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.
Emergency seed fuels quick farm recovery in drought-affected Ethiopia
Climate adaptation and mitigation
In response to Ethiopia’s worst drought in 50 years and a critical shortage of seed in 2016, CIMMYT and partners delivered over 3,400 tons of high quality seed to farmers.
Women are the foundation for change in rural Ethiopia
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
Community conversations, a human-centered approach, puts people in charge of their own development in maize-based communities in Ethiopia.
Ethiopian farmers profit from scaled-up, fast-track production of disease resistant wheat seed
Capacity development
More than 75,000 small-scale wheat farmers in Ethiopia’s 4 major wheat-growing regions gain access to a vital asset—over 400 tons of seed of new, disease resistant wheat varieties.
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 publications: How climate-smart is conservation agriculture?
Climate adaptation and mitigation
A new study shows that while CA is well suited to helping farmers adapt to, and even increase profits in changing climates, there is considerable uncertainty about how much CA contributes to the mitigation aspect.
New Publications: Conservation agriculture increases the adaptive capacity of cropping systems
Climate adaptation and mitigation
A new study examined over 700 independent studies to find out if Conservation Agriculture works in a variety of environmental conditions in tropical areas.
Climate insurance for farmers: a shield that boosts innovation
Climate adaptation and mitigation
New insurance products geared towards smallholder farmers can help them recover their losses, and even encourage investment in climate-resilient innovations.
Community-based approach to gender research has far-reaching impacts
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
New crop varieties that counter climate change: a best bet for farmers
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Borlaug Dialogue delegates widen net to curb threat from fall armyworm
Nutrition, health and food security
World Food Prize laureates have joined forces with an international alliance battling the fall armyworm, an aggressive pest indigenous to the Americas with a voracious appetite, and now widespread throughout Africa.
Smallholder farmers to gain from targeted CRISPR-Cas9 crop breeding
Innovations
Gene editing technology could revolutionize the way scientists breed high-yielding drought, disease and pest resistant, high quality plant seeds, greatly reducing the time it currently takes to develop new varieties
Campaign against residue burning seeks to make India’s “food bowl” sustainable
Climate adaptation and mitigation
In the 1960s, India became the center of the Green Revolution. Today, India needs a new Green Revolution.
Project helps African farmers identify regional best practices
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Traditional farming systems in Africa must be updated for today’s climate and market challenges, according to a new article from the University of Queensland.