Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
Scientists find genomic regions associated with wheat blast resistance in CIMMYT nurseries
Environmental health and biodiversity
Genomic-wide association study evaluated samples from Bolivia and Bangladesh for blast-resistant genes.
Wheat blast has made the intercontinental jump to Africa
Nutrition, health and food security
Researchers in Zambia confirm the arrival of this devastating fungal disease to the African continent.
How do I become a zero-till farmer?
Capacity development
New online training takes farmers and service providers though a visual journey on the use of conservation agriculture-based sustainable intensification methods.
Breaking Ground: Sudha Nair helps bridge gap between maize breeding and genetics
Innovations
CIMMYT scientist applies genomics in maize breeding to achieve higher genetic gains.
Back to basics: COVID-19 labour crunch brings direct seeding of paddy in focus
Innovations
Source: Down to Earth (15 Jul 2020)
While an estimated 10 percent of India’s 44 million ha of rice is cultivated through direct seeding, the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to an increase in this practice.
Conservation agriculture for sustainable intensification in Eastern India
Environmental health and biodiversity
A new policy brief provides a roadmap for accelerating the adoption of conservation agriculture in Eastern India.
Could coronavirus drive farmers to adopt sustainable practices in India’s breadbasket?
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Interest in farm machinery and crop diversification spike as farmers respond to COVID-19 labor shortages.
Farm mechanization under COVID-19
Innovations
As the current pandemic and restrictions create labor constraints, CIMMYT experts discuss the role scale-appropriate farm machinery can play in addressing them.
Conservation agriculture key to better income, environment protection: Study
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Source: The Hindu Business Line (17 Apr 2020)
New study in India reports conservation agriculture increases crop yield and income, reduces the use of natural resources, and offers climate benefits.
Conservation agriculture key in meeting UN Sustainable Development Goals
Climate adaptation and mitigation
New analysis shows benefits of conservation agriculture to crop performance, water efficiency and climate action in South Asia.
Systems thinking at work in South Asia’s food production
Environmental health and biodiversity
New blog published by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs argues that balancing food security, rural livelihoods, water for agriculture and air quality need not be a zero-sum game.
Advancing Nutritious Food Crops: The Role of the Public Sector
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Outlook India (25 Feb 2020)
Harvest Plus supports cross-sector alliances to advance biofortified crops in India.
New year, new beginnings
Capacity development
Women in West Bengal form farmer groups and cooperatives drawing on sustainable agricultural practices from CIMMYT’s SRFSI project.
What is wheat blast?
Nutrition, health and food security
Wheat blast is one of the most fearsome and intractable wheat diseases in recent decades. It spreads through infected seeds, crop residues as well as by spores that can travel long distances in the air, posing a major threat to wheat production in tropical areas.
