Asia
As a fast growing region with increasing challenges for smallholder farmers, Asia is a key target region for CIMMYT. CIMMYT’s work stretches from Central Asia to southern China and incorporates system-wide approaches to improve wheat and maize productivity and deliver quality seed to areas with high rates of child malnutrition. Activities involve national and regional local organizations to facilitate greater adoption of new technologies by farmers and benefit from close partnerships with farmer associations and agricultural extension agents.
Hands-on experience in seed production
Capacity development
Postgraduate students visit a hybrid maize seed company as part of drive to enhance partnerships between Nepal’s agricultural universities and the seed industry.
AAA drought-tolerant maize now available in Myanmar
Climate adaptation and mitigation
The TA5085 variety will benefit farmers producing under rain-fed conditions in drought-prone areas, like Myanmar’s central dry zones.
Report links wheat blast pandemic on three continents
Environmental health and biodiversity
Source: World Grain (19 Mar 2021)
Genetic analyses show that a destructive wheat blast fungus that travelled from South America to South East Asia is now established in Zambia under rain-fed conditions.
A view from above
Innovations
CIMMYT scientists use high-powered drones and space satellite imagery to accelerate crop improvement, fight pests and diseases and help farmers make better crop management decisions.
A challenge solved
Environmental health and biodiversity
Massive study of breeding lines across environments pinpoints genomic regions associated with yield potential and stress-resilience in bread wheat.
CIMMYT Releases 12 New Maize Lines
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Source: Seed World (14 May 2021)
CIMMYT has released a set of 12 new maize lines adapted to the tropical  environments targeted by CIMMYT and partner institutions.
CIMMYT releases 12 new maize lines
Innovations
CIMMYT maize lines CML604A to CML615A are adapted to tropical maize production environments.
New zinc-fortified wheat set for global expansion to combat malnutrition
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Reuters (15 Apr 2021)
Scientists at CIMMYT expect to sharply ramp up new wheat varieties enriched with zinc that can boost the essential mineral for millions of poor people with deficient diets.
Nepal launches digital soil map
Environmental health and biodiversity
Digital platform provides information that will help increase crop productivity and improve soil health.
Reduced cropping intensity in India
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Source: Rural 21 (1 Apr 2021)
Providing canal irrigation as a substitute irrigation source will likely not be enough to maintain current production levels.
Power steering
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
Women in Bangladesh start successful businesses using power-tiller-operated seeders.
The transformative value of maize
Capacity development
In India’s state of Odisha, maize farming is lifting up the socioeconomic status of women.
Crop nutrient management using digital tool improves yield, reduces greenhouse gas emissions: Study
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Source: Down To Earth (5 Mar 2021)
A study led by CIMMYT found that the use of field-specific fertilizer in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) can increase grain yield, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and boost incomes for farmers.
Scientist boosted global wheat yield with disease-resistant varieties
Capacity development
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald (3 Mar 2021)
Sanjaya Rajaram, a world-renowned wheat breeder and scientist recognized with the World Food Prize, died on February 17 from COVID-19 in Ciudad Obregon, Mexico.
