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.
Agricultural Transformation in Africa
Innovations
Bram Govaerts calls for support among CIMMYT, CGIAR, and African researchers.
Climate change to reduce Africa, South Asia wheat output
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Source: World-Grain.com (26 Jun 2023)
DSSAT wheat models showcase the impact of temperature, heat stress, water balance and drought stress in large wheat yield reductions due to climate change for Africa and South Asia.
Pakistan’s wheat yield may decline 16pc due to climate change
Capacity development
Source: Dawn (25 Jun 2023)
The wheat simulation models have been widely used to study diverse cropping systems, as growing conditions and the impact of climate change on wheat vary across the globe. Simulations for South Asian countries suggested a different magnitude of climate change impacts, particularly due to warmer temperatures.
CIMMYT Director General reaffirms commitment to Zambia
Visit to Southern Africa AID-I Rapid Delivery Hub partners and intervention sites highlights strong partnerships bringing sustainable innovations to Zambia.
Wheat output in Africa and South Asia will suffer severely from climate change by 2050, modelling study shows
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Crop simulation models predict that climate change will lower global wheat production by 2050 in Africa and South Asia, where food security is already threatened.
Building capacities for advanced modern breeding programs in Africa
Capacity development
CIMMYT trains scientists in product profile-based maize breeding for increased genetics gains.
Accelerating delivery of stress-tolerant, nutritious seed in Eastern and Southern Africa
Nutrition, health and food security
CIMMYT and partners are working to accelerate the delivery of stress-tolerant and nutritious seeds to boost smallholder farmer resilience to drought and pests in Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia.
A promising partnership
Capacity development
The delivery of row seeders from India to Benin demonstrates a new path to sustainable South-South business relationships.
Startups, nonprofits race to unlock Africa’s agricultural potential as millions face food crisis and droughts
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: The Nairobi Law Monthly (9 May 2023)
Civil society actors are stepping up to strengthen Africa’s potential to prevent greater food insecurity and regional instability caused by climate impacts.
CIMMYT at the AIM for Climate Summit
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Smart smallholder fertilizer management practices to address food security and climate change.
2023: The International Year of the Millet
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: The EastAfrican (3 May 2023)
CIMMYT commits to scaling-up millet cultivation and further promoting technologies that encourage millet consumption and other dryland cereal crops.
Delivering transgenic drought-tolerant and insect-protected maize varieties to African farmers
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Seed Quest (3 May 2023)
The TELA maize project has protected smallholder farmers from Stem-borer and Fall Armyworm through resistant maize varieties. As part of the project’s fifth year, the AATF has restated its commitment to developing transgenic drought-tolerant and insect-protected maize varieties.
LIPS-ZIM assists farmers to adopt productive and resilient livestock systems
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Source: Sunday News (23 Apr 2023)
With intensifying climate change, farmers in Matabeleland, Zimbabwe adopt innovative methods for resilient and productive livestock as part of the Livestock Production Systems in Zimbabwe (LIPS-ZIM) project.
Six New CIMMYT maize hybrids available from eastern Africa Breeding Program
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Increasing smallholder inclusion in markets boosts rural livelihoods
New initiative links smallholder farmers in Zambia with a market opportunity in oil seed production, driving uptake of modern varieties and sustainable, intensified agricultural practices.