The Power of Orange: Catalyzing Delivery of Vitamin A Maize in Zambia

A brief from the CGIAR’s HarvestPlus biofortification program describes how HarvestPlus has worked with multiple partners in Zambia to catalyze development and delivery of yield-competitive varieties of hybrid maize that are enriched with vitamin A.

The first three vitamin A maize (VAM) seed varieties were released in Zambia in 2012, followed by another three in 2015, and five more in 2018. Successive varieties have had improved nutrition and agronomic traits. The principal aim of the Zambia VAM program is to address high rates of vitamin A deficiency in the country—particularly among children and women—and the serious health problems it causes, including vulnerability to infections such as diarrhea, sight impairment, and poor pregnancy outcomes.