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.
CIMMYT and GOAL team up to help farmers in Zimbabwe fight fall armyworm
Nutrition, health and food security
Identifying best practices to fight the invasive pest.
Book launch: Lead farmers in eastern and southern Africa
Climate adaptation and mitigation
A new book draws on experiences of men and women farmers across eastern and southern Africa who bravely embraced change to improve their farming methods and the lives and livelihoods of their families.
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.
Policy outreach to mainstream SIMLESA learning: Q&A with Paswel Marenya
Nutrition, health and food security
After eight years of project learning, reflections on what conservation agriculture means for African smallholder farmers, the dialogue between scientists and policy makers, and next steps.
Taking maize agronomy to scale in Africa Q&A
Innovations
Jens Andersson, a social scientist at CIMMYT, speaks on how we could reinvent advisory services for the African smallholder farmers.
Protecting small farms in Mozambique from drought
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Phys.org (23 Apr 2019)
CIMMYT partnered with UC Davis to breed maize seeds that can withstand drought.
New study identifies best agronomic practices to reduce fall armyworm damage
Nutrition, health and food security
Good weed management, conservation agriculture, and use of manure and compost are recommended to help control fall armyworm in Africa.
CIMMYT and Clinton Foundation launch partnership to improve access to climate-resilient maize seed in eastern and southern Africa
Climate adaptation and mitigation
New partnership will help farmers in Malawi, Rwanda and Tanzania have better access to seeds that help maize crops better withstand growing challenges of drought, pests, diseases, and climate change.
Kenyan scientist urges African countries to adopt drought tolerant crops
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Xinhua News (17 Apr 2019)
Stephen Mugo said that greater adoption of drought tolerant seeds combined with improved soil and water management is key to cushioning African small-holders from hunger and malnutrition.
To manage El Nino-related crop distress in eastern and southern Africa, invest in drought-tolerant seeds and better soil and water care
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Government support vital for deploying climate-resilient seeds and practices, say agriculture experts
