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.
Climate change and agriculture: Way ahead for low-emission growth
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Source: Down to Earth (25 Sep 2020)
Efficient use of fertilizer, adoption of zero-tillage and management of irrigation water can cut greenhouse gas emissions.
‘Seeds for Needs’ approach to develop climate resilient crop varieties
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Source: India Science Wire (22 Sep 2020)
Approach combines farmers’ knowledge of resilient crops with ‘elite’ varieties identified by scientists.
Retrospective quantitative genetic analysis and genomic prediction of global wheat yields
Innovations
A new quantitative genetics study makes a strong case for the yield testing strategies CIMMYT uses in its wheat breeding program.
Crop-loss Assessment Monitor: A multi-model and multistage decision support system
Innovations
Study shows how the Crop-loss Assessment Monitor could help improve loss assessment and make crop insurance more efficient.
How do I become a zero-till farmer?
Capacity development
New online training takes farmers and service providers though a visual journey on the use of conservation agriculture-based sustainable intensification methods.
Plan to improve wheat output under works
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Dawn (6 Aug 2020)
Pakistan and CIMMYT discuss strategy to increase wheat productivity through promotion of high-yielding wheat varieties.
Cultivation of outdated wheat varieties causing 50pc yield gap, minister told
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Pakistan Today Profit (5 Aug 2020)
CIMMYT projects in Pakistan have contributed to increased wheat productivity, created new seedbanks and have trained 10,000 farmers on quality seed production and marketing.
AGG project to ramp up genetic gains in maize for better livelihoods
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: AFRICA Agribusiness (31 Aug 2020)
Project will deliver improved, stress resilient, nutritious seed to smallholders in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia.
New project to ramp up genetic gains in maize for better livelihoods
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: The Rwandan (30 Jul 2020)
AGG project will deliver improved, stress resilient, nutritious seed to smallholders in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia.
Breaking Ground: Sudha Nair helps bridge gap between maize breeding and genetics
Innovations
CIMMYT scientist applies genomics in maize breeding to achieve higher genetic gains.
“Better, faster, equitable, sustainable” – wheat research community partners join to kick off new breeding project
Nutrition, health and food security
Collaboration, partnership and mutual learning with national partners key focus of new project to accelerate breeding and delivery of improved wheat varieties.
New project to ramp up genetic gains in maize for better livelihoods
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Seed Quest (28 Jul 2020)
The new AGG project has a strong focus on more synergistic and supportive partnerships with national programs to help improve the effectiveness of their breeding efforts.
Supporting smallholder farmers to better combat drought
Climate adaptation and mitigation
CSISA project suggests pathways to remove barriers inhibiting full use of groundwater irrigation infrastructure in Nepal’s Terai region.
Floods highlight importance of food security
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Source: China Daily (22 Jul 2020)
CIMMYT-developed drought-and high temperature-tolerant maize varieties help strengthen resilience to weather extremes in China.
