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.
Digitalizing African agriculture: paving the way to Africa’s progress through transforming the agriculture sector
Innovations
AGRF 2019 discussed digital transformation as key driver of sustainable food systems in Africa.
Scientists set to release stem rust resistant wheat varieties in Kenya
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Xinhua News (1 Sep 2019)
CIMMYT scientist says wheat varieties to be released in Kenya have high yields and are resistant to stem rust U99.
CIMMYT research at the forefront of the digital revolution in African agriculture
Innovations
New leaflet highlights digital innovations for Africa as researchers share insights at the African Green Revolution Forum 2019.
African leaders rely on science and technology to improve food security
Innovations
At the Africa Food Security Leadership Dialogue in Rwanda, experts and policymakers analyzed ways to address the continent’s food security crisis in the face of climate change.
Breaking Ground: Anani Bruce guards Africa’s maize harvest from insect pests
Innovations
CIMMYT entomologist strengthens native resistance in maize against fall armyworm and equips farmers with pest control measures.
New platform rapidly diagnoses wheat rust
Innovations
Source: World Grain (13 Aug 2019)
MARPLE diagnostic platform significantly reduces the time to identify strains, which previously took months.
Using the MARPLE kit to diagnose wheat rust in Ethiopia
Innovations
The mobile kit will allow Ethiopia to quickly identify wheat rust strains in 48 hours, instead of sending samples to labs abroad.
CIMMYT and CGIAR staff join Ethiopia’s record-breaking tree-planting campaign
Climate adaptation and mitigation
People across the country planted more than 350 million trees in a day to fight deforestation and climate change.
Strengthening wheat production in Africa
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Source: Sci Dev Net (31 Jul 2019)
CIMMYT scientists stress the importance of increasing wheat yield and tolerance to drought for a food secure Africa.
Scientist Bekele Abeyo details research in Africa with BBC
Nutrition, health and food security
In an interview for BBC Newsday, Abeyo explained African countries’ potential to boost wheat production, and how CIMMYT is helping.
What farmers want
Innovations
In demonstration plots in Kenya, smallholder farmers evaluate and rank maize varieties according to their preferred traits — a feedback that is crucial to CIMMYT’s maize breeding work.
Breaking Ground: Munyaradzi Mutenje tailors innovations to farmers needs
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
Mutenje opens dialogue with farmers to design new interventions that target farmers’ needs and achieve positive impact.
Ethiopian farmers weatherproof their livelihoods
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Farmers boost their climate resilience and make money as they phase out a 25-year-old maize variety and replace it with drought-tolerant BH661 seeds.
Bill Gates highlights impact of CIMMYT’s drought-tolerant maize
Climate adaptation and mitigation
In a blog post and video, Gates highlights the “essential” role of CIMMYT and other CGIAR research centers in “feeding our future.”
Women and youth find profitable business pathways through small-scale mechanization
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
FACASI project explored ways to address access to appropriate mechanization solutions.