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.
Maize breeding on track for climate change in Africa, scientist urges bigger investments
Climate adaptation and mitigation
With appropriate funding, maize yields can continue to increase in extreme heat and drought conditions, scientists say.
CIMMYT doctoral student wins award for outstanding thesis
Climate adaptation and mitigation
CIMMYT doctoral student and ETH Zürich graduate Stephanie Cheesman has won the 2017 Hans Vontobel-Preis.
New maize hybrid shows resistance to stem borers in South Africa
Innovations
Smallholder farmers in South Africa can now access and grow new maize varieties with transgenic resistance to stem borers, the most damaging insect pest of maize.
Gender and development specialist Rahma Adam: Aiding African women to build household food security
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
In a special interview to mark International Women’s Day, CIMMYT gender specialist Rahma Adam detailed how her research aims to improve the agricultural productivity of women in south and eastern Africa.
Stronger African seed sector to benefit smallholder farmers and economy
Nutrition, health and food security
Despite its large-scale impact across Africa, smallholder farming largely remains a low technology, subsistence activity.
Q+A: Scientist Thokozile Ndhlela inspires girls in Africa to embrace agriculture careers
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
CIMMYT maize breeder Thokozile Ndhlela interviewed on career and inspiring girls in Africa to embrace agriculture.
Ugandan farmer boosts profits from improved maize
Nutrition, health and food security
Sam Olum started commercial maize farming three years ago in Lira District, situated approximately 340 km north of Uganda’s capital, Kampala.
Klein Karoo’s business knowledge winning in Mozambique
Nutrition, health and food security
Despite struggles to reclaim its former glory, several agricultural multinationals are setting up shop in Mozambique, and reaping great benefits.
Partners invited to apply for allocation of second set of new CIMMYT pre-commercial hybrids
National agricultural research systems and seed companies are invited to apply for the allocation of pre-commercial hybrids, after which they will be able to register, produce and offer the improved seed to farming communities.
Improved maize offers new economic opportunity to Kenyan family
Innovations
Improved maize varieties offer new economic opportunity to families in Kenya.
Can sub-Saharan Africa meet its future cereal food requirement?
Nutrition, health and food security
To satisfy the enormous increase in demand for food in sub-Saharan Africa by 2050, cereal yields must increase to 80 percent of their potential.
Wheat rust poses food security risk for global poor, says DFID’s Priti Patel
Nutrition, health and food security
Wheat rust monitoring efforts are not only keeping the fast-spreading disease in check, but are deployed to manage other crop diseases, said a scientist at a scientific meeting in London.
Three major commercial maize seed exporting countries in southern Africa found free from maize lethal necrosis
Three major commercial maize-growing and seed exporting countries in southern Africa were found to be so far free from the deadly maize lethal necrosis (MLN) disease.
Target for 10 million more climate-smart farmers in southern Africa amid rising cost of El Niño
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Research centers, development agencies and governments must work together to respond to climate predictions before food crises develop, say two CIMMYT scientists.
Drought- and heat-tolerant maize tackles climate change in southern Africa
Climate adaptation and mitigation
CIMMYT’s drought-tolerant varieties have been delivered to three million farmers across Africa.