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.
New Publications: Consumer preference for GM food in Pakistan
Nutrition, health and food security
WhileGM foods continue to be a topic of debate in much of the developed world, few studies have focused on consumers’ acceptance of GM food in developing countries.
India celebrates women in climate smart agriculture
Capacity development
In celebration of International Women’s Day, 150 women from villages across Haryana and Bihar, India joined to celebrate the adoption of climate-smart agriculture in their communities.
Bangladesh urges $500 million in funds to intensify surface water irrigation
Innovations
Most current food security projections show that staple crop production must double by 2050 to keep up with global need, which will continue to expand.
Breaking Ground: Akhter Ali helps transform agriculture sector in Pakistan
Capacity development
Akhter Ali always knew he wanted to have an impact on the livelihoods of farmers in Pakistan.
Small machinery provides affordable options for women farmers in Nepal
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
Small-scale mechanization is becoming more important on farms in Nepal as young people, particularly men, migrate away from rural areas in large numbers.
Breaking Ground: Xuecai Zhang prepares future generation of crop breeders
Innovations
Xuecai Zhang wants to merge traditional maize breeding methods with new software and other tools to help improve farmers’ yields faster than ever.
“Young Scientist Award” winner fights hidden hunger with high zinc wheat
Nutrition, health and food security
A scientist who has advanced the development of nutrient-rich wheat varieties with higher yield potential, disease resistance and improved traits wins Young Scientist Award for Agriculture.
Pakistan releases first quality protein maize varieties
Nutrition, health and food security
Pakistan is releasing quality protein maize for commercial consumption, which could help boost nutrition across the country where nearly half of all children are chronically malnourished.
Scientists in Afghanistan set new program to raise wheat harvests
Capacity development
Inadequate access to new disease-resistant varieties and short supplies of certified seed are holding up wheat harvesting and contributing to rising food insecurity in Afghanistan.
Radio broadcast highlights maize improvement in Pakistan
Nutrition, health and food security
Public and private sector maize stakeholders came together to discuss CIMMYT’s maize interventions and innovations in Pakistan during a recent radio interview.
Surveillance training to control wheat blast in Bangladesh
Capacity development
40 wheat pathologists, breeders and agronomists gathered to combat wheat blast at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) at Gazipur, Bangladesh.
USAID makes special visit to CIMMYT activities in Bangladesh
Capacity development
USAID’s Deputy Administrator visited Bangladesh to learn how CIMMYT engages with partners to help smallholder farmers uptake sustainable agriculture practices.
CIMMYT scientist cautions against new threats from wheat rust diseases
Innovations
Scientists are concerned over the proliferation of highly virulent fungal wheat diseases, including two new races of yellow rust and a new race of stem rust.
Breaking Ground: Caixia Lan on identifying building blocks for rust resistant wheat
Innovations
Support for research into breeding crops resistant to wheat rust is essential to manage the spread of the deadly disease, caused vast yield losses globally in recent years, says scientist Caixia Lan.
Crop sensors sharpen nitrogen management for wheat in Pakistan
Innovations
Pakistani and CIMMYT scientists are working with wheat farmers to test and promote precision agriculture technology.