News
Digital imaging tools make maize breeding much more efficient
Innovations
These technologies, known as high-throughput phenotyping platforms, replace lengthy paper-based visual observations of crop trials.
The itsy bitsy spider can make a big impact in agriculture
Environmental health and biodiversity
A new study explores how conservation agriculture in southern Africa supports spider populations and diversity, which could help mitigate pest damage.
With multi-sector support for climate-sensitive practices, African farmers can boost food security and resilience
Nutrition, health and food security
Conservation agriculture has potential to conserve soils, improve yields and limit environmental impacts.
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.
Forecast drought: ED engages experts
Nutrition, health and food security
CIMMYT’s director general Martin Kropff met with the president of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa.
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.
Science can reverse “new normal” of climate change-related disasters
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Breaking Ground: Leonard Rusinamhodzi on innovating farming systems for climate change
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Leonard Rusinamhodzi works with African farmers to innovate farming systems in the face of climate change.
New crop varieties that counter climate change: a best bet for farmers
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Drought tolerant maize provides extra 9 months of food for farming families
Nutrition, health and food security
A new study shows that drought tolerant maize varieties can provide farming families in Zimbabwe an extra 9 months of food at no additional cost.
Zimbabwe enacts new strategy in fall armyworm fight
Capacity development
The fall armyworm has since caused significant damage on over 280,000 hectares of maize in Africa since 2015. Zimbabwe established a fall armyworm working group in July this year to bring all stakeholders together and find solutions to manage the impacts of the pest in the country.
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.
Zimbabwe steps up food security with vitamin A maize
Nutrition, health and food security
More farmers in Zimbabwe are demanding high-yielding, highly nutritious and drought tolerant provitamin A maize.
Increased investment needed to adapt Africa’s agriculture to climate change
Nutrition, health and food security
Delegates at a conference in June called for a new focus and increase in investment to ensure eastern and southern Africa’s farming systems can withstand the impacts of climate change.
