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.
Are advisory apps a solution for collecting Big Data?
Innovations
CIMMYT has been researching the use of mobile apps to provide site-specific agronomic advice to farmers.
What is green manure? And how is it helping maize farmers?
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Ten farmers in a hot and dry area of Zimbabwe trial intercropping legumes and green manure cover crops alongside their maize, to assess their impact on soil fertility.
Planting the seed of agricultural innovation in Africa
Innovations
We have seen an increased use of improved seed, appropriate technologies and agricultural machinery, all adapted to the specific needs of African farmers. It’s time to take this progress even further.
Forecast drought: ED engages experts
Nutrition, health and food security
CIMMYT’s director general Martin Kropff met with the president of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Suitcase-sized lab speeds up wheat rust diagnosis
Innovations
MARPLE (Mobile And Real-time PLant disEase) is a portable testing lab which could help speed-up the identification of devastating wheat rust diseases in Africa.
Towards more sustainable food systems through a landscape lens
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Participants in GLF Nairobi 2018 called for concrete collective action to restore degraded landscapes.
CIMMYT collaborator wins Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application
Nutrition, health and food security
Matthew Rouse, a researcher with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is being recognized for his work to contain and reduce the impact of Ug99.
How to identify and scout for fall armyworm
Capacity development
A new 3-D animation video published yesterday shows farmers how to scout for and identify the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda).
African youth find entrepreneurial opportunity in agricultural mechanization
Capacity development
An increasing number of youth across eastern and southern Africa are creating a stable living as entrepreneurs in agricultural mechanization service provision.
Nutritious vitamin A orange maize boosts health and livelihoods in Zimbabwe
Nutrition, health and food security
As Zimbabwe’s child malnutrition rate peaks above the international threshold for emergency response, nutritious vitamin A orange maize gains ground on the national market.
Training manual greases the wheels for mechanization entrepreneurs
Capacity development
The manual gives practical guidance for service providers in rural areas, where family farmers commonly lack capital to invest in farm power.
Seed companies are responsible for creating demand for quality protein maize
Nutrition, health and food security
Recently, the CIMMYT-led, Global Affairs Canada-funded, Nutritious Maize for Ethiopia project has led field visits for a number of high-level stakeholders.
