CIMMYT’s history in Kenya begins in 1964 when Kenyan and CIMMYT maize breeders developed the first maize hybrid. Almost ten years later, CIMMYT’s Kenya headquarters opened in 1975. Since then, CIMMT has enjoyed a productive relationship with Kenyan researchers, policymakers, crop scientists, agricultural organizations, and farmers.
CIMMYT has collaborated with Kenyan stakeholders to develop stronger breeding programs and bolster pest and disease resistance. CIMMYT and KALRO have established two major facilities that have been crucial for maize breeding in sub-Saharan Africa: the Maize Doubled-Haploid (DH) facility and the Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) screening facility. The alarm for Ug99, a virulent new stem rust race, was first sounded by Norman Borlaug in 2005. From there, CIMMYT and KALRO founded a world class screening nursery in Njoro, where over 50,000 wheat lines have been tested for resistance to Ug99 and other rusts.
Our impact
- To date, over 50 elite and diverse CIMMYT lines with MLN resistance have been released. CIMMYT and KALRO researchers have screened 221,450 germplasm entries (>343,013 rows) against MLN under artificial inoculation at the Naivasha facility.
- CIMMYT champions gender equity and social equity in agriculture, taking local, proactive action to eliminate conscious and unconscious gender bias in recruitment. Along with KALRO, CIMMYT promotes sustainable agricultural practices that recognize the role of women in decision-making.
- More than 80 Kenyan farmers have actively participated in initiatives to expand extension services and promote the adoption of best agronomic practices.
Capacity development, Climate adaptation and mitigation