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.
For development expert Paula Kantor, gender equality was crucial
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
Gender and development specialist Paula Kantor had a deep understanding of how change can empower men and women to give them greater control over their own lives.
Conservation agriculture in Africa: where does it fit?
Innovations
The controversial debate among researchers about the suitability of conservation agriculture for smallholder farmers in Africa continues while millions face food insecurity and degrading resources.
SUPER WOMAN: Jeanie Borlaug Laube unites global wheat community
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
Seeds for needs in Malawi
Climate adaptation and mitigation
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of Malawi launched five projects on food security, fisheries and environment.
CIMMYT remembers vital legacy of gender specialist Paula Kantor
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
CIMMYT is sad to announce the tragic death of our friend and respected colleague, gender and development specialist Paula Kantor.
“In Mozambique, you cannot talk about food security without talking about maize”
Nutrition, health and food security
MLN diagnostics and management in Africa through multi-institutional synergies
Nutrition, health and food security
Two-wheeled tractors key to smallholder mechanization in Africa
Capacity development
The Farm Mechanization and Conservation Agriculture for Sustainable Intensification (FACASI) project held its second review and planning meeting, as well as mid-term review, during a five-day event in Hawassa, Ethiopia. This was followed by country site visits by the review team.
Ethiopian seed companies express interest in QPM, seek CIMMYT support
Capacity development
Managers of private and public seed companies in Ethiopia have expressed interest to produce and broadly market quality protein maize (QPM) seed, provided that they get technical and other necessary support from the Nutritious Maize for Ethiopia (NuME) project.
Canadian foodgrains bank highlights CIMMYT’s Christian Thierfelder’s work in conservation agriculture
Innovations
Christian Thierfelder, CIMMYT senior agronomist stationed at Harare, Zimbabwe, was recently profiled by the Canadian Foodgrains Bank for his work promoting conservation agriculture techniques for smallholder farmers in Africa. Conservation agriculture systems are not only better for soils but help make agriculture more ‘climate-smart’, argues Thierfelder. “The conventional system can only make use of the water that is in the ridge and not further down in the soil,” he said. “In conservation agriculture systems, there is access to deeper layers and a lot of water has infiltrated. The maize can actually access the water much better because of an improved root system.”
Green manures help Zambian and Malawian farmers feed crops and livestock
Climate adaptation and mitigation
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has tasked CIMMYT with a new project to introduce green manure cover crops to smallholder farmers in eastern Zambia and central and southern Malawi.
