
 and labor with other crops
 later in the season. Since the
 farmers had already
 harvested maize and ensured
 their food supply, they could
 use their fields and labor -
 for the other six or seven
 crops they traditionally grow.
 D Reduction of the overall risks
 of crop failure. If farmers'
 Kito crop should fail, they
 could replant in February
 and thereby ensure their
 families' food supply.
* The smaller stature and earlier
 maturity of Kito make it ideal
 for inter- or relay cropping.
 Among the potential crops to
 follow an initial maize crop are
 cotton, rice, cowpeas, or a
 second maize crop. The initial
 findings, particularly on the
 maize/cotton relay cropping
 pattern, have attracted consid-
 erable farmer and researcher
 interest.
 D When cotton follows Kito, the
 cotton yield is similar to that
 achieved on a mono-cropped
 field and provides consider-
 able savings in land prepara-
 tion for cotton.
 D When cotton follows Kito, the
 cotton yield is approximately
 30% more than cotton
 following a full-season maize.