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.
Leasing scheme helps farmers purchase small-scale agricultural machinery
Innovations
The initiative increases agricultural productivity and enhances food security in Ethiopia.
Vast Locust Swarm Casts Shadow Over East African Food Security
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Bloomberg (25 Jan 2020)
CIMMYT agricultural economist Hugo De Groote notes need to monitor locusts to ensure swarms don’t threaten crops.
Study calls for better understanding of fertilizer prices faced by African smallholder farmers
Innovations
Scientists use spatial price prediction models to estimate local prices that might be more relevant than the national average.
Making seed systems work for men and women
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
Seed systems play a major role in Africa’s agricultural transformation — but are they gender-friendly?
Breaking Ground: Mandeep Randhawa fights wheat diseases using genetic resistance tools
Capacity development
CIMMYT wheat scientist explores new sources of rust resistance to create new rust-resistant wheat varieties.
Malawi farmers nurture soil grow incomes with conservation agriculture
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: IPP Media (14 Dec 2019)
CIMMYT introduced farmers Kassim Massi and Joyce Makawa to conservation agriculture.
Can African smallholders farm themselves out of poverty?
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Down to Earth (12 Dec 2019)
New study examines if agricultural intensification can take households across the poverty line.
Can African smallholders farm themselves out of poverty?
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: The Conversation (11 Dec 2019)
New study examines if agricultural intensification can take households across the poverty line.
Screening cycle for deadly MLN virus set to begin in Kenya in January 2020
Nutrition, health and food security
Interested organizations are invited to send maize germplasm for screening.
Nurture soil as our food and climate insurance
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Soil conservation means food security for farmers in Malawi.
Agricultural solutions to tackle humanity’s climate crisis
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Science offers opportunity to curb greenhouse gas emissions related to agriculture and meet climate goals.
Scaling out climate-smart agriculture in southern Africa
Climate adaptation and mitigation
A new series of infographics outlines the challenges that must be addressed in order to scale adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices in southern Africa.
