Abstract The historical development of potato: maize intercropping practices is described, indicating how the desire to increase total yield, and the government decision to achieve self-sufficiency in grain production, have been accommodated. The present systems essentially consist of alternate pairs of maize rows planted one month after emergence of single or pair rows of potato. Following potato harvest, another crop is planted in its place between maize, and following the maize harvest winter wheat is frequently planted. Much yield compensation exists between potato, maize, and soybean, within this system. Research results have shown that total productivity can only be marginally increased by choice of short-season potato varieties, increase of total plant population, use of plastic mulches, and alteration of maize sowing dates, and future research concentrates on these efforts.