News
Climate-smart agriculture: A winning strategy for farming families in El Niño seasons
Climate adaptation and mitigation
A recent study from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) shows that conservation agriculture and other climate-smart technologies are increasing yields and farmer resilience amidst drought episodes in southern Africa.
Seeds of progress
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
In a male-dominated sector, women leading maize seed companies in eastern and southern Africa share their experiences.
Shifting to a demand-led maize improvement agenda
Climate adaptation and mitigation
In annual meeting, STMA project partners build on the successes of research in combatting drought, heat, pests and disease.
Winners of 2019 MAIZE Youth Innovators Awards – Africa announced
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
The five young awardees are advancing change, innovation and research in their communities.
Transforming African agriculture through mechanization
Innovations
Source: The Nigerian Voice (3 May 2019)
The FACASI project has benefited over a hundred young people from Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
International Women’s Day 2019: Women in seed systems in Africa
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
These entrepreneurs are breaking social barriers while improving household nutrition and livelihoods.
Smallholder wheat production can cut Africa’s costly grain imports
Nutrition, health and food security
Scientists are working to catalyze local farming and help meet the rapidly rising regional demand wheat.
New Publications: Storage of maize products results in vitamin loss
Nutrition, health and food security
Climate insurance for farmers: a shield that boosts innovation
Climate adaptation and mitigation
New insurance products geared towards smallholder farmers can help them recover their losses, and even encourage investment in climate-resilient innovations.
New online portal offers information to curb maize lethal necrosis in Africa
Innovations
The new maize lethal necrosis online portal provides up-to-date information and surveillance tools to help researchers control and stop the spread of the deadly disease.
New Publications: Better post-harvest storage can raise vitamin A intake 25 percent in Zambia
Nutrition, health and food security
Recent modeling studies in Zambia suggest that provitamin A maize’s impact is being cut short by the low retention of carotenoids during storage and postharvest grain loss.
New Publications: Study shows improved maize decreases malnutrition
Innovations
New evidence shows that not only do improved maize varieties increase crop productivity and farmer income, they can also decrease child malnutrition.
Fall armyworm devastates crops in sub-Saharan Africa: A quick and coordinated regional response is required
Nutrition, health and food security
The head of CIMMYT’s Global Maize Program highlights the potential impact of the fall armyworm pest and how CGIAR researchers are contributing to a quick and coordinated response across the Africa.
Three major commercial maize seed exporting countries in southern Africa found free from maize lethal necrosis
Three major commercial maize-growing and seed exporting countries in southern Africa were found to be so far free from the deadly maize lethal necrosis (MLN) disease.
Building Zambia’s drought-tolerant maize business
Nutrition, health and food security
Drought tolerant maize can reduce risks for farmers and allow for more consistent crop production in the face of climate variability in southern Africa.
