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.
Zimbabwe enacts new strategy in fall armyworm fight
Capacity development
The fall armyworm has since caused significant damage on over 280,000 hectares of maize in Africa since 2015. Zimbabwe established a fall armyworm working group in July this year to bring all stakeholders together and find solutions to manage the impacts of the pest in the country.
New online portal offers information to curb maize lethal necrosis in Africa
Innovations
The new maize lethal necrosis online portal provides up-to-date information and surveillance tools to help researchers control and stop the spread of the deadly disease.
Breaking Ground: Dagne Wegary at a busy intersection on the maize value chain
Nutrition, health and food security
As a maize seed system specialist, Dagne Wegary works at the nexus between breeding science and actual delivery of improved seed to farmers.
New Publications: Better post-harvest storage can raise vitamin A intake 25 percent in Zambia
Nutrition, health and food security
Recent modeling studies in Zambia suggest that provitamin A maize’s impact is being cut short by the low retention of carotenoids during storage and postharvest grain loss.
Zimbabwe steps up food security with vitamin A maize
Nutrition, health and food security
More farmers in Zimbabwe are demanding high-yielding, highly nutritious and drought tolerant provitamin A maize.
Increased investment needed to adapt Africa’s agriculture to climate change
Nutrition, health and food security
Delegates at a conference in June called for a new focus and increase in investment to ensure eastern and southern Africa’s farming systems can withstand the impacts of climate change.
Farmers at center of sustainable agriculture in Kenya
Capacity development
Climate change’s impact in eastern and southern Africa has driven many farmers to seek new planting techniques that maintain or increase crop production, despite fewer resources.
New Provitamin A maize platform fights hidden hunger in Tanzania
Nutrition, health and food security
Farmer in Malawi defines true project success
Innovations
Development initiatives are only truly successful when participants graduate, adopt and leave.
New Publications: Study shows improved maize decreases malnutrition
Innovations
New evidence shows that not only do improved maize varieties increase crop productivity and farmer income, they can also decrease child malnutrition.
Seed certification critical to quality seed production
Capacity development
To ensure that quality seed standards are maintained, CIMMYT supports partners such as national agricultural research institutions and seed producers in acquisition and production of pure early generation seed.
Fall armyworm devastates crops in sub-Saharan Africa: A quick and coordinated regional response is required
Nutrition, health and food security
The head of CIMMYT’s Global Maize Program highlights the potential impact of the fall armyworm pest and how CGIAR researchers are contributing to a quick and coordinated response across the Africa.
Tanzanian start-up rises to profitable maize business
Capacity development
CIMMYT supports seed company partners in enhancing their capacity to produce foundation and certified seed.
Maize lethal necrosis quarantine facility opens avenues for introducing novel maize germplasm in southern Africa
Nutrition, health and food security
The maize lethal necrosis quarantine facility in southern Africa was officially opened in Zimbabwe on April 20, 2017.
Q+A: Agricultural mechanization fuels opportunity for youth in rural Africa
Capacity development
Small-scale agricultural mechanization is showing signs it has the potential to fuel rural employment for youth in sub-Saharan Africa, according to researchers.