As of January 2009, the Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building office will merge with CIMMYT library to constitute a Knowledge, Information, and Training Group, as part of the Corporate Communications Unit. Petr Kosina will manage the group, moving with his support team to the CIMMYT library at El Batán. Strategic aims behind the change include integrating and enhancing diverse information management and knowledge sharing/capacity building products and services— among them library services, conference and training services, distribution of publications, other web services—that are increasingly managed and shared electronically and on-line.

Six Texas A&M University faculty members visited CIMMYT during 9-11 December to explore prospects for collaboration and share research information. To address individual interests, the group dispersed and met with several center scientists and staff. Conversation centered on maize and wheat breeding, biotic screens for wheat, quantitative genetics, soil science, and how A&M students can collaborate with the center. Dr. Amir Ibrahim, associate professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences and small grains breeder and geneticist, also led a seminar on wheat improvement in Texas.

Long-time CIMMYT collaborator and Professor of Triticale and Wheat Genetics at Oregon State University, Robert “Bob” Metzger died in June 2008. He was a pioneer in work on Karnal bunt (Tilletia indica) in collaboration with CIMMYT, when the disease was found on wheat in Mexico, but his passion and hobby was triticale. Says CIMMYT wheat agronomist Ken Sayre, “He was a wonderful guy and is still remembered by the maids in the Costa de Oro (motel in Ciudad Obregón) as the man who brought wheat spikes to his room to hand thresh them—and make a real mess! —but he always left a big tip.” For those interested, a very nice memoriam written by his daughter appears in the USDA Annual Wheat Newsletter (Vol. 54).

On 22-23 October 2008, the Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa Project (DTMA) held meetings in Malawi for stakeholders in the maize value chain to discuss the rationale and implementation plans for the Innovation Learning Platform (ILeP) at the national and district levels. The ILeP was launched in August 2008 and will be implemented in Balaka District of Malawi. Multiple stakeholders will work synergistically to ensure that farmers increase their incomes through access to maize production inputs (improved maize varieties, fertilizer, and credit) and to output markets. Diverse stakeholders—which include the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, researchers, extension agents, seed producers, agro-dealers, marketing companies, non-governmental organizations, micro-financial institutions, and farmers— agreed on their respective roles. Augustine Langyintuo, John MacRobert, and Peter Setimela presented on CIMMYT’s behalf, and DTMA project leader Wilfred Mwangi took part in discussions.

Great food met great company at CIMMYT-Kenya’s end-of-the-year luncheon on 7 December, hosted by Global Maize Program director Marianne Bänziger. Long-standing service awards were presented to Alpha Diallo, who retires from CIMMYT in January 2009, to Stephen Mugo, and to Isaac Mutabai. All shared the award and recognition with their spouses. “We couldn’t have done it without the love and support of our better halves,” they agreed.

Thanks and admiration for Diallo’s time and contributions were expressed in a commemorative plaque that commended “…the very high regard in which he is held as a wise voice, mentor, and friend; for his pragmatic approach to prioritizing and getting a job done…” Colleagues Wilfred Mwangi, Dan Makumbi, and Joseph Kasango recalled their experiences working with him. Diallo’s wife Mrs. Fatoumata Diallo presented CIMMYT with a beautiful, intricately woven, handmade wall hanging on behalf of the family. “This is to express our thanks to all at CIMMYT for their love, support, and friendship throughout all the years that we have known them,” she said.

The function also served as a good-bye for Jedidah Danson, who leaves CIMMYT to teach at Kwa Zulu University in South Africa, and Murenga Mwimali, a maize breeder from the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute who finished his four-month Visiting Scientist assignment. “It has been a rewarding and exciting experience,” Mwimali said. “I have learnt a lot from the CIMMYT scientists, especially Stephen Mugo, and the technicians about practical aspects of designing and managing trials, seed production, and national variety release procedures for insect resistant and stress tolerant maize.”

Bänziger also took the opportunity to thank staff for efforts in 2008 and to recognize and remember the invaluable contribution of the late Mrs. Ebby Irungu, who kept the office running smoothly with effortless efficiency, friendliness, and firmness. Those at CIMMYT-Kenya send wishes to all their colleagues for a joyous festive season and a prosperous New Year 2009!

In November 2008, CIMMYT organized meetings for all in-country maize industry stakeholders in eastern Africa to review progress made in 2008 and to propose work plans for 2009. These working groups are part of a regional framework to harmonize activities and resource use among maize projects coordinated by CIMMYT in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Participants discussed proposed projects and their development into full proposals for consideration in early 2009.

The groups reported success in developing and releasing new varieties, in seed production, and in getting seed to farmers. Participants came from the following projects: Quality Protein Maize Development, Africa Maize Stress, Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa, and the Insect Maize for Africa Project. At the meetings, CIMMYT was represented by Dennis Friesen, Wilfred Mwangi, Stephen Mugo, Twumasi Afriyie, Zubeda Mduruma, Augustine Langyintuo, Dan Makumbi, Yoseph Beyenne, Kimani Kamau, and Anne Wangalachi.

CIMMYT researchers and partners in Nepal released two new open pollinated maize varieties (OPVs) during a variety release committee meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 07 December 2008. The varieties are called Manakamana 4 and Poshilo Makai-1 and both originated in Mexico. CIMMYT is partnering with the Hill Maize Research Project (HMRP), the National Agricultural Research Council (NARC), the Department of Agriculture (DoA), and several non-governmental organizations in Nepal.

Poshilo Makai-1 is the first quality protein maize (QPM) variety to be released in Nepal. “It has attractive white cobs and provides a great option to improve the nutritional quality of people and animals due to its higher content of lysine and tryptophan,” says T.P. Tiwari, agronomist, CIMMYT-Nepal. Its name is fitting: Poshili is a Nepali word meaning nutritious.

“Manakamana 4 provides a great yellow-maize option to farmers in the mid hills of Nepal because it fits well in the maize/millet, maize/potato, rice/maize, and maize/legumes cropping systems,” says Guillermo Ortiz- Ferrara, cereal breeder, CIMMYT-Nepal. The variety has a yield potential of about 6.5 tons per hectare and has stable grain yield across locations in Nepal. Manakamana 4 has also shown good lodging resistance (meaning it is less prone to falling over); tolerance to leaf diseases; and very good stay-green character.

“We are also very encouraged to see that the participatory varietal selection (PVS) farmers-assessment data was seriously considered by the variety release committee,” says Ortiz-Ferrara who feels this indicates progress made in institutionalizing such farmer participatory activities in the country. “Similar trends are also happening in the release of wheat and other crops,” he adds.

Both Tiwari and Ortiz-Ferrara express sincere thanks and congratulations to their CIMMYT-Mexico colleagues who helped develop the source germplasm for the new varieties.

It seems the agricultural community in Obregón is good at keeping secrets, at least from CIMMYT Agronomist Ken Sayre, who got a surprise last week.

More than 60 farmers, technicians, extension workers, and government and agro-business representatives attended a conservation agriculture (CA) day at the Hotel Valle Grande in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora State, Mexico, on 26 November 2008. Sayre was set to give a presentation when Patronato, a group of private farmers in the area, took the opportunity to formally recognize him for his 25 years of research and work on permanent raised beds in northern Mexico and in developing countries the world over.

“It was a complete surprise and obviously I was very grateful to the Patronato for the honor,” says Sayre. “However the real recognition should go to the CIMMYT CA national support staff team in Obregón; Manuel Ruíz Cano, Jesús A Gutiérrez, Betty Martinez, Juan de Dios Sanchez, Álvaro Zermeño, and Cristobal Rascón Angulo, who have put tremendous efforts and innovation to develop useful CA-based technologies for the farmers in southern Sonora.” Sayre also thanked Obregón Station Superintendent Rodrigo Rascón and his team for their continued support and hard work and Cropping Systems Management Specialist Bram Govaerts, who took over the CA-based program in Mexico last year and has “done an incredible job to keep the momentum moving forward.”

The CA day was coordinated by AOASS (the umbrella organization for the farmer unions) and gave the general public results of CIMMYT’s CA hub and extension program on permanent beds in northern Mexico, according to Govaerts. Ivan Ortiz-Monasterio, Rodrigo Rascón, and Matthew Reynolds were there representing CIMMYT.

CA practices have reduced farmers’ costs by 20% and improved their profits by up-to 50%, says Govaerts. Two local businesses are now making parts for the multiuse, multi-crop planters and 20 technicians have received training, he adds. There has been increased interest and involvement from public and private sector partners to promote CA during farmer field days and to disseminate permanent raised beds as a CA practice for the irrigated production areas in places such as Sonora and Sinaloa.

During the event, three farmers spoke about how they have used and adapted CA technology. “It was a clear reflection of our hub philosophy of communication between researchers and farmers, and how both can learn from each other,” says Govaerts.

Sayre concluded that, “many farmers in southern Sonora, as in many other areas in the developing world, now realize that, to continue to survive economically while protecting their productivity base, they must change to the new paradigm of sustainable, CA-based crop production technologies.”

Water for irrigation is a fundamental necessity for the winter nursery of CIMMYT’s maize breeding operation in Zimbabwe. During last summer, the 50 m wide dam wall that stores water in the river at Muzarabani, 200 km north of Harare, was washed away in a flood. Since the river flow continued well into the winter period, the dam wall could not be repaired, and so a temporary sandbag weir was constructed to store sufficient water for the winter plantings. This served adequately for the successful completion of the winter’s nurseries. However, this sandbag weir needed to be replaced, and so a new dam wall was planned together with the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority.

Work began on the new dam wall on 15 November. An excavator dug out a 1.5 m deep trench through the boulders covering the river bed, which promptly filled with water from sub-surface flow. Joseph Makamba and Evelot Nyamutowa, CIMMYT field staff in Harare, obtained a portable pump and drained the trench. Then they organized an army of local builders and workers to construct the masonry dam wall. In what seems like record time, the wall is nearing completion. None too soon, as it turns out: the rainy season is about to begin in earnest and the river will begin flowing again.

The building of the weir has presented many logistical challenges: among them, procuring 1,000 bags of cement, two concrete mixers, various small tools, a water pump, and local transport. All was accomplished in the context of general shortages and the establishment of summer nurseries at the Harare station. Thus, this building project has been no small achievement on the part of Evelot, Joseph, and the team of workers. Our congratulations and admiration is extended to them all. We can now look forward to secured water for 2009 and onwards!

This year, the Uganda national team, comprising Nalweyo Seed Company (NASECO) and the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), scooped the Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa (DTMA) Project excellence award for development and dissemination in eastern Africa, while the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) Melkassa station team won the breeding excellence award for the second year running.

The DTMA initiated the regional team awards in 2007 for excellence in the breeding, development, and dissemination of drought tolerant maize varieties. These awards recognize and foster partnerships, team work, commitment, and excellence among DTMA’s in-country partners, which include maize breeders, seed companies, extension agents, nongovernmental organizations, and community-based organizations.

The winning teams are selected through a rigorous process against set criteria and awards were presented during gala dinners in Uganda and Ethiopia attended by in-country maize stakeholders, CIMMYT teams, and the media.

The Director General of Uganda’s National Agricultural Organization (NARO), Dr. Denis Kyetere, presented the award to the Ugandan team saying, “CIMMYT has had a successful collaboration with Uganda, dating back to the development and release of the country’s first maize varieties. I am glad that through the drought tolerant maize we can overcome the water challenges —those of shortages and management—and reach more farmers with this maize. I am glad that NASECO is one of the winners of this award and they have succeeded in effective seed production.” DTMA Project Leader Wilfred Mwangi said: “This win represents good cooperation between the national agricultural research institute and the private sector along the entire maize value chain, from breeding to getting the improved varieties to farmers’ fields and ultimately to farmers’ tables. I congratulate the NASECO and NaCCRI teams.”

In Ethiopia Dr. Adefris Teklewold, Crop Research Director at EIAR, congratulated Dr. Gezahegn Bogale, leader of the Melkassa breeders, confirming the importance of maize in Ethiopia and the continued collaboration between CIMMYT and the EIAR. “We are going to continue working with CIMMYT and other stakeholders to ensure that we get solutions to maize farmers’ problems,” said Adefris Teklewold. “We are proud of our maize teams, who have shown that agricultural investments and development are worthwhile in Ethiopia.” Echoing this sentiment, Mwangi said, “The leadership being provided for the Ethiopian maize working group generally and the breeding program at Melkassa, in particular, is exemplary. I congratulate the young, dynamic, and enthusiastic maize breeders for winning this award.” Dr. Gezahegn Bogale expressed gratitude “…for the support we have continued to receive from CIMMYT through the provision of improved maize germplasm, facilitation for our scientists through training, and the improvement of our facilities and capacity, especially for seed storage and irrigation.”