News
Drought-tolerant maize to the rescue as hunger threatens 1.5 million in Zimbabwe
Climate adaptation and mitigation
CIMMYT and its partners are working to increase the productivity of maize-based farming systems to ensure food security and increase incomes.
SADC ambassadors hear how CIMMYT-SARO is helping to achieve regional food security
Climate adaptation and mitigation
CIMMYT seed system specialist presents achievements in southern Africa food security to regional ambassadors in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Green manure crop cover reduces need for mineral fertilizer in Africa
Innovations
Green manures are an affordable and environmentally friendly alternative to fertilizer for many farmers in southern Africa.
Government of Zimbabwe and CIMMYT to establish maize lethal necrosis (MLN) quarantine facility at Mazowe
Capacity development
A modern quarantine facility will be established this year to safely import maize breeding materials and proactively breed for MLN resistance and tolerance.
Zimbabwe and CIMMYT to establish maize lethal necrosis quarantine facility
Nutrition, health and food security
Government of Zimbabwe and CIMMYT to establish maize lethal necrosis quarantine facility at Mazowe
Nutrition, health and food security
A modern quarantine facility will be set up in Zimbabwe to safely import materials and proactively breed for resistance against MLN.
CIMMYT-SARO steps up efforts in war against malnutrition
Nutrition, health and food security
CIMMYT is stepping up efforts to combat malnutrition through agricultural research and the release of orange maize varieties.
The Skywalker Project: soaring to new heights
Capacity development
Though its name implies science fiction, Skywalker’s results have been incredibly real. A small, unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with remote sensing devices, Skywalker flies over maize fields collecting images and data. It is able to measure several hundred plots in one take. Spectral reflectance and thermal imagery cameras on its wings allow scientists to conduct non-destructive screening of plant physiological properties such as crop growth and water use, at enough resolution to obtain information at plot level.
Conservation agriculture in Africa: where does it fit?
Innovations
The controversial debate among researchers about the suitability of conservation agriculture for smallholder farmers in Africa continues while millions face food insecurity and degrading resources.
Canadian foodgrains bank highlights CIMMYT’s Christian Thierfelder’s work in conservation agriculture
Innovations
Christian Thierfelder, CIMMYT senior agronomist stationed at Harare, Zimbabwe, was recently profiled by the Canadian Foodgrains Bank for his work promoting conservation agriculture techniques for smallholder farmers in Africa. Conservation agriculture systems are not only better for soils but help make agriculture more ‘climate-smart’, argues Thierfelder. “The conventional system can only make use of the water that is in the ridge and not further down in the soil,” he said. “In conservation agriculture systems, there is access to deeper layers and a lot of water has infiltrated. The maize can actually access the water much better because of an improved root system.”
Presidential award in recognition of critical breakthrough in maize breeding in Zimbabwe
Climate adaptation and mitigation
The Zimbabwe Maize Breeding Programme was honored on 13 February 2015, as the 2014/2015 Presidential Award winners in agricultural research during a ceremony attended by more than 1,500 people at the Research Council of Zimbabwe’s 10th International Research Symposium held in Harare.
