Hybrid Maize Seeds in Kenya: Corteva Pioneer, DEKALB and Kenya Seed Variety

Farmers looking for the best hybrid maize seeds in Kenya should match each variety to the farm’s altitude, rainfall distribution and available growing period. This manufacturer-based guide compares selected Corteva Pioneer maize varieties, Bayer DEKALB maize varieties and Kenya Seed maize varieties by maturity, potential yield and key agronomic attributes.

The information can help farmers in Nairobi and across Kenya shortlist suitable certified maize seed before buying. However, county boundaries contain different elevations and microclimates. Therefore, confirm the farm’s altitude and local rainfall pattern instead of choosing a variety by county name alone.

Corteva Pioneer Maize Varieties in Kenya

The table below uses the maturity, yield and adaptation information published in the supplied Corteva Pioneer brochure. Where the brochure gives an environmental category rather than a numerical altitude, the original category has been retained.

Variety	Recommended ecology	Relative maturity	Potential yield	Manufacturer-listed attributes
P2848W	Medium-dry to medium-moist environments	3–3.5 months	6–8 t/ha 27–36 bags/acre	Semi-flint grain Drought tolerance Tolerance to Maize Streak Virus
P3531W	Medium-moist to medium transitional environments	4 months	8–11 t/ha 36–50 bags/acre	Semi-flint grain Good husk cover and standability Wide adaptation Tolerance to Northern Corn Leaf Blight
PHB30G19	Medium to mid-late altitudes	4–5 months	11 t/ha 50 bags/acre	Drought tolerance Excellent standability Good husk cover Tolerance to GLS, northern leaf blight and MSV
P3812W	Medium altitude	4.5–5.5 months	11 t/ha 50 bags/acre	Flint grain with excellent quality Tolerance to northern leaf blight, GLS and MSV Good standability and ear-height placement Stable under high plant population Suitable for green maize

Corteva Pioneer Recommended Growing Areas

P2848W: Machakos, Kitui, Homa Bay, Embu, Meru, Kisumu, Busia, Siaya and Tharaka Nithi.
P3531W: Embu, Meru, Migori, Busia, Siaya, Kirinyaga, Soin, Nyeri and Kimgetei.
PHB30G19: Kisii, Kuria, Migori, Butere, Laikipia West, Mumias, Busia, Narok, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Kiambu, Nakuru, Moiben, Bungoma, Kakamega, Webuye, Transmara, Meru, Vihiga, Embu, Kericho, Bomet and Baringo.
P3812W: Nakuru, Moiben, Bungoma, Kakamega, Migori, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Embu, Kisii, Kuria, Narok, Bomet, Kericho, Transmara, Meru, Nyamira, Laikipia West, Nyeri, Vihiga and Nandi.

Bayer DEKALB Maize Varieties in Kenya

The following figures come from the Bayer Crop Science Kenya product pages supplied. Yield figures remain potential performance under good agronomic management.

Variety	Altitude	Relative maturity	Potential yield	Manufacturer-listed attributes
DK8031	900–1,600 m above sea level	3.5–4 months	5–7 t/ha About 22–31 bags/acre	Early maturity and drought tolerance Good tolerance to leaf diseases Strong stem and good standability Drooping mature ears
DKC80-33	900–1,600 m above sea level	3.5–4 months	Use up to 7 t/ha pending clarification About 31 bags/acre	Double-cobbing potential Drought and leaf-disease tolerance Wide adaptation Strong stem and good standability Drooping mature ears
DK777	1,400–1,900 m above sea level	4–5 months	8–10 t/ha About 36–45 bags/acre	Tolerance to MLN and leaf diseases Double-cobbing potential Flint grain with good pounding quality Strong stem and good standability Uniform cob placement

Kenya Seed Maize Varieties in Kenya

Kenya Seed groups its maize varieties according to production ecology. The supplied manufacturer tables cover lowland varieties at 0–1,200 metres, medium-maturity varieties at 900–1,500 metres, transitional varieties at 1,000–1,800 metres and highland varieties at 1,500–2,800 metres above sea level.

Variety	Production zone	Altitude	Maturity	Potential yield	Manufacturer-listed attributes
PH1	Lowland/Pwani	0–1,200 m	75–100 days	20 bags/acre	Early maturity, heat tolerance and drought resistance
PH4	Lowland/Pwani	0–1,200 m	100–120 days	26 bags/acre	Heat tolerance, sweet taste, good standability and coastal adaptation
H513	Medium maturity	900–1,500 m	110–130 days	26 bags/acre	Sweet tasting and good standability
H516	Medium maturity	900–1,500 m	120–150 days	30 bags/acre	Sweet tasting; resistance to blight, rust and lodging
H517	Medium maturity	900–1,500 m	120–150 days	32 bags/acre	Foliar-disease and pest tolerance, better husk cover, cob-rot tolerance and suitability for irrigation
H520	Transitional	1,000–1,800 m	120–150 days	34 bags/acre	Double-cobbing potential, sweet taste, and tolerance to GLS and MSV
H624	Transitional	1,000–1,800 m	120–150 days	36 bags/acre	Double-cobbing potential and sweet taste
H614D	Highland	1,500–2,800 m	160–210 days	38 bags/acre	Sweet taste, good grain density, long storage, and resistance to GLS and blight
H628	Highland	1,500–2,800 m	150–210 days	46 bags/acre	Heavy white flint grain, high yield potential, and resistance to blight and GLS
H629	Highland	1,500–2,800 m	160–210 days	48 bags/acre	Lodging resistance, good husk cover, storage quality, and resistance to GLS and ear rot
H9401	Highland	1,500–2,800 m	160–190 days	50 bags/acre	Storage quality, silage suitability, and resistance to lodging, ear rot, rust, GLS, stem and leaf blight
H6213	Highland	1,500–2,800 m	160–210 days	54 bags/acre	Excellent milling quality and resistance to lodging, ear rot, rust, GLS, stem and leaf blight

Kenya Seed Highland Growing Conditions

Kenya Seed states that its highland varieties perform in high-rainfall areas with well-drained, good soils where rainfall distribution lasts approximately 150 to 180 days and seasonal rainfall is not less than 800 mm. The manufacturer lists highland regions including Kakamega, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Kericho, Nakuru, Molo, Nyeri and Murang’a, as well as suitable tea- and pyrethrum-growing areas.

DKC80-33 clarification: The supplied Bayer page heading states 7–9 t/ha, while the key-strength section says up to 7 t/ha. The table therefore uses the more conservative “up to 7 t/ha” figure until Bayer confirms the correct maximum.

Yield note: Bags per acre refer to 90 kg bags. Published yields are potential yields, not guarantees. Actual performance depends on ecology, rainfall, soil fertility, plant population, planting time and crop management. Double-cobbing is a potential trait and does not mean every plant will produce two harvestable cobs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hybrid Maize Seeds in Kenya

Which maize variety matures fastest in this guide?

Kenya Seed PH1 has the shortest published maturity range at 75 to 100 days. However, it should only be considered for a farm that matches its lowland ecology and altitude range.

Which variety has the highest published yield potential?

Among the manufacturer figures in this guide, Kenya Seed H6213 is listed at 54 bags per acre. Pioneer PHB30G19, Pioneer P3812W and Kenya Seed H9401 are listed at approximately 50 bags per acre. These figures are potential yields under suitable conditions, not guaranteed harvests.

Which hybrid maize seeds suit lowland areas in Kenya?

Kenya Seed PH1 and PH4 are listed for elevations from 0 to 1,200 metres above sea level. DEKALB DK8031 and DKC80-33 are listed for 900 to 1,600 metres. Farmers must also consider rainfall, soil, temperature and the length of the growing season.

Which maize varieties suit highland areas in Kenya?

Kenya Seed H614D, H628, H629, H9401 and H6213 are listed for elevations from 1,500 to 2,800 metres above sea level. These longer-season varieties require adequate, well-distributed rainfall.

Buy Certified Hybrid Maize Seeds in Nairobi and Kenya

Dawn Farmers Ltd supplies genuine certified maize seeds in Nairobi, with delivery arrangements available across Kenya. Contact the team to confirm current stock, available pack sizes and a suitable variety for your farm’s altitude and rainfall zone.

Call or WhatsApp: 0748 949 184
Location: Mang Building, Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi
Website: https://dawnfarmers.com/

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