Maize (Zea mays.L) is the third important crop after wheat and rice in Afghanistan. The productivity is low 2.14 ton/ha due to lack of diversity and well-adapted varieties. 65% of maize production is used as feed and 17.5% as food. Afghanistan is facing seriously malnutrition and poverty, therefore more maize is required to recover food security. Popcorn is also important snack food in Afghanistan, but it is luck of breeding donors. The main objective of this work is to evaluate and identify the introduced hybrids of Korean germplams. International Corn Foundation (ICF), Kyungpook National University (KNU) and Institute of Asian Culture and Development (IACD) collaboratively planted three different types of maize (Silage1, KNU waxy1, Popcorn) in two locations (Isharak and Sherabad) in Mazar-i-sharif. All hybrids have shown good performances and can easily be adapted in Afghanistan climate. Among them KNU waxy1 was the most attractive which has been planted first time. Farmers showed highly interest on new taste and they were so enthusiasm to replant. Maize breeding laboratory at KNU is developing new popcorn cultivar for commercial use in Korea that has shown outstanding result in Afghanistan climate. This experiment described that introducing of new maize hybrids especially KNU waxy1 and popcorn can have great potential to fill up food demand in Afghanistan.

• S M Afzal(International Agricultural Research Institute-Kyungpook National University (KNU)) Corresponding author
• Soon-Kwon Kim(International Agricultural Research Institute-Kyungpook National University (KNU))
• Mrs. Hahn(Institute of Asian culture and Development (IACD))