Blogs
Collaboration across the seed system value chain
Stakeholders call for a holistic approach to managing Kenya’s dryland crop seed system for sustainability and food security.
Sow, grow, and thrive: a pathway to improve cassava farming in Zambia
SIFAZ is shifting farmer mindsets towards promoting sustainable practices that not only improve cassava yields but minimize physical labor.
A tale of two worlds: contrasting realities in southern and northern Zambia during El Niño
El Niño has contributed to starkly different weather patterns in northern and southern Zambia. On World Water Day 2024, this piece navigates the complex challenge of mitigating water abundancy and scarcity through different agricultural practices that support livelihoods and food security.
Network develops optimized breeding pipelines for accelerated genetic gains in dryland crops
The Africa Dryland Crop Improvement Network (ADCIN), NARES, and CGIAR scientists in Africa optimized quantitative genetic criteria for breeding programs and breeding strategies and pipelines for chickpea, pigeon pea, groundnut, sorghum, pearl-millet, and finger millet crops.
No Stones, No Grit! A game-changing technology to process small grain introduced in Zimbabwe
A locally made, affordable multi-crop thresher offers a convenient post-harvest processing option for smallholder farmers.
Empowering communities through sustainable agriculture
For young Mirian, an agent of change, being part of the Honduran InnovaHub Oriente has allowed her to make agricultural innovations a means to empower her generation and women.
Women farmers turn the tide on soybean production
In Mozambique, women spearhead efforts to enhance soybean yields with improved agronomic practices, yielding community-wide benefits.
Product Design Teams (PDTs): A client-oriented approach to defining market segments and target product profiles
Working groups for seed systems stakeholders, known as Product Design Teams (PDT), are improving the availability and accessibility of seeds in Africa.
Advancing wheat breeding through rapid marker-selectable trait introgression
CIMMYT’s commitment to excellence and precision is exemplified in the AGG WHEAT marker-selectable trait introgression. The journey from concept to reality—marked by the entry of 97 F5 lines into yield trials—signals a new era in wheat breeding.
East African wheat breeding pipeline and E&SSA network
Genetic trials in the region will continue throughout 2024 and 2025 to establish a baseline for genetic gains and to enable the assessment of the breeding pipeline’s progress in the coming years.
Enhancing wheat breeding efficiency in South Asia through early germplasm access
Success stories witnessed in India, Pakistan, and Nepal underscore the transformative potential of this approach, offering a beacon of hope for agricultural communities in South Asia and beyond.
Reaching farmers in Zambia
AID-I conducted a community sensitization to connect Zambian farmers with existing mobile networks that provide agricultural and climate data.
Advancing conservation agriculture
A workshop brings together scientists to share the latest innovations in conservation agriculture to benefit smallholder farmers and reduce the effects of climate change on food production.
Strengthening resilience in Mutoko farmers through agroecological research
A workshop to help tackle climate challenges faced by Mutoko farmers generated significant interest among farmers and stakeholders to work towards sustainable approaches.
Heat tolerant maize hybrids: a pursuit to strengthen food security in South Asia
CIMMYT’s systematic and targeted breeding strategy in South Asia helped develop 20 high yielding and heat-stress tolerant maize hybrids. The ongoing efforts strengthens the livelihood of farm families who are highly vulnerable to climate change in the Asian tropics.