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.
Stress-resilient maize, a big relief for Indian farmers
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Smallholders in India’s Karnataka state get higher yields from drought- and heat-tolerant maize.
CIMMYT wheat scientists receive top honors from US agricultural scientists
Innovations
Hans-Joachim Braun and Alexey Morgunov receive awards and fellowships at annual meeting of crop science peers.
How Haryana cut stubble burning this season
Innovations
Source: Down to Earth (13 Nov 2019)
The state of Haryana has supplied machines like the Happy Seeder to farmers, who saw costs drop and yields increase this year.
India pollution: How a farming revolution could solve stubble burning
Innovations
Source: Deustche Welle (8 Nov 2019)
CIMMYT scientist M.L. Jat argues that India now needs to undergo a second, “evergreen” revolution, driven by technology such as the happy seeder.
Vietnam strengthens ties with CIMMYT
Capacity development
Visit to CIMMYT headquarters reaffirms research collaboration.
Fight against fall armyworm in Asia benefits from experience in other regions
Capacity development
Scientists mobilize African and Latin American knowledge to protect Asia’s maize.
Breaking Ground: Velu Govindan is mainstreaming zinc to combat hidden hunger
Innovations
CIMMYT wheat breeder supports smallholder farmers without access to a diversified diet by improving nutritional quality in wheat.
Sharp rise in Punjab-Haryana farm fires ahead of Diwali
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Times of India (21 Oct 2019)
CIMMYT Principal Scientist M.L. Jat notes high number of happy seeders in Haryana and Punjab.
Delhi Air Quality Descends to ‘Very Poor’, Worst Yet to Come
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: The Wire (17 Oct 2019)
Balwinder Singh warns that air pollution in India could be severe due to burning crop residue.
Agriculture and sustainability: the contribution of microsatellites
Innovations
Source: Donne del Food (16 Oct 2019)
Study by CIMMYT, Stanford and Cornell shows microsatellites can contribute to sustainable increase of food production.
The man who fed the world
Nutrition, health and food security
BBC radio show Witness History focuses on the life and work of Norman Borlaug.
2019 World Food Prize recognizes the impact of bringing improved seeds to Africa, Asia and Latin America
Innovations
The work of laureate Simon N. Groot has helped smallholder farmers to enhance vegetable production and has improved the diets of millions.
Spurt in stubble burning in Pakistan raises heat in Punjab
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Hindustan Times (11 Oct 2019)
CIMMYT and Cornell study states the health risks of pollution caused by stubble burning.
Microsatellite data can help double impact of agricultural interventions
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Researchers argue data from small satellites can help target agricultural interventions to locations where impact will be greatest.
Breaking Ground: P.H. Zaidi helps Asian farmers get healthy harvests despite climate variability
Climate adaptation and mitigation
CIMMYT maize physiologist supports development of new climate-resilient maize varieties that help resource-poor Asian farmers protect their food and income security.
