Five Practical Ways to Improve Maize Yields on Smallholder Farms

Maize productivity gains rarely come from a single change — they come from combining good timing, soil management and consistent record keeping.

Start with land preparation timed to the start of reliable rains, use recommended seed spacing, and apply basal fertilizer at planting rather than waiting.

Track planting dates and input use for every plot. Even a simple notebook — or a digital record through Farmer Hub — makes it possible to see what actually worked season over season.