Walking methodologies for CIMMYT’s South Pacific hub (Photo: CIMMYT)
âWe know about what CIMMYT has done with the hubs here in Mexico, so weâre trying to understand how this methodology works, what happens within the research platforms, in the parcels, the relationship between these two spaces, the technological menus, and how that menu is reaching up to farmers,â says Emmanuel Ekom, from the Ernest and Young team (organization which in the framework of Excellence in Agronomy, a CGIAR initiative) studies how innovation is rising in agriculture.
âWe understand that CIMMYT in Mexico has been able to create an innovation approach that prioritizes the farmer. I came from Nigeria with my team, and we are delving ourselves into this approach to comprehend its functioning and see if we can replicate these brilliant ideas in several other countries of the Global South. So, we have visited many interesting hubs in all Mexico,â says Emmanuel.
âOne of the most interesting things we were able to experience in one of the hubs was that the mayor from a small town was trained by CIMMYT staff. He understood what the agriculture conservation involves and had contributed to share this knowledge to his peopleâ, mentions Emmanuel who also highlights the participation and inclusion from both private, public, and teaching institutions in the operation of the hubs.
âYou could see their faces fill with excitement, especially farmer women when they were talking about how much time they could have saved if they had used the technology developed by CIMMYT and its collaborators. Such methodology is not only making life easier, but itâs also driving farmer women to increase their incomes and helping them save time so that they concentrate on other things. Just the same, I was able to see how the gender-based approach is coping with CIMMYTâs goal and thatâs impressiveâ, says Emmanuel.
âI saw first-hand how the hubsâ function had made an impact on farmers lives, but the most interesting part was seeing both hubsâ managers and farmers get along very well. Every time we went to a parcel, our plan was to only visit one farmer but sometimes we ended up visiting 10 or 15, and the manager would go and chat with them. And I think thatâs amazingâ, says Emmanuel, for whom the experience of the hubs in Mexico will allow him to draw up the path to replicate this methodology in other latitudes.
Panelists at the “Digging Deeper: Advancements in Soil Health Monitoring for Sustainable Food Systems and Climate Resilience” side event, hosted by IFDC at the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health (AFSH) Summit held in Nairobi. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
Farmers interact with soils daily, supporting the entire food system. Empowering them with tools for research and scalable learning initiatives is crucial.
Speaking as a panelist at the 2024 Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health (AFSH) summit, Paswel Marenya, CIMMYT senior scientist, emphasized the need to enhance farmersâ capacities to effectively utilize digital tools.
âDigital tools do not inherently lead to impactful changes unless they enhance farmersâ capabilities in managing soil health,â said Marenya. âThe potential of a digital tool should enable farmers to shorten the cycle from receiving information to applying new techniques.”
Paswel Marenya, senior scientist at CIMMYT. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
Simple, easy to use tools
One promising solution is the development of user-friendly platforms that synthesize essential information from cutting-edge research into practical tools.
âIn partnership with IFDC, CIMMYT is currently collaborating to develop an interface that synthesizes essential information into a user-friendly digital platform. This interface would be complemented by tools that allow for on-site testing,â said Marenya.
âCIMMYT aims to design digital tools that not only improve access to information but enhance the farmersâ ability to learn, innovate, and adapt. This approach promises real progress beyond more recommendations,â said Marenya.
This sentiment was echoed by Leigh Winowiecki, soil and land health global research lead at CIFOR-ICRAF, who discussed advancements in soil health monitoring and highlighted the Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF) which collects data on various indicators of soil health.
Leigh Ann Winowiecki, global research lead for soil and land health at CIFOR-ICRAF. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
Addressing the forum as the keynote speaker for the side event titled, âDigging deeper: Advancement in soil health monitoring for sustainable food systems and climate resilience,â Winowiecki showcased the global implementation and impact of the framework, noting its implementation in 40 countries.
âThis framework is a field-based method that collects data on various indicators of soil health, land degradation, and vegetation diversity across landscapes,â Winowiecki said.
The findings from the framework guide practical interventions to mitigate soil erosion and influence policy.
Annie Wakanyi, director of partnerships & business development at One Acre Fund, highlighted how they prioritize farmers by providing high-quality inputs on credit, ensuring they are distributed near their farm fields, and offering training on usage, as well as assisting farmers in accessing markets for the surplus they produce.
Annie Wakanyi, director of global government partnerships, One Acre Fund. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
The private sectorâs role was addressed by Jonathan Atkinson, Farm Service Unit Africa, who introduced the âcost to serve modelâ to understand the dynamics between costs and return on investments for farmers. He emphasized the need for practical, scalable approaches for soil health interventions that cater for commercial activities.
Jonathan Atkinson, farm service unit Africa. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
Professor Nalivata of Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources emphasized the importance of addressing soil erosion to achieve soil health in Africa using Malawi as a case study. He discussed policy implementation on fertilizer, promoting climate-smart agricultural practices and research as strategies implemented to address soil degradation in Malawi, calling for more initiatives like incentives for farmers and building human capacity.
âThis can be achieved if we maintain a collaborative approach involving government, academia, the private sector, and donor communities to transform soil health and improve livelihoods,â said Nalivata.
Latha Nagarajan, SOILS consortium director IFDCâs USAID-funded soils initiative. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
Latha Nagarajan, in her presentation on the IFDCâs USAID-funded soils initiative, highlighted how the initiative improves livelihoods through innovative soil management. She explained the ‘space to place’ approach, which integrates spatial remote sensing data with place-specific soil health data to enhance soil management decisions, increasing efficiency, resilience, and sustainability.
Group photo of the panelists at the AFSH Summit in Nairobi (Photo: Marion Aluoch)
Improving soil health is critical to sustainable agriculture, and for addressing climate change, tackling environmental challenges, and enhancing food security. Through projects by CIMMYT and partners, potential scalable solutions are under development, but additional work is still required.
“To effectively scale up soil health initiatives, we need to prioritize investments and establish a framework that maximizes returns,â said Bram Govaerts, CIMMYT director general, during the 2024 Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health (AFSH) Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. âIt is crucial to use simple, quantifiable indicators for systematic assessments and decision-making, and to broaden these indicators to foster investment from public, private, and civil actors.”
As a keynote speaker in the “Strategies to Foster Africaâs Resilience to the Global Fertilizer Crisis” parallel session, Govaerts highlighted the intertwined challenges of soil health and fertilizer accessibility. “95% of our food comes from the soil, yet in 14 countries the cost of fertilizer has more than doubled. Fertilizers contribute to 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions and are often mismanagedâoverused in some regions and underutilized in others.”
The transition to a more sustainable and climate-resilient approach to soil health and fertilizer use requires a comprehensive structure that considers broader aspects of agricultural sustainability. “To enhance soil health effectively, a clear framework is necessary that includes investment prioritization, integrated soil management, extension and advisory services, and the utilization of data and technology,” Govaerts added.
This recommended framework included identifying and prioritizing investment opportunities, balancing organic and inorganic inputs, strengthening extension systems, and leveraging technology to provide farmers real-time advice.
One practical example of effective soil health management in practice is CIMMYTâs Southern Africa Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative (AID-I) Rapid Delivery Hub. The project helps farmers cope with high fuel and fertilizer prices by providing them with innovative tools and information to manage cost and supply disruptions. This addresses systemic weaknesses in agriculture by accelerating market-based delivery of improved seed, fertilizer, and critical information to farmers.
“Under AID-I, rapid soil testing has been prioritized. Collaborating with the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) and mobile soil labs like those in Zambia exemplify innovative data point collection strategies,” said Govaerts.
During the panel discussion, Anne Muriuki, principal research officer at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) highlighted the key challenges that African countries face in accessing fertilizers during global crises and the impact on agricultural productivity. “Farmers face scarcity and high costs, leading to reduced yields and increased reliance on unsustainable fertilizers. These issues not only reduce agricultural productivity, but they also aggravate food insecurity and economic instability.”
David Nielsen, a former World Bank official, stressed the importance of having site-specific soil information and investing in human capital and educational institutions to increase soil science expertise and improve the availability of site-specific information. “These two issues should be high priorities. They are crucial, especially when fertilizer access is limited, but they remain vital even with adequate fertilizer supply.”
Douglas Kerr, vice president of business development at the IFDC discussed how governments, international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector can collaborate to ensure continuous access to fertilizer during a global crisis. The Sustain African Program was an example of IFDC’s role in gathering market information and developing a concept that has since been integrated into ongoing operations. “In a nutshell, multi-stakeholder collaboration needs to be open, transparent, supportive, and unified.”
Charlotte Hebebrand, director of communications and public affairs at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), emphasized the need to increase fertilizer production within Africa, improve access to markets, and address response constraints to reduce shocks. “A major focus is on repurposing subsidies. It is sensitive but critical to determine the most efficient way to support farmers and promote soil health.”
Mehti Filali, senior vice president of OCP in West Africa, highlighted successful case studies from Ethiopia and Nigeria, where domestic initiatives and regional cooperation have resulted in significant agricultural growth. “Ethiopia has doubled crop production and created tailored fertilizer formulas, while Nigeria’s initiative has consolidated fertilizer procurement, created jobs, and saved US $250 million in foreign exchange. OCPâs contribution, though modest, has been critical, marked by significant milestones such as soil testing and the development of blending units.”
As Africa continues to face these challenges, the response must be dynamic, drawing on both local knowledge and scientific data. Robust data governance is essential for integrating soil health into market-driven decision-making, promoting crop diversification, and integrating organic and inorganic inputs for sustainable agriculture. “Let us remember the importance of integrating soil fertility management in a step-by-step manner, prioritizing action tailored to specific locations and conditions. Sophisticated extension systems, backed up by robust data, are crucial,” Govaerts concluded.
A farmer in Nariño, Colombia on a diversified chagra with native maize, potato, oca, squash, fava bean, and other perennial and wild crop harvests. (Photo: GonzĂĄlez, Alpala, PinzĂłn, RodrĂguez, Bolaños, Romero, GonzĂĄlez)
In the mountains of Nariño and the Cauca Valley, Colombiaâas in many other rural regions of Latin Americaâfarming systems are usually family-operated and divided by gender. Women’s and men’s roles are separate and differ in terms of expertise, involvement, and decision-making.
Roles traditionally assigned to women often limit their capacity to bring about changes in agriculture. âFood preparation, house cleaning, family care, and especially childcare, limit their ability to participate in agricultural trainingâ, says a team of CIMMYT specialists who recently carried out a series of participatory diagnostics in these regions of Colombia.
Participatory diagnostics are designed to document and understand farmersâ perspectives on native maize conservation and the desertion of rural regions in order to jointly develop conservation strategies for these regions. However, CIMMYT specialists noted that women farmers struggle to participate and learn when they are burdened with childcare.
Group of women farmers discuss menâs and womenâs roles in native maize conservation in CĂłrdoba, Nariño, Colombia. (Photo: GonzĂĄlez, Alpala, PinzĂłn, RodrĂguez, Bolaños, Romero, GonzĂĄlez)
âEven when women try hard to attend events, they cannot fully take in the new information because they are busy tending to their children.â In response, the event organizers came up with a novel solution: providing childcare during workshops. âSo, mothers can focus on what they are doing during workshops, children partake in organized games and exploratory and artistic activities in a safe space where their mothers can see them.â
During a recent diagnostic “several activities were planned, like board gamesâCIMMYT developed memory and bingo games, as well as snake and ladder board games on principle maize practices and pestsâand some art projects allowing the children to talk about how they interact with the land and what it means to them. At the end, they displayed their work about what they learn with their mothers and family in the tulpa (fire pit) or chagra,” the specialists explain.
âThese types of activities are important and enriching for the children because they replace day-to-day cellphone play with recreational games about agriculture. So, it seems that we should make sure that the local children know about these types of events,â expressed the attendees. They also reflected on how this type of inclusion helps strategies addressing generational replacement, particularly in places like Nariño, where the number of young people in the fields is notably decreasing.
This is how the childrenâwho originally could only hope to be expected to sit silently or play on their phonesâ became an important part of the participatory processes in Nariño. And now, with this support, women from rural communities, donât just have the opportunity to expand their knowledge. They can also make positive contributions to household decisions and phytogenetic resource conservation.
Girls make a presentation about their territory to their mothers and fathers, based on the activities during the workshops in Nariño, Colombia. (Photo: GonzĂĄlez, Alpala, PinzĂłn, RodrĂguez, Bolaños, Romero, GonzĂĄlez)
âYes maâam, the childrenâs space was the best because that way we were able to focus on the topics,â reported a woman in Cumbal. This is an example of how an agricultural extension strategy requires us to identify the preferences, interests, and incentives of men and women in relation to their gender roles in order to create environments that facilitate the development of sustainable agricultural technologies and practices. We must understand that the work women farmers perform both in the fields and within the household are inextricable from each other.
These types of strategies are crucial for combatting the environmental and food crisis because small-scale farmers implement sustainable agrifood systems and promote agrobiodiversity conservation. We find the resources essential for agrifood security in their milpas, orchards, backyards, and chagrasâin Mexico and Colombiaâwhere they handle, use, and preserve native crops and determine the selection of improved climate-resilient varieties.
As the world grapples with climate change, resilient crops such as millets play an increasingly important role. Their ability to thrive in low soil fertility and limited moisture levels makes them ideal for Africa’s changing climate. However, despite their potential, it remains largely untapped.
In an initiative to address the untapped potential and the growing challenges associated with the cultivation of pearl and finger millets in Africa, a high-profile discussion convened experts from various fields. This session, part of a workshop titled “Bottlenecks to Expansion of Pearl and Finger Millets in Africa,” organized by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in collaboration with the Senegalese Institute of Agricultural Research (ISRA) and CIMMYT, aimed to identify and prioritize key bottlenecks in crop improvement.
A panel of experts from different organizations discuss the importance of national and international initiatives in promoting crop improvement and millet innovations, emphasizing collaboration as a key driver of agricultural progress. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
Significance of the International Year of Millets
The United Nations General Assembly declared 2023 the International Year of Millets to raise awareness of and direct policy attention to the nutritional and health benefits of millets and their suitability for cultivation under adverse and changing climatic conditions. The program highlighted the critical need to promote sustainable agriculture and enhance food security by adopting climate-resilient crops like millets, which play an important role in mitigating the effect of climate change, due to their adaptability to adverse and changing climatic conditions.
âWe have been actively engaged in gathering input and support from all over the world, not just from Africa and Asia but also from regions like Latin America and Eastern Europe,â said Makiko Taguchi of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). âThis year has seen a surge in interest and collaboration in the millet community and we are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead,â she added.
Makiko Taguchi of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) emphasizes the significance of the 2023 International Year of Millets. Kevin Pixley, director of CIMMYT’s Dryland Crops Program, attentively listens. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
National strategies to enhance millet production
In an effort to ensure food security and achieve production goals over the next five years in Senegal, a strategic plan encompassing various key initiatives will be implemented to meet the demands of millets.
Hamidou Diallo, from the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Equipment, and Food Sovereignty of Senegal (MAERSA), summarized the strategy. First, is a focus on enhancing production and productivity. Second, the plan calls for the use of high-quality seeds and collaboration with ISRA to provide foundational seeds. Third, aiming to equip producers with the necessary tools and equipment. Last, the plan seeks to increase the overall cultivated area of millets.
âWe align ourselves with the needs of the local community. By doing this, it ensures that the initiatives undertaken are not only impactful but also resonate with the agricultural landscape and the needs of the communities served,â said Diallo.
Hamidou Diallo from Senegal’s Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Equipment, and Food Sovereignty (MAERSA) highlights the government’s strategic plan for meeting the country’s millet demand. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
Innovative initiatives for the Dryland Crops Program
Kevin Pixley, director of the Dryland Crops Program (DCP) and Wheat Program director a.i. at CIMMYT, highlighted four initiatives in which the program is involved. One is the establishment of the Africa Dryland Crops Improvement Network, comprising national program scientists and led by the steering committee from Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) and Western and Central Africa (WCA). Their mandate is examining investments in capacity development and infrastructure and shape breeding programs. Second, a legumes mining project at Colorado State University, focusing on genetic diversity and using big data tools to identify resilient traits. Third, working on gene editing projects such as reducing rancidity in pearl millets in countries that are open to these technologies. Last, the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) project, that will include millets as a prioritized crop. These initiatives are crucial for creating pathways to improve farmersâ livelihoods and popularize millets.
“Creating an effective pathway is critical to these approaches. We need to find innovative ways to reach more farmers with options to improve their livelihood and popularize millets across different market segments,â said Pixley.
Kevin Pixley, director of the Dryland Crops Program at CIMMYT, discusses CIMMYT’s current initiatives as Hamidou Diallo (MAERSA, Senegal) and Makiko Taguchi (FAO) listen. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
CIMMYTâs program on Dryland Crops is at the forefront to improving breeding and seed systems, with the aim to improve the livelihoods of small-scale producers and consumers of these crops in sub-Saharan Africa.
Aware of the changing needs of the global community, CIMMYT has begun on a journey to advance research and broaden its impact by implementing the Dryland Crops Program. This approach is based CIMMYT’s 2030 Strategy, which has the potential to shape the future of agriculture as a catalyst of climate resilience, sustainable and inclusive agricultural development, and food and nutrition security.
The program is critical in promoting climate resilience, sustainable agricultural practices, and food and nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa. CIMMYT is working on dryland crops like millets and legumes, which have untapped potential for contributing to food security, particularly in climate-vulnerable regions.
Research and innovative labs
Geoff Morris from Colorado State University shared insights on the recently concluded United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Innovation Lab on Sorghum and Millets. This activity spanned the entire value chain from trait discovery to breeding program support to the development of value-added products. The most successful projects, in his opinion, were those led by African-based scientists.
âIt is essential for Africa scientists to be in the driver sear to ensure that research agenda aligns with their needs,â he said. âThere is a gap in knowledge not about what we know here but about what U.S. researchers know about supporting African breeders. Itâs crucial for researchers to define the needs to guide effective collaborations,â said Morris.
Pioneering role in millet sector growth
The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has contributed significantly to driving growth in the millet sector, including innovation generation and knowledge sharing. Damaris Odeny, ICRISAT India, highlighted the organizationâs contributions particularly in the agri-business incubation platform. The platform serves as a bridge, identifying suitable technologies to specific regions and supporting local entrepreneurs in deploying these technologies to reach smallholder farmers. While the model has been successful in India, its adoption in Africa has been slower, owing to regional differences and varying levels of investments.
Damaris Odeny of ICRISAT India shares insights on ICRISAT’s impact on the agri-business incubation platform. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Crop Improvement, managed by USAID and Cornell University efforts in fostering regional collaborations funds a center for innovations across regions, fostering regional collaborations that are critical for sharing knowledge and resources, benefiting not only regions within Africa but also further afield.
âMoving forward, we should align these initiatives and identify synergies to maximize their impact. This approach will encourage greater engagement and the adoption of innovative solutions at the local level,â said Odeny.
The path forward for millets in Africa and beyond is not only promising but essential for addressing issues of food security, climate resilience, and sustainable development. This can be accomplished by aligning these initiatives with global sustainability goals and focusing on innovative, collaborative efforts.
Changing the narrative through communication
Turning to the power of communication, Douglas Gayeton, co-founder of The Lexicon emphasized the role of effective messaging in changing people’s perceptions of millets.
âWhen consumers understand what they are purchasing and how it aligns with their values, they can make informed decisions that benefit the entire food system,â said Gayeton.
He also underscored the importance of changing the narrative around millets. He emphasized the importance of shifting away from terms like âneglectedâ and âorphanedâ crops to more positive empowering language that resonates with consumers and policy makers.
“In order to change the food system, we must provide consumers with information at the point of purchase that applies to their values. By linking that benefit to consumer values, this approach has the potential to significantly expand millet markets,” said Gayeton.
Douglas Gayeton, co-founder of The Lexicon, emphasizes the role of effective messaging while Geoff Morris from Colorado State University shared insights on research and innovation labs on sorghum and millets. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
The discussions highlighted the valuable lessons to be learned from the efforts to enhance millet utilization in Africa and other regions. The collaboration across various sectors, from government to research institutions and the private sector, highlights the multifaceted approach in addressing the challenges facing millet cultivation and utilization. Recognizing the significance of local engagement and the empowerment of local scientists underscores a crucial lesson: solutions need to be tailored to the specific context, utilize local knowledge, and address local needs to ensure sustainability. In addition, the significant impact of communication in reshaping perceptions about millets demonstrates the importance of storytelling in shaping consumer behavior and policy.
In a world grappling with regional conflicts, climate change, and fragile food systems, the G7 emphasized sustainable agriculture and food security as essential for global stability in a recent communique. CIMMYT supports this vision through the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) initiative, which the G7 recognized as essential in transforming food systems. VACS aims to boost agricultural productivity with climate-resilient crops and healthy soils.
“With our partners, we will work on concrete and ambitious actions to achieve long-term sustainable development, strong environmental, social, and governance standards, and shared prosperity worldwide,” stated the G7 communique.
Fortifying indigenous crops
The G7 statement highlights the importance of dryland crops for sub-Saharan Africa, particularly ancestral grains and peas in securing nutrient-rich diets. CIMMYT, with over 75 partners such as WorldVeg and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), implements the VACS Quick Wins Seed Systems Project across west, east, and south Africa. The project promotes adoption of dryland grains and legumes, helps smallholders obtain climate-resilient seeds, and connects them with markets and agri-services. CIMMYT and its partners recently published a report which identifies the required training in crop breeding to support project implementation across the continent.
“VACS is working to improve the livelihoods of smallholders,â said Bram Govaerts, CIMMYTâs director general. âCIMMYT is implementing VACS focused on crop breeding, seed systems, partnerships, and capacity development. These areas protect our most important grains from further fragility.”
CIMMYT is also leading genetic research by predicting novel traits necessary for future crop varieties. A 2023 study published in Molecular Plant by CIMMYT scientists identified essential traits in six crops: sorghum, pearl millet, groundnut, cowpea, maize, and common bean. These characteristics could improve global food and nutrition security. High-yielding traits in legumes are being scaled up for delivery by CIMMYT and Afriseed through the Southern Africa Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative (AID-I) Rapid Delivery Hub, targeting over 35,000 smallholders in Zambia during 2023-2024.
Monitoring Field Visit in Mali, West Africa. (Photo: CIMMYT)
Capacity development through sustained global partnerships
Several G7 members, including the United States, support CIMMYTâs efforts with VACS. A key component of the initiative is capacity building for local researchers and practitioners. A recent initiative aims to train African breeding programs and research professionals, creating a cohort of VACS Fellows to strengthen local and regional food systems. In Guatemala, InnovaHubs, through partnership with CGIAR, Mexico, and Norway, brings farmers closer to markets, technologies, and high-quality seeds.
Strategy for the future
With over 130 countries depending on food imports and over 1.3 billion people considered food insecure, CIMMYTâs 2030 Strategy provides a comprehensive plan forward for agrifood systems through innovative research and partnerships. âOur partners provide the local knowledge and expertise to ensure our research has an impact on smallholder communities. Only through close collaboration with local actors can we transform global food production to become more inclusive and sustainable,â said Govaerts. âWe stand ready to support G7 goals for shared prosperity.â
Fatima Ali, a 48-year-old displaced woman in war-torn Sudan, takes shelter in a school at Kassala, East Sudan. She struggles to feed her five children and lives in dire conditions. Recently, Fatima participated in a training program in household farming, organized by the International Potato Center (CIP) and the Sudanese agricultural community Alzereea Alsudani (AZAS), where displaced community members were guided to build small gardens and cultivate potatoes to meet their food needs.
Displaced children in Kassala, East Sudan, learn how to cultivate potatoes in plastic bags. (Photo: CIMMYT)
âI encouraged my 13-year-old daughter Shima to participate in a training to produce potatoes for household consumption. She was very interested and active,â said Fatima.
The training marked the International Day of Potato, celebrated on 30 May. CIP and AZAS trained displaced children of Kassala to grow potatoes at home using plastic and jute bags.
âWe learned how to cultivate potatoes using plastic bags, and it was fun. We now know that potatoes are rich in nutrients and can be used to cook a variety of dishes. I am glad that I can cultivate potatoes and help feed my family,â said Shima.
Children engage in a coloring session as part of the International Potato Day celebrations at Kassala. (Photo: CIMMYT)
Underscoring the potential of potatoes
The International Day of Potato highlights the multiple nutritional, economic, environmental and cultural values of the crop and its contribution as a unique food resource and a generator of income for rural families and producers. This is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)Â of transforming agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable.
Training local women farmers of Kassala to cultivate potato in plastic bags. (Photo: CIMMYT)
The theme for the 2024 event was âHarvesting Diversity, Feeding Hopeâ. The focus was on the importance of having a wide variety of potato types versus over-reliance on a few varieties that can expose the crop to pests and diseases. With over 5,000 different kinds of potatoes worldwide, including both improved varieties and traditional types grown by farmers, the crop can meet the needs of different farming methods, cooking styles, and industrial uses.
To highlight the importance of potato and its riches, CIP and AZAS organized orientation sessions with housewives and chefs from local restaurants in Kassala. The discussions reflected on the nutritious values of potatoes and how they can be integrated into everyday meals.
A session by nutrition experts for chefs and housewives to discuss the value and uses of potatoes. (Photo: CIMMYT)
During the discussion, nutrition experts explained how potatoes are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber essential for a balanced diet. The chefs shared how potatoes are extremely versatile in the kitchen; they can be baked, boiled, grilled, fried, steamed, or processed into various dishes.
Working with partners for maximumimpact
Potato is an important staple food that can ensure food security in Sudan and combat hunger. CIMMYTâs partners CIP, Mercy Crops, and Practical Action are leading the potato and sweet potato component of SASAS, along with other private partners.
With funding support from USAID, SASAS partners are working with farmers and private sector to increase potato and sweet potato production in Kassala and Blue Nile states of Sudan. By using verified potato varieties and introducing new cultivation techniques, the program aims to achieve SDG goals and enhance food security in Sudan.
Farmers in Blue Nile proudly show their high potato production. (Photo: CIMMYT)
âWe work with our partners and private sector to help Sudanese farmers integrate potato and sweet potato into their agricultural production systems,â said Abdelrahman Kheir, SASAS lead in Sudan.
He added that potato is an exceptionally resilient plant that can thrive in a variety of climates across the country. âWe use modern cultivation techniques and certified potato varieties to increase production. We are also enhancing the value chain and enlarging cold storage capacities,â he said.
The value of the project truly lies in its collaboration with private sectors and innovation partners to ensure at-scale and adept responses for stakeholders and dynamic situations in target areas.
Ali Hassan is a 38-year-old herder living in Al Showak, Gadarif, Sudan. Like thousands of traditional animal breeders in Sudan, Ali works hard to take care of his fast-growing flock of animals.
During the past few months, with the ongoing civil war, Ali was a little concerned that he was not getting the veterinary advice that he needed, because of the limited coverage in his area by veterinary services, and that he might lose some of his animals due to the lack of a vaccination service.
Ali was very happy when his neighbor Ahmed told him that Catholic Relief Services (CRS) had trained him as a community animal health worker (CAHW) through the USAID-funded SASAS. Ahmed started to visit Ali to check on his animals and give him valuable advice and tips on how to keep his animals healthy and better fed.
CAHWs vaccinate a sheep in animal-rich Gadarif State. (Photo: CIMMYT)
Due to the ongoing armed conflict in Sudan, the local animal health care service has been massively interrupted. CRS, through the USAID-funded SASAS, are currently conducting an animal vaccination campaign in Gadarif in the eastern part of the country.
Catholic Relief Services uses trained community networks to inform herders of the locations where animal vaccinations are taking place and to raise awareness of the importance of having their animals vaccinated.
Trained CAHWs, led by official animal health workers, are driving a massive animal vaccination campaign targeting 150,000 head of goats and sheep in the Gala Alnahal, Al Fao, and Al Showak localities in the traditionally animal-rich Gadarif state.
CAHWs receive veterinary kits in Gadarif State after attending an extensive practical training session on animal health. (Photo: CIMMYT)
The well-trained and sufficiently well-equipped CAHWs are driving the campaign showing unflagging dedication and using innovative methods to significantly reduce animal disease, making a remarkable achievement in the ongoing fight against deadly diseases. CAHWs actively promote the dissemination of veterinary education and health care locally, and the improvement of animal health and husbandry through education, veterinary services, enterprise development, and enhanced trade.
CAHWs receive bicycles to facilitate their mobility in providing veterinary services in Gadarif State. (Photo: CIMMYT)
âAt SASAS, we work to transform the livestock meat value chain to become productive, sustainable, and market oriented. Further, SASAS works with community members in the targeted localities to equitably share natural resources and peacefully engage in mutually beneficial activitiesâ, said Abdelrahman Kheir, SASAS chief of party in Sudan.
The CAHWs were extensively trained and provided with firsthand experience of the basic principles of animal health; animal husbandry and production; basic clinical and husbandry procedures; basic animal disease management; safe food; drug administration; meat inspection at slaughterhouses; common animal diseases; community engagement; and running animal health service activities. In addition, CAHWs check the health of the animals at the slaughterhouses in the various areas targeted by the project.
CAHWs check on animal health and advise herders in Gadarif on the best animal breeding techniques. (Photo: CIMMYT)
To ensure gender equity and make sure that no one is excluded, both male and female community members are trained as CAHWs. Fatima is 45 years old and is a local female herder living in Al Fao, Gadarif State; she was looking for a chance to improve her skills in animal breeding and in helping herders within her community. After getting the necessary theoretical and practical training in animal health, Fatima was equipped with a veterinary toolkit and a donkey cart to increase her mobility, while male CAHWs were provided with bicycles to help them travel around and provide veterinary services within their communities.
To enhance the livestock value chain, the CRS are constructing slaughter slabs in the areas targeted by the project in coordination with the local animal health authorities and the community.
Agriculture, including livestock and fishing, is the most important economic sector in Sudan, contributing about a third of the countryâs GDP and providing a livelihood for about two-thirds of the active population. The export of livestock has become an increasingly important part of the economy, competing with cash crop sales as the fastest growing, non-oil export sector. Camels, cattle, sheep, and goats are exported mainly to Saudi Arabia, other Gulf States, and Egypt. Around 25 percent of the exported livestock comes from Darfur, after a sharp decline in Darfurâs export capacity due to conflict. Increased export sales have caused an increase in domestic livestock prices in all markets.
The Zimbabwe Team of the Agroecology Initiative participated in the Share Fair event of the CGIAR initiative Ukama Ustawi (UU), which was held in Masvingo, Zimbabwe, and brought together farmers, the private sector, and researchers from seven countries (Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Kenya, and Ethiopia). The overarching goal for our participation was twofold: Glean insights from the UU initiativeâs experiences and practices and, where possible, to adopt and adapt approaches and technologies relevant to the Agroecology Initiative. Equally significant was the aim to share our learnings and explore potential areas of collaboration. From the UU initiative perspective, the Share Fair engagement sought greater integration and knowledge exchange across its work packages, and countries where UU is being implemented, and other CGIAR initiatives. Farmers were at the center of the Share Fair, sharing and learning from each other, together with the experts.
The event aimed to foster collaboration and innovation in addressing key issues related to agriculture and sustainability in the region.
Insights from UU Share Fair activities
The Share Fair showcased an array of innovative technologies poised to transform agricultural practices in the region, among these new solar-powered borehole irrigation, chameleon soil moisture sensors for irrigation management, and conservation agriculture practices that included crop intercropping and rotation, cover cropping (mulching), and minimum tillage. Notably, mechanization options tailored for conservation agriculture, such as 2-wheel tractors and basin diggers, were demonstrated, with particular emphasis on gender-inclusive approaches for smallholder farmers. UU initiative prioritizes integrated crop and livestock systems, which are vital for small-scale farmers in terms of both dietary needs and income generation.
UU service providers and CIMMYT staff demonstrating the basin digger.LERSHA, in collaboration with IWMI, demonstrates the chameleon soil moisture sensor.
We shared insights on the benefits of the adoption of mother-baby trials. Setting up such trials can help researchers and stakeholders identify potential risks, challenges, and limitations of the innovation without risking large-scale failure or negative impacts on the environment or communities. This helps in making informed decisions about whether or not to adopt an innovation.
In addition to technological innovations, we discussed various agribusiness tools aimed at supporting and empowering smallholder farmers. Different companies presented their agribusinesses and how they complement farming practices related to a spectrum of services, ranging from agroclimatic advice and improved access to financial services, mechanization, and digital technologies. Central to these endeavors was the objective of fostering business growth, promoting diversification, and nurturing stronger value chains within the agricultural sector.
Both initiatives (Agroecology and UU) acknowledge that farming enterprises must be matched with strong business models to guarantee long-term viability, and recognize the critical nexus between production and markets, underlining the importance of equipping farmers with financial literacy skills and encouraging diligent record-keeping practices.
Farmers participating in the Share Fair were trained on the use of the business model canvas to manage their businesses. They were taken through a practical session of aligning their farming enterprises with the business model canvas. The importance of ensuring the balance of all elements of the business model canvas was stressed. Farmers were encouraged to adopt a market-based approach to farming as a business. Farmers were urged to develop a thorough grasp of market dynamics in addition to skillful financial management techniques, emphasizing a market-based approach. The activities of the session, although summarized, were similar to the training that the Agroecology Initiative team has been carrying out in the identified business models of sorghum contract farming and the SASSO brooding program.
Blessing from CIMMYT at one of UUâs mother trial plots explaining the importance and benefits of crop diversification, rotation, and mulching.
Conclusion: Similar approaches, same objectives
The Agroecology Initiative team of Zimbabwe and the UU Initiative share a common goal of strengthening the resilience of the food systems and improving farmer livelihoods through sustainable agriculture methods. Through the development of synergies and the utilization of complementary strengths, they are in a position to jointly map out a course toward a more fair and sustainable agricultural landscape that promises prosperity for future generations. By facilitating cross-learning initiatives and leveraging indigenous knowledge systems, both initiatives can empower farmers with the tools and resources necessary to combat agricultural pests and diseases sustainably. The shared commitment to agroecological principles underscores the potential for collaboration in building resilient production systems. By facilitating cross-learning among farmers, who often have limited resources, the initiatives can empower them to leverage local knowledge and resources to solve their problems.
One major difference between the initiatives is that the UU places farmers at the center of its intervention and stakeholders as enablers, while the Agroecology Initiative emphasizes full partnerships among researchers and food system actors in addressing challenges related to local food systems and the co-development of relevant innovations that can strengthen and support resilience.
A panel of stakeholders and farmers in agribusiness explaining their business models.
Building on UUâs successful interactions with agribusinesses like LERSHA and Farm Africa, which provide mechanization, inputs, and financial services and assist farmers in developing strong and sustainable business models, we can gain from establishing similar alliances to support sustainable business models in the agricultural sector. Given the severe drought in 2023/24, farmers engaged with the SASSO chicken business model will face challenges in obtaining feed for their livestock and poultry. Exploring alternative feed sources, such as the black soldier fly, could be a potential solution. Collaborating with Insectary (a company that was present at the fair) and other local programs focused on alternative feed options could provide valuable insights and support.
The UU initiative has not actively engaged with youth in their study, while we have developed tools to understand youth participation in agriculture. There is an opportunity for the two initiatives to collaborate on a study targeting youth engagement, combining their expertise and resources to gain a deeper understanding of this issue of demographic importance and develop strategies to involve them in sustainable agriculture practices.
The original piece was written by Craig E. Murazhi, Dorcas Matangi, and Vimbayi G. P. Chimonyo and published by CGIAR’s Initiative on Agroecology.Â
Soil being tested as part of the preparations for planting on Mega and Mother Demo plots. October 2023. (Photo: Edward Mwakagile/ADP-MBOZI)
With the support of the Southern Africa Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative (AID-I) Rapid Delivery Hub, ADP Mbozi, and the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) at Uyole (key implementing partners in the Southern Highland Consortium), the Songwe region of Tanzania is setting for a pivotal initiative to enhance crop yields significantly.
In anticipation of the forthcoming Mega Demo and Mother Demo planting events, the AID-I partners orchestrated workshops and training sessions for local farmers.
This multifaceted endeavor involves both comprehensive soil testing and an educational campaign aimed at enlightening farmers on the proper use of fertilizers, aligning their application with the specific requirements of cultivated crops.
The Songwe region is in the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) and is a breadbasket region of Tanzania.
Soil testing offers farmers invaluable insights for informed decision-making concerning fertilizer application. Armed with knowledge about their soil’s nutrient status, farmers can precisely tailor fertilizer usage, steering clear of both excessive and insufficient application. The adverse effects of over-application, such as environmental pollution and crop damage, and the consequences of under-application, leading to nutrient deficiencies and stunted crop growth, are mitigated.
These sessions fostered participation and equipped farmers with an enhanced understanding of the intricate relationship between soil nutrients, fertilizer application, crop nutrition, plant development, and management for improved crop productivity.
The Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), through its implementing partners, conducted soil tests at 235 sites in 2023 within the Southern Highland and Western Great Lakes consortia. The consolidated results of soil tests and recommendations were disseminated to government officials and agricultural extension agents in wards and villages for informed decisions to improve the status of soil health. Â The resulting data is distributed to farmers to help inform their decision-making around the type and variety of fertilizer to use.
The active involvement of farmers in soil testing and awareness initiatives underscores their recognition of the potential benefits for their livelihoods. Armed with newfound knowledge, farmers are now empowered to make informed decisions regarding fertilizer use, ensuring an optimal nutrient balance for their crops and maximizing productivity. Young farmers from the area also participated in activities from mapping to collection of soil samples in different villages, with a clear vision of conducting soil testing with the goal of mitigating climate change.
âThe proactive stance of the Songwe region towards soil testing and fertilizer awareness reflects a steadfast commitment to sustainable agriculture and farmer empowerment,â said Project Officer ADP MBOZI, Edward Mwakagile. âBy providing farmers with the knowledge and tools to manage their soil and fertilizer use effectively, the region is laying a robust foundation for successful Mega Demo and Mother Demo planting events, promising enhanced agricultural productivity in the years ahead.â
The Songwe Region in Tanzania faces a variety of challenges in its agricultural communities, including low productivity, poor farming practices, and limited access to resources. Low yields from white sorghum, the crop of preference in the area, contribute to food insecurity, and insufficient extension support compounds the challenges for farmers.
Schools in the region face their own problems, with students experiencing a lack of food during certain months, resulting in poor academic performance and attendance. Parents, burdened by financial constraints and the low yields of sorghum, struggle to contribute to the school feeding program, further aggravating the situation. The School Feeding Program provides at least one nutritious meal daily to students in rural Tanzania to combat hunger and enhance academic performance. Most schools in rural areas have enough farmland for learning purposes; by utilizing this land, the program aims to produce food locally, reducing reliance on parental contributions and involving the community in addressing food and nutrition insecurity.
To address these challenges, the Center for Behavior Change and Communication (CBCC), initiated a proactive intervention during the 2022-2023 farming season to increase awareness of improved sorghum seed varieties (TARI SOR 1 and TARI SOR 2) through the school feeding program in Momba district, Tanzania. This collaborative effort between the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), CIMMYT, local seed producers, and the local government aimed to address the persistent food and nutrition insecurity in the area.
School children and community members engage in hands-on learning by practicing good agricultural practices on their school farms. (Photo: CBCC)
One of the key strategies employed by CBCC was using schools as platforms for raising awareness. Schools primarily grow sorghum for food rather than trade, making them ideal places to introduce these new, higher-yielding, and nutritionally valuable seed varieties.
Leveraging school farmland
The Youth and Women Quality Centres (YWQCs) are part of an innovative model implemented through the Dryland Crops Program (DCP) through the Accelerated Varietal Improvement and Seed Systems in Africa (AVISA) project, led by CIMMYT and implemented in partnership with CBCC and TARI. Its goal is to increase the adoption of improved variety and quality seeds among young and female farmers through behavior change interventions, with a focus on sorghum and groundnut improvement in the Songwe Region.
Using schools as focal points for raising awareness, the initiative leveraged the YWQCs to provide extension support and distribute seeds to schools. Training materials tailored to the school environment facilitated practical learning on agronomic practices such as farm preparation, seed selection, planting, fertilizer application, weeding, and pest management.
Mkama Secondary School was one of the first to enroll in the program, setting aside 0.5 acres to demonstrate the performance of TARI sorghum seed varieties. With the use of good agronomic practices, the pilot led to an increase in yield, with 350 kilograms (kg) of sorghum harvested. This was an increased improvement compared to their previous yield of 200 kg per acre on their four-acre farm, representing an increase of approximately 75%.
Concerns raised by teachers about the limited yield of local seeds, yielding less than 200 kg per acre, necessitate the urgency of implementing sustainable solutions. The low productivity observed on school farms is also attributed to poor farming practices and inadequate extension support.
Growing these new varieties offers many practical benefits. The increased yield enabled the school to provide lunch to its 129 students during the critical period when food insecurity is most pronounced (October-April). “The new improved sorghum varieties have higher yields, and TARI SOR 2 makes good Ugali,” said Johnas Marwa, the school headmaster. Motivated by their success, the school will plant TARI SOR 1 and TARI SOR 2 on all four acres of their farm during the 2023-2024 season.
Community-wide benefits
The projectâs success also inspired confidence in the broader community, leading to a surge in demand for the new sorghum seeds. Consequently, eight seed producer groups and five individual seed producers decided to cultivate these improved varieties in the coming season.
Initially, some community members were hesitant to adopt the new varieties because they were not as white as the traditional local seeds. However, the impressive performance of TARI SOR 1 and TARI SOR 2 quickly won them over, capturing the attention of both farmers and parents due to their potential to reduce food insecurity at household level.
The achievements at Mkama Secondary School led to the expansion of the initiative across 19 additional schools in 14 villages. These schools were chosen based on their willingness to participate and the availability of their farmland. Out of the schools involved, only five produced sorghum on their farms, with the rest relying on parental contributions for the feeding program, but they all relied upon sorghum as the main source of food. Some primary schools only provided porridge, while most of the secondary schools only offered lunch.
Across the 19 schools, a total of 58 acres were allocated for farming sorghum. The project provided 190 kg of seeds, 21% of which were the Macia variety, a popular choice because of its whitish appearance and marketability.
Emmanuel Mwenda, national sorghum coordinator at TARI, said, “This intervention is one of a kind and will bring a huge impact to farmer communities in Momba district.”
Project legacy
The initiative has already had a significant impact and will continue to do so for future planting seasons and generations. “Given the level of effort and investment by partners, in the next season, 4 out of 10 farmers purchasing improved seed at YWQCs will choose either TARI SOR 1 or 2,” said Michel Amson from CBCC.
More than 2,000 students and 50 teachers were trained in agronomic practices by dedicated youth champions. This training caused a ripple effect, with parents visiting YWQC to purchase quality seeds too for growing on their own land.
To ensure the projectâs sustainability and longevity, education officers will work with more schools and YWQCs would provide seeds on credit, with schools repaying after harvest to make the improved varieties more accessible when they are needed most.
âThis initiative not only improves nutrition and food security for school children, but also benefits the wider community by increasing yields and extending meal provision periods. The collaborative efforts of various stakeholders have been instrumental in driving the success of this initiativeâ, says Chris Ojiewo, seeds systems lead at CIMMYT.
Priscilla Chewe, a poultry farmer in Kapiri Mposhi district of Zambia, checks on her chickens. June 2024. (Photo: CIMMYT)
In Zambia, women play a major role in agriculture and constitute much of the labour force for cash crop production and home consumption. In Chilayabale area of Chongwe district in Zambia, a group of women founded Tuyumepo Women Cooperative with support from Zambiaâs Farmer Input Support Program (FISP). Initially focused on commercial soya milk and okra coffee production, members shifted to poultry production in 2022, which they had identified as a game changer. They successfully developed a business plan that was funded by the World Food Programme, providing 150,000 Kwacha (USD 5,600) for broiler chicken production. Part of the funds were used to construct a poultry house and acquire 200-day-old chicks.
However, their excitement soon turned into despair. What had appeared a very profitable venture turned into a loss-making enterprise. The group could not understand why the birds, despite being provided with the required feed and vaccines, had a high mortality rate. They eventually abandoned the broiler production business.
Despite setbacks, the groupâs determination remained strong. Like many other smallholder poultry producers in Zambia; they recognized the immense potential of chicken farming. But they were constrained by various production challenges such as limited access to improved chicken breeds or day-old chicks, limited access to key vaccines, basic chicken health services, quality feed, and essential extension services. These challenges led to poor productivity, high mortalities and underperformance of the enterprise and the chicken value chain in general.
However, a ray of hope emerged earlier this year with the arrival of the Southern Africa Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative â Livestock (AIDI-L) in Bimbe. A sensitization meeting organized by AIDI-L reignited their enthusiasm for poultry farming. What stood out was AIDI-Lâs commitment not only to provide starter kits but also to offer training on best poultry farming practices. This renewed optimism prompted members of the Tuyumepo Women Cooperative, along with other farmers in the area, to attend training sessions on poultry production at Kambekete Camp, Chongwe District, Lusaka Province on 8 April 2024.
The participants were trained on general poultry production and marketing, and how to effectively train others on the same in the targeted districts. The target trainees were commercial poultry farmers, brooders, and lead farmers. Each training was attended by about 30 participants comprising lead farmers, brooders, and commercial poultry farmers in the district.
Led by Venture37, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and local government livestock officers, these sessions covered various aspects of poultry farming, from chicken health and housing to marketing and business development.
To many, the training was an eye-opener.
âI have just realized that our broilers were dying not because of diseases, but because of poorly ventilated housing structure,â stated Annie, a brooder and a lead farmer in the area.â
With the newfound partnership, the cooperative plans to acquire 200 chicks.
Elizabeth Mwalusoke, a farmer from Lobolola Village, Chongwe District, had long recognized the potential of poultry farming but lacked the necessary knowledge and skills on good poultry husbandry, such as appropriate housing, hygiene, pests and diseases, and their control. She was lucky to have attended the AIDI-L sensitization meeting at Bimbe and Kambekete Camp in February 2024.
âThis project will definitely help us develop our chicken business.â
The venture is even more appealing to Elizabeth, who owns two hectares of farmland, ideal for chicken rearing but not for large livestock farming.
For the ambitious Festus Nchenesi, the initiative provides opportunities for expanding and diversifying his commercial chicken enterprise. Nchenesi, a retired accountant, started with 100 broilers in 2017 at his one-hectare farm after relocating from Chongwe Town. He has steadily increased the flock to 300 birds but would have kept more if it had not been for the challenges he has encountered.
His attempts to venture into improved chicken farming failed due to a lack of knowledge of chicken brooding.
“I would have over 10 chicken brooding with at least 10 eggs each. But once one of the chickens had chicks, all the others would abandon their eggs and start fighting to care for the few hatched chicks. To circumvent this, I acquired a 32-egg capacity incubator, hoping not only to build my flock but also to brood and supply to other farmers in the area. However, the 6,000 Kwacha incubator could only hatch 3-5 eggs per incubation for reasons the supplier could not even explain. I am very optimistic that the project will turn my fortunes around. My target is to have at least 1,000 improved chickens because of their good marketability and returns and reduce the broiler flock.â
Others like retired Captain Ceasar Chibiye, a commercial poultry farmer in Kapiri District, Central Province, are more than ready to seize the market linkage opportunities that the project is bringing, being one of the major hurdles the farmers have been grappling with in the chicken value chain.
Laurence Ochieng, an ILRI veterinarian, was impressed with the enthusiasm and passion of the participants. He was optimistic that the project will greatly revitalise chicken farming in target regions.
âMost of the attendees seem to be involved in village chicken rearing. For instance, those from Shamutinta village will benefit from disease control measures such as Newcastle disease vaccination as this seems to be their greatest challenge in rearing the birds to productive stage. Most of them had lost their flocks due to diseases, predominantly Newcastle and fowl pox.â
Esther Omosa, ILRI nutrition specialist, sensitized the participants on the importance human nutrition, promising to conduct a detailed TOT training on high impact nutrition sensitive interventions that need to be implemented at community level to prevent malnutrition.
Esther Omosa, ILRI nutrition specialist, sensitizes participants on the importance human nutrition during a training on poultry production in Kapiri District, Central Province on 10 April 2024. (Photo: ILRI)
Funded by the United States Agency for International Development, the two-year AIDI-L project aims to help 15,000 small-scale, poultry-keeping households acquire increased access dual-purpose backyard village chicks; and reduce morbidity and mortality of poultry byfacilitating access to, and vaccination of, poultry to key economically impactful diseases such as Newcastle Disease. With a holistic approach that addresses both production and market challenges, the project holds promise for revitalizing chicken farming in Zambia. Thousands more households will be reached through media advisories on the importance of vaccinations and improved husbandry practices for chickens.
The original article was published by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).Â
Children walk to their shelter at an IDP camp near El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, Sudan. (Photo: Shehzad Noorani/UNICEF)
Sudan, the third largest country in Africa, is on the verge of a food crisis of epic proportions. Since the outbreak of civil war in April 2023, the country has descended rapidly into political upheaval, severe economic contraction, extreme social unrest, and rampant violence.
In addition to the estimated 13,000-15,000 people killed and 33,000 injured, some 6.3 million people have been internally displaced and more than 1.7 million have crossed into neighboring countries as refugees. Many are women and children.
The United Nations considers this the largest child displacement crisis in the world. About 25 million people urgently require food assistance, including more than 14 million children. Acute food insecurity is affecting 18 million people, or 37 percent of the population, with another 10 percent in emergency conditions.
News stories are dominated by reports of violent clashes and political maneuverings. So far, coverage of food insecurity has been scant. As is often the case, this topic seems to only get traction when there is outright famine.
This gets the story backwards. Food insecurity is at the root of many conflicts. Moreover, peace remains elusive without well-functioning agricultural systems, and it is unreasonable to expect viable agricultural production without peace.
Anticipating significantly reduced harvests in Sudan, UN agencies are projecting 50-100 percent price hikes for staple grains over the coming months. Following a doubling in food price over the previous two years, Sudan’s need for food aid will grow exponentially, while logistical barriers to humanitarian operations are getting harder to overcome.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has called for peace-building, unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief, and agricultural livelihood support. And the World Food Program warns that without substantial intervention, catastrophic hunger is likely to prevail in conflict hotspots by next year’s lean season.
Most of Sudan’s 45 million people rely on farming for their livelihoods. Yet only 3.5 percent of requested donor funding for the 2024 Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan has been provided.
With more frequent and severe droughts and floods degrading agricultural productivity, the income and food security of farming families has become more precarious over recent decades. Concurrent erosion in governance and social protection systems accelerates a vicious cycle of vulnerability, social tension, and maladaptive coping strategies.
In already fragile agricultural areas, displacement of millions of people is severely impacting the agriculture sector, disrupting input supply and agricultural services and limiting labor availability. Producers, input suppliers, processors, and traders all struggle to operate with communication systems interrupted by conflict preventing normal commercial transactions and movement of produce.
Just five years ago, Sudan’s agri-food sector contributed 32 percent to total GDP. In 2023, the country has seen a 20 percent drop in agricultural GDP and employment. If no preventive action is taken this year, an estimated 1.8 million more people will fall into poverty amid the ongoing conflict.
With significant untapped agroecological potential, Sudan’s economic and political stability depends on a transition to productive and climate-resilient agriculture. But this demands investment in farm management capacity, improved use of inputs and irrigation, and increased access to markets and finance, as well as viable governance of rural infrastructure and natural resources. The situation in Sudan is especially challenging given the weakened state of agricultural supply chains and the extension system, the two backbones of the agricultural sector.
To boost food supplies and prevent depletion of productive assets, international organizations are working to provide Sudanese farmers with high-quality seeds, agrochemicals, livestock vaccines, and fuel on an emergency basis. The situation requires the sustained presence of support agencies.
However, the blanket economic embargo placed on Sudan has made it difficult, if not impossible, for local development agencies to access project funds vital for saving lives and sustaining livelihoods.
Extreme uncertainty in conflict zones hampers interventions designed to reduce dependency on food aid and increase the resilience of local farming systems. By sharing knowledge resources, foresight capabilities, and decision frameworks, partner organizations can better anticipate and reduce human suffering and disaster relief costs.
Sudan is facing a complex emergency, which may lead to state failure, mass migration, resource conflicts, and starvation, triggering waves that would be felt across all of northeastern Africa. Sudan is too big to fail.
Climate-resilient agricultural livelihoods are the engine of food security and social stability. This cannot be achieved in one or two years, so the global community must have long-term aspirations to support the transformation of agrifood systems in Sudan.
We need to adapt our strategies to build resilience before, during, and after periods of conflict. By reducing poverty, in-country inequality, and other societal drivers, increased agricultural resilience can help mitigate and moderate conflict.
The victims of the current conflict have no political capital and may have little idea why the warring sides took up arms. To relieve the extreme suffering in Sudan, it is the responsibility of the international community to marshal the political will to achieve a negotiated truce and a sustained ceasefire.
The authors are thought leaders of CGIAR, the world’s largest global agricultural innovation network, and lead respectively CIMMYT, CGIAR, WorldVeg Africa, The Alliance CIAT Bioversity, IFPRI, CIP and ICARDA.
Ethiopia is the largest wheat producer in Africa, accounting for around 65% of the total wheat production in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the old tradition of rainfed wheat cultivation in the highlands, irrigated production in the dry, hot lowlands is a recent practice in the country.
In the irrigated lowlands of Afar and Oromia, situated along the Awash River Basin, CIMMYT and the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) have been supporting small scale farming households to improve yields since 2021. The Adaptation, Demonstration and Piloting of Wheat Technologies for Irrigated Lowlands of Ethiopia (ADAPT-Wheat) project supports research centers to identify new technologies suitable for target planting areas through adaptation and development, which are then released to farmers. Funded by Germanyâs Federal Ministry for Economic Development (BMZ) and Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GMBH, EIAR leads on implementation while CIMMYT provides technical support and coordination.
In the Afar and Oromia regions of Ethiopia, farmers observe wheat trials of the new varieties released in partnership with CIMMYT and EIAR. (Photo: Ayele Badebo)
So far, several bread and durum wheat varieties and agronomic practices have been recommended for target areas through adaptation and demonstration. The seeds of adapted varieties have been multiplied and distributed to small scale farmers in a cluster approach on seed loan basis.
Cross-continent collaboration
The Werer Agricultural Research Center (WRC) run by EIAR has released two wheat varieties: one bread wheat line (EBW192905) and one durum wheat line (423613), both suitable for agroecology between 300-1700 meters above sea level.
Both varieties were selected from the CIMMYT wheat breeding program at its headquarters in Mexico. The new bread wheat variety exceeded the standard checks by 17% (GaĂĄmabo and Kingbird) and 28% (Mangudo and Werer).Â
The lines were trialed through multi-location testing in Afar and Oromia, with both lines displaying tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Accelerated seed multiplication of these varieties is in progress using main and off seasons.
The ADAPT-Wheat project, working in the region since 2021, has released two new varieties for use in the Ethiopian lowlands. (Photo: Ayele Badebo)
“These new varieties will diversify the number of adapted wheat varieties in the lowlands and increase yields under irrigationâ said Geremew Awas, a CIMMYT research officer working for the ADAPT project in Ethiopia. Hailu Mengistu, EIAR wheat breeder at WRC, also indicated the need for fast seed delivery of climate resilient wheat varieties on farmers’ hands to realize genetic gain and increase income and food security of the households.
These new varieties will be provided with a local name by breeders to make it easy for farmers and other growers to identify them and will be introduced to farmers through demonstrations and field days. Eligible seed growers who are interested in producing and marketing the basic and certified seeds of these varieties can access early generation seeds from the WRC.
Regional partners examine the CIMMYT maize lines displayed during field day. (Photo: CIMMYT)
The International Maize Improvement Consortium for Africa (IMIC-Africa) held its Southern Africa field day on 25 March 2024 at Harare, Zimbabwe. IMIC-Africa, launched by CIMMYT in 2018, is a public-private partnership designed to strengthen maize breeding programs of partner institutions in Africa. As part of this initiative, CIMMYT organizes annual field days which bring together representatives from seed companies and national agricultural research system (NARS) partners across Zimbabwe and Kenya.
At the heart of the IMIC-Africa field day lies a vibrant showcase of genetically diverse materials developed from various maize breeding pipelines of CIMMYT in Southern Africa. Such events serve as a catalyst to drive innovations in maize breeding programs, deliver solutions to stakeholders, and enable seed companies and NARS partners to make informed selections tailored to local contexts.
âIt is an important forum to have organized discussions with partners, and redesignâwhere possibleâour breeding approaches to deliver targeted products to stakeholders,â said Director of CIMMYTâs Global Maize Program, One CGIAR Global Maize Breeding Lead, and One CGIAR Plant Health Initiative Lead, B.M. Prasanna. âThe main stakeholders here are our partners, including seed companies and public sector national programs, through whom we reach out to farming communities.â
The significance of these field days cannot be overstated. It allows the partners to have a critical look at the breeding materials on display and undertake selections of maize lines relevant to their breeding programs. In addition, the IMIC-Africa field days enable CIMMYT team to have structured dialogues with diverse stakeholders and to review and refine breeding (line and product development) strategies and approaches.
“It is key to bridge the gap between the national programs and private sector players. This platform allows us to stay ahead in terms of research, and innovative breakthroughs in the seed sector,â added Kabamba Mwansa, principal agriculture research officer, ZARI, Zambia and Southern Africa Breeding, and seed systems network coordinator.
Highlights from the Harare field day
With an impressive array of 737 CIMMYT maize lines on display, partners at the Harare field day gained insights about the performance of different materials. The materials span early-, intermediate-, and late- maturity groups to nutritious maize breeding pipelines. This comprehensive showcase enabled seed companies and NARS partners to make informed selections, tailored to their local contexts. The material on display ranged from early generation (one or two years of testing data) to advanced generation (more than three years of testing) coming from the Southern Africa breeding pipelines targeting multiple market segments.
Regional partners examine the CIMMYT maize lines displayed during field day. (Photo: CIMMYT)
One of the strategic priorities of CIMMYT’s maize breeding program in Africa is improving the nutritional quality of maize. This is exemplified by the development of provitamin A-enriched maize (PVA). On display were 169 lines originating from the PVA-enriched maize breeding pipeline. The efforts underscore CIMMYTâs commitment to address regional nutritional needs through targeted breeding initiatives.
Felix Jumbe, a partner from Peacock Seeds in Malawi reflected on the importance of the IMIC-Africa partnership. âWe have been part of IMIC-Africa since its inception, and we continue to appreciate the different climate-resilient lines emerging from CIMMYT maize breeding programs in Africa. Last year, we sold out of our seed as people continue to appreciate the need for resilient maize varieties. The drought-tolerant (DT) maize lines from the consortium have been a huge selling point as most farmers are happy with it,â he said.
The field day not only showcased cutting-edge breeding innovations but also offered a historical perspective by tracing the trajectory of the most popular lines taken up under IMIC-Africa from 2019 to 2023. This served as a crucial reference point for partners, enabling them to assess the performance of newly displayed lines against established benchmarks. Furthermore, partners considered the presence of trait donors as invaluable in improving resistance to key biotic stresses or tolerance to certain abiotic stresses prevalent in Africa.
CIMMYT, NARS, and seed company partners participate in the IMIC-Africa field day in Harare, Zimbabwe. (Photo: CIMMYT)
CIMMYT partnership continues to add value
In the face of escalating environmental pressures, including climate change and pest infestations such as the fall armyworm (FAW), CIMMYT breeders have been working tirelessly to develop resilient varieties capable of withstanding these challenges. Partners such as SeedCo have embraced these robust varieties. For breeder Tariro Kusada, it is her second year of attending the IMIC- Africa field day. âWe continue to see value in getting breeding materials through IMIC. The vigor from the lines on display is outstanding as compared to last year. We hope the vigor translates to yield.â
Danny Mfula from Synergy Zambia reinforced the value of the partnership. âIt is always good to tap into CIMMYT’s germplasm to supplement what we have. We are glad that more FAW-tolerant hybrids are coming on board. We want to leverage on these developments as farmers have gone through a lot of challenges to control FAW,â he said.
As the harvest stage approaches, partners can select their material by assessing the performance of the lines from flowering to grain filling stages. Each plot’s harvest provides invaluable insights, guiding partners in their selections. Partners are also given the opportunity to view the improved maize lines from CIMMYT through a virtual gallery of ears from each plot, ensuring informed decision-making. By fostering dialogue, facilitating partnerships, and highlighting genetic innovations, the field days catalyze progress towards a more sustainable and resilient future for African agriculture.
