Africa
CIMMYT’s work in Africa helps farmers access new maize and wheat systems-based technologies, information and markets, raising incomes and enhancing crop resilience to drought and climate change. CIMMYT sets priorities in consultation with ministries of agriculture, seed companies, farming communities and other stakeholders in the maize and wheat value chains. Our activities in Africa are wide ranging and include: breeding maize for drought tolerance and low-fertility soils, and for resistance to insect pests, foliar diseases and parasitic weeds; sustainably intensifying production in maize- and wheat-based systems; and investigating opportunities to reduce micronutrient and protein malnutrition among women and young children.
Can African smallholders farm themselves out of poverty?
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: The Conversation (11 Dec 2019)
New study examines if agricultural intensification can take households across the poverty line.
Screening cycle for deadly MLN virus set to begin in Kenya in January 2020
Nutrition, health and food security
Interested organizations are invited to send maize germplasm for screening.
Nurture soil as our food and climate insurance
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Soil conservation means food security for farmers in Malawi.
Agricultural solutions to tackle humanity’s climate crisis
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Science offers opportunity to curb greenhouse gas emissions related to agriculture and meet climate goals.
Scaling out climate-smart agriculture in southern Africa
Climate adaptation and mitigation
A new series of infographics outlines the challenges that must be addressed in order to scale adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices in southern Africa.
Ethiopia, great mobilization against wheat rust
Innovations
Source: Donne del Food (28 Nov 2019)
Rapid alert system has been developed to predict the spread of wheat rust.
New publications: Understanding changes in farming systems to propose adapted solutions
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
Researchers identify national policies, climate and soil fertility changes, population increase, and urban expansion as the major drivers of farming systems change in the Hawassa area of Ethiopia.
Do smallholders get the right seed and inputs from their agrodealer?
Nutrition, health and food security
A new agrodealer survey explores smallholder’s access to improved maize seed and fertilizer in Tanzania and Uganda.
Preventing post-harvest losses key to food security
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Zambia Daily Mail (26 Nov 2019)
Poor post harvest management is one of the key constraints to improving food and nutritional security in Africa.
Zimbabwe: Farmer Combats ‘Hidden Hunger’. . . Grows Biofortified Crops
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: All Africa (26 Nov 2019)
CIMMYT and Harvest Plus have been breeding biofortified crop varieties of vitamin A orange maize since 2015.
Investing in drought-tolerant maize is good for Africa
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Recent impact studies in Uganda and Zambia show that farmers adopting drought-tolerant maize increased their yields significantly and reduced risks of crop failure.
How a disease without borders was contained
Nutrition, health and food security
Experts reflect on the successful efforts to limit the spread of maize lethal necrosis across eastern and southern Africa.
Breaking Ground: Pieter Rutsaert looks to better marketing for faster adoption of climate-smart maize in Africa
Nutrition, health and food security
Markets and value chains expert studies seed demand and distribution, with the aim to help agro-dealers and seed businesses better market improved seed.
CIMMYT is ready to support Ethiopia’s move toward — and beyond — wheat self-sufficiency
Nutrition, health and food security
Meeting with Ethiopian researchers and policymakers outlines path forward for cooperation.
Kenya: Maize contamination
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: France 24 (19 Nov 2019)
B.M. Prasanna, Director of CIMMYT’s Global Maize Program, speaks on CIMMYT’s work to help farmers in the context of the aflatoxin crisis in Kenya.