Each year, the Borlaug Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa, becomes a dynamic platform where global leaders in agriculture, policy, research, and youth come together to address the critical issues surrounding global food security. The event is marked by the World Food Prize ceremony, which celebrates groundbreaking achievements that improve the accessibility, quality, and availability of food around the world. This year, CIMMYT’s role was significant, reflecting its unwavering commitment to reimagine the future of food and agriculture. CIMMYT’s presence was impactful and deeply resonant, representing its dedication to sustainable agricultural solutions for vulnerable communities. The following highlights capture these pivotal moments and showcase our role in promoting science and innovation for a food- and nutrition-secure world.
DialogueNEXT Mexico: Fostering Global Collaboration and Resilience
This year’s DialogueNEXT Mexico, themed “Nurturing Farmer Resilience,” celebrated the power of uniting leaders from across continents to address the urgent need for sustainable, resilient food systems. The event focused on innovative strategies to empower farmers and ensure food security in the face of climate challenges and resource constraints. Key initiatives presented included CIMMYT’s Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS), which provides farmers with improved crop varieties and conservation techniques. Expanded to Africa through the Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative (AID-I), these programs exemplify CIMMYT’s commitment to building resilience and reducing poverty through sustainable agriculture.
DialogueNext Mexico Session at Borlaug Dialogue (Photo: WFPF/Scott Morgan 2024
CIMMYT Experts Honored on the 2024 TAP List
A standout moment came with the recognition of Sylvanus Odjo and Marianne Banziger among the 2024 Top Agri-food Pioneers (TAP), honoring their invaluable contributions to sustainable agriculture. Their work embodies CIMMYT’s mission to empower communities and advance resilient food systems. This honor celebrates their contributions to building resilient, equitable food systems worldwide.
TAP List (Photo: WFPF/Scott Morgan 2024
Empowering Future Innovators and Expanding Global Alliances
CIMMYT showcased its commitment to sustainable agriculture through key initiatives and partnerships. The Global Maize Program Director, B.M. Prasanna, led an engaging session on the CIMMYT Academy’s role in shaping the next generation of plant breeders by equipping young scientists to tackle food security challenges with innovation, ensuring that CIMMYT’s mission will continue to advance with adaptability. Prasanna’s session underscored the vital role of mentorship and capacity-building in securing food systems for future generations.
One of the Dialogue’s highlights was the “Realizing Borlaug 2.0” event, where CIMMYT, USAID, and USDA launched the Feed the Future Global Wheat Health Alliance. This initiative aims to protect wheat from climate-related threats such as fusarium, wheat blast, and rust. Announced with a call for additional partners, this foundational investment marks a global commitment to protect wheat and strengthen food security. By linking research and breeding programs, the Alliance will accelerate the discovery and deployment of disease-resistant wheat varieties, ensuring a resilient future for one of the world’s staple crops.
In the footsteps of Dr. Borlaug Session (Photo:WFPF/Scott Morgan 2024)
Strengthening Global Alliances for Climate-Smart Agriculture
At the Borlaug Dialogue 2024, CIMMYT highlighted its commitment to sustainable agriculture and climate resilience through several impactful partnerships and collaborations. In a key session with the VACS partnership, CIMMYT addressed the urgent need for adaptable crops and resilient soils in the face of climate change, emphasizing the importance of global cooperation to secure food systems against environmental stresses. CIMMYT furthered its mission by establishing a groundbreaking partnership with the Secretariat of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG) of Honduras to strengthen food security and promote sustainable agricultural growth in Latin America.
Strategic discussions with FAO and the African Development Bank Group reinforced CIMMYT’s commitment to scaling climate-smart initiatives across regions, creating a powerful network of allies in building resilient food systems. The Dialogue also honored award winners Cary Fowler and Geoffrey Hawtin, whose work on crop biodiversity aligns with CIMMYT’s core mission of conserving agricultural diversity and improving food security worldwide.
Geoffrey Hawtin and Cary Fowler (Photo: WFPF/Scott Morgan 2024)
Through its contributions to the Dialogue, CIMMYT underscored its role as a global leader in transforming agri-food systems. Guided by a vision of a food-secure future, CIMMYT continues to empower farmers and build resilient communities around the world.
The World Food Prize this year celebrates the essential role of genebanks in global food security—a mission at the heart of CIMMYT’s work. Through its maize and wheat collections, CIMMYT’s genebank preserves crop diversity that is critical for developing resilient, climate-adapted varieties. Highlighted by former CIMMYT maize curator Denise Costich, this recognition underscores the value of conserving genetic resources, which allow CIMMYT and its partners to create solutions for a rapidly changing agricultural landscape. As a vital part of the global genebank network, CIMMYT’s efforts ensure that biodiversity remains a foundation for food security and resilience worldwide.
Huazhong agricultural university (Photo: Wallhere)
Prof. Jianbing Yan, a former maize scientist at CIMMYT, has been appointed as the President of Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU) in Wuhan, China on 20th August 2024. Jianbing was part of the CIMMYT family working on maize genetics and molecular breeding from 2006 to 2011. He worked as a Joint Post-Doctoral Associate between CIMMYT and Cornell University from October 2006 to September 2008, as an Associate Scientist from October 2008 to August 2009, and as a Scientist from September 2009 to March 2011. Due to his excellent work on Provitamin A biofortification in maize grain, Jianbing received the Japan International Award for Yong Agricultural Researchers in 2010, and the DuPont Young Professor Award in 2011. He also received the Outstanding CIMMYT Alumnus Award in 2014.
Jianbing joined HZAU as a full professor in April 2011. He served as the Vice Dean of the College of Life Science and Technology of HZAU from 2013 to 2017, as the Dean of the College of Plant Science and Technology of HZAU from 2017 to 2020, and as the Vice President of HZAU from 2019 to 2024.
Prof. Jianbing Yan
Jianbing is renowned in the research areas of maize genetics, genomics, and big data-driven breeding. He was the winner of the 2022 L. Stadler Mid-Career Award from the Maize Genetics Cooperation; the award is given to an outstanding maize scientist who has been in a permanent position for between nine and 20 years and has an outstanding track record of discovery research in maize genetics. Jianbing also received multiple national awards, including the National Natural Science Foundation for Excellent Youth in 2012, the National Youth Top-notch Talent Support Program in 2013, the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars and the Chair Professor of Cheung Kong Scholars Programme in 2015, etc.
Huazhong Agricultural University is recognized as a first-class agricultural university worldwide. It has a total of 14 disciplines listed as the Top 1% of ESI (Essential Science Indicators), including Plant & Animal Science, and Agricultural Sciences. HZAU and CIMMYT jointly hosted a webinar on Intelligent Agriculture in 2020. CIMMYT is one of the four funder institutes for the Global Food Security Association for Young Scientists hosted by HZAU, which was officially launched in December 2022 to connect young scientists around the world, working in the fields of food security. The 1st and 2nd Global Food Security Forums for Young Scientists were co-organized by HZAU and CIMMYT in Wuhan in 2022 and 2023, respectively, to inspire future generations of scientists to communicate and exchange ideas on cutting-edge agricultural research. Dr B.M. Prasanna, Director of CIMMYT Global Maize Program, CIMMYT, has been serving as the member of the International Advisory Committee of HZAU since 2022.
CIMMYT looks forward to building strong partnerships with HZAU in strategic and applied research of crop improvement, sustainable agrifood systems, and capacity building of next-generation agricultural researchers.
Matthew Reynolds, Distinguished Scientist and Head of Wheat Physiology at CIMMYT, is the recipient of the 2024 China Friendship Award. This recognition highlights his cutting-edge research to enhance the climate resilience and yield of wheat cropping systems, as well as his dedication to fostering collaboration between CIMMYT and China.
Researcher, Innovator, Collaborator, Mentor
During his 35-year tenure at CIMMYT, Reynolds has played a pivotal role in developing a new generation of advanced wheat lines based on physiological breeding approaches. This work has led to the creation of more resilient wheat varieties from diverse gene pools, significantly boosting yield potential.
Reynolds is the eighth CIMMYT scientist to receive the China Friendship Award. His numerous accolades include being an elected member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences and earning fellowships with the American Society of Agronomy and the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), the latter representing the society’s highest individual honor. He has also been honored with the prestigious 2024 International Crop Science Award by CSSA.
A prolific author in crop physiology and genomics, Reynolds actively promotes international collaboration among wheat scientists, tapping expertise and emerging technologies that enhance plant science. He provides young scientists with mentorship and opportunities to engage in agricultural research. He also leads key initiatives, such as the International Wheat Yield Partnership (IWYP) and the Heat and Drought Wheat Improvement Consortium (HEDWIC), which leverage collective expertise and innovations to improve yields and climate resilience.
About the China Friendship Award
The China Friendship Award is the highest honor given by the Chinese government to foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to China’s economic and social progress. It was established in 1991 by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs under the authorization of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China. As of September 2024, a total of 1,998 experts from over 80 countries and regions have received this award.
CIMMYT contributed over 5,400 maize and wheat samples to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault’s recent historic deposit, reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding crop diversity essential for global food security. These deposits protect genetic resources vital for adapting to climate change and improving resilience, especially in vulnerable regions. This backup effort ensures CIMMYT’s research on these staple crops remains available to support sustainable food systems and address crises worldwide.
CIMMYT, through the USAID-funded Sustainable Agrifood Systems Approach for Sudan (SASAS) program, empowers farmers and herders to reduce their reliance on humanitarian assistance, even in conflict-affected Sudan, where over 10 million people have been displaced and livelihoods across the country have been severely impacted. Improving agricultural value chains and agribusiness development is one of the five broad intervention areas of the SASAS program.
Several SASAS program partners support agribusiness development by working directly with micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which act as intermediaries between large firms and smallholder farmers, facilitating farmers’ access to inputs and promoting national food security. The critical role and challenges faced by agricultural MSMEs have been exacerbated by the ongoing civil war in Sudan. Due to pre-existing gender norms, the impact may differ between women and men entrepreneurs. SASAS implementing partners urgently need up-to-date, ground-level insights into the key business challenges. This includes understanding which businesses are existing and why, identifying promising and actionable coping strategies adopted by agrifood entrepreneurs, and capturing MSME owners’ perspectives on the priority interventions needed to support them.
To provide SASAS partners with critical evidence to inform their development activities with agricultural MSMEs, a team of CIMMYT researchers conducted semi-structured interviews in May 2024 with 20 women and 20 men agrifood enterprise owners residing in Kassala and Gadarif states. The findings from this research were documented in reports. The next phase of the CIMMYT team’s participatory action research focused on holding results dissemination meetings in each of the two states. The purpose of these meetings was to share study findings with research participants and SASAS partners, Mercy Corps and Practical Action, and provide an opportunity for feedback. This feedback helps clarify and validate the study findings and is central to the CIMMYT team’s approach to generating nuanced, contextually based lessons that inform the programming of SASAS partners working with agribusinesses.
Attendance at results dissemination meetings and perceptions of participants
The results dissemination meetings brought together SASAS development partners and MSME owners (research participants). In Kassala, 20 agrifood entrepreneurs (10 women and 10 men), along with several representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC), and local Kassala communities, attended the meeting. CIMMYT’s partner, Practical Action, co-organized the session. In Gadarif, 13 agrifood entrepreneurs (10 women and 3 men) were joined by representatives from the MoA and local community leaders for the results dissemination meeting, hosted by CIMMYT’s partner Mercy Corps. Participants in both states engaged actively in open discussions about the research findings, offering valuable feedback, while also helping to validate and refine the results.
Participants in the research results dissemination meeting –in Kassala actively participate in the group work (Photo: Mohamed Abdulmajid/CIMMYT)
After introductions and an icebreaker, the results dissemination meetings turned into a brief presentation of key study findings facilitated by CIMMYT’s MEL consultant, Mudar Ahmed. Participants in both meetings listened intently, and their initial feedback conveyed the relevance of the study results to their lives. For instance, when asked about the applicability of the study findings, one participant in Kassala said, “The research on the impact of war on women and men agrifood entrepreneurs is valuable as it gathers various perspectives on how war has affected our work, outlines the challenges we face, identifies coping mechanisms, and offers suggestions to overcome the current bottleneck.”
Social norms influencing women’s and men’s participation in the agrifood sector
One of the factors influencing CIMMYT’s selection of Gadarif and Kassala states as study sites, aside from the relatively stable security situation and concentration of agrifood enterprises, was the interesting contrast the two states offer in terms of women’s participation in the labor market and (agricultural) business operation, with women in Gadarif generally being more active. During the meetings, participants were asked to elaborate on these gender dynamics and how they play out in their lives.
A female participant in Kassala state explained this regional difference in gendered agricultural roles and shared insights into how and why it is changing over time, “In Gadarif most of the agricultural activities are rainfed and farms are in remote areas, limiting the number of women in cultivation activities. However, more and more women cooperatives are active in agriculture and many of them get loans from funding institutions and receive technical support from women’s empowerment institutions. The main challenge that hinders more women from participating in agricultural activities in Gadarif is that rainfed cultivation requires a lot of financial resources that women cannot access. In Kassala, although the community is more conservative and many believe that women need to stay at home and not to go out for work, more and more women are active in agricultural activities, including manual weed control and harvesting. Now thousands of women in Kassala are active in vegetable production and processing like drying okra and onions.”
Participants further explained that while there are differences in occupational gender dynamics in different states, in general, women farmers in Sudan face major barriers to agricultural entrepreneurship regardless of location. However, some highlighted ongoing improvements towards gender equality. A female participant in Gadarif had this to say: “Most agricultural land is inherited or assigned by authorities, often excluding women from ownership. However, as more women become active agrifood entrepreneurs, many have purchased farms, and several women’s cooperatives have gained access to these lands.”
Participants in the results dissemination meeting in Gadarif (Photo: Mohamed Abdulmajid/CIMMYT)
War-related challenges to daily business operations
One of the top discussion points at the meetings, was the war-related challenges to participants’ daily business operations.
A male agricultural input dealer in Gadarif noted, “Since the conflict began, prices for agricultural inputs have soared and availability has decreased, leaving us without funding and diminished profits. Many of our customers have exited agriculture and stopped purchasing from us, resulting in significant stagnation. To mitigate the adverse effects of the war on our business, we have sought joint ventures with other dealers to cut operational costs and are looking for funding to revive our operations.”
A female agrifood entrepreneur in Kassala described how internal displacement during the war has strained her business, driven by a sense of obligation to help those most in need “Due to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, hundreds of thousands of displaced people resorted to Kassala state seeking safety and work opportunities. However, the limited housing capacity in the town forced many displaced people to shelter on farms limiting our cultivation activities. As vegetables and fruit producers, we had to give some of our yields freely to these vulnerable displaced people.”
A participant sharing his view during a group discussion in Gadarif (Photo: Mohamed Abdulmajid/CIMMYT)
War-related financial challenges
Participants discussed how the ongoing conflict has impacted access to finance, cash flow, and overall business sustainability. They highlighted several challenges, including the loss of assets, difficulties in accessing loans, and shifts in market dynamics caused by the war. In both Kassala and Gadarif, discussions emphasized the rising prices, which have directly affected their businesses and personal lives.
A common issue raised was the lack of adequate financial assistance, largely due to the suspension of financial aid projects that previously provided grants or microfinance through various institutions. Participants in Kassala proposed forming partnerships with institutions that could offer funding opportunities as a potential solution. Meanwhile, participants in Gadarif suggested creating small savings funds to meet the needs of the most vulnerable by offering credit opportunities within the community.
War-related non-financial challenges
Participants in this group discussed the broader non-financial impacts of the ongoing conflict, focusing on issues such as displacement, lack of infrastructure, and psychological stress. They shared personal experiences and explained how these challenges have negatively impacted business operations and development.
In Kassala, one of the key issues raised was the suspension of education, which has left thousands of students out of school. This directly affected businesses involved in food production and marketing to students. Another major challenge discussed was the increased competition in the labor market, exacerbated by the influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Participants suggested that small NGOs should provide more support to herders and called for government intervention to address the education crisis.
In Gadarif, the group discussed security concerns that have made it difficult to conduct business operations or even move around the area safely. They also noted the strain on basic services due to the influx of IDPs, which has led to overpopulation of the state. As solutions, participants emphasized the need for an end to the conflict, improved security, and better services to address the IDP crisis and strengthen basic infrastructure and social services.
Future business plans and needs
At the results dissemination meetings, agrifood entrepreneurs openly discussed how the ongoing conflict has affected their business expansion plans. As one male participant in Kassala state noted, “Our growth plans have been severely affected by the current economic situation, as many financial institutions are no longer operating, the operational and fuel costs are high, our marketing areas have shrunk, we face competition from new businesses established by displaced people, and public services such as electricity, water, and transportation are under increased demand.”
While most participants agreed that the conflict has created significant challenges, some meeting participants described opportunities that have arisen for local agrifood entrepreneurs during the current civil war in Sudan. For example, some participants described how internally displaced farmers have begun to cultivate in Gadarif and Kassala, creating a moderate demand for agricultural inputs that has benefited agribusinesses. It was also noted that displaced entrepreneurs have started new businesses in the two states, which, in addition to financial and other support from international NGOs, has facilitated the acquisition of new skills and technologies, including solar systems for processing agricultural products. Finally, one participant explained that the conflict has made entrepreneurs become more agile. These observations provide examples of human resilience and document how growth can persist even under the most challenging circumstances.
A participant shares the findings from a group discussion about the Impact of War on Women and Men Agrifood Entrepreneurs Research (Photo: Mohamed Abdulmajid/CIMMYT)
In the sleepy village of Mshewe in Tanzania’s Mbeya District, a group of women is quietly revolutionizing their community through a powerful blend of agricultural entrepreneurship and social transformation. Since its inception in 2010, the Zinduka Women group has grown from a collective of women survivors of gender-based violence to an inspiring force for change that is uplifting families and challenging societal norms.
Empowerment through economic independence is at the heart of their mission, and their name “Zinduka”— a Swahili word meaning “to wake up, come to one’s senses, or gain consciousness,”—aptly describes the group’s journey. Supported by the Southern Africa Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative (AID-I) project, these women have moved beyond the shadows of their past to redefine their future. Today, they stand as role models, not only in agriculture but as champions of women’s empowerment.
From Beans to Big Dreams
Since their inception in 2010, the women of Zinduka have faced the challenges of limited yields and outdated farming methods. Taking a leap of faith, they sought out partnerships that could provide them with the necessary tools and training. Collaborating with the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the women embarked on an ambitious two-year journey of modern agricultural training, transforming their humble bean farm into a scalable, profitable venture. By adopting improved seed varieties like the Zinc and iron-rich Jesca beans, the group saw their yields soar from 120 kg to over 500 kg per hectare—a testament to the power of education and perseverance.
Witness Kayanga, the group’s chairperson, recalls the turning point for the women of Zinduka: ‘We realized that to break the cycle of poverty and oppression, we needed more than just hard work; we needed knowledge and resources. That’s when things started to change.’
Innovation Meets Empowerment
With support from USAID, through CIMMYT’s AID-I project, the Zinduka Women’s Group has made remarkable progress. Today, 11 of the 38 group members are Quality Declared Seed (QDS) producers, enabling them to contribute to local food security by producing high-quality seeds while also generating a sustainable income. The group has also received a production machine that has significantly improved their efficiency. When not in use by the group, the machine is rented out to others in the community, creating an additional revenue stream.
The group’s association with NMB Bank has given them access to credit facilities that have strengthened their financial position. Furthermore, the acquisition of a digital weighing scale has brought much-needed precision to their work. These developments have enabled them to expand their business, and the impact is visible not only in their increased earnings but also in their confidence. One group member proudly shared, ‘We used to face heavy losses as some traders exploited us by using tampered tins, causing us to sell more grain for less. Now, we are more than just farmers; we are businesswomen.’
This support has empowered the Zinduka Women’s Group to not only improve their agricultural output but also elevate their standing in the community as businesswomen.
Recognizing the untapped potential for value-added products, they began producing bean flour, cakes, and pastries, which quickly gained popularity in their village and beyond. Bean flour has emerged as a healthier, more nutritious alternative, leading to an increase in demand within Mshewe. As part of their forward-thinking approach, the Zinduka Women’s Group is now exploring the introduction of premium packaging for their high-zinc and iron-rich Jesca beans. This differentiation will enable them to command higher prices in the market, further increasing their profitability and sustainability.
The group still needs more support in terms of access to capital and mechanization, as their production scale increases and so does their reliance on equipment and market linkages. Efficiently matching seed supply with market demand remains critical to avoid the risk of selling valuable seed stocks as regular grain. Nonetheless, their progress is a testament to how access to training, tools, and financial services can transform the lives of smallholder farmers and strengthen local food systems.
Beyond Agriculture: A Beacon for Women’s Rights
While the Zinduka Women Group’s agricultural success is impressive, it is their role as advocates for gender equality that truly sets them apart. Most members have overcome significant personal trauma, using their economic success as a shield against future abuse. The group’s work is now seen as a model for integrating gender empowerment into rural development.
Not only are they transforming their own lives, but they are actively mentoring other women and youth in the region, amplifying their impact. Their success has attracted attention from various organizations, keen to replicate their model of combining agricultural innovation with social change.
A Future Built on Partnership and Hope
USAID’s support has unlocked a future of potential for the women’s group. By equipping them with the tools to succeed in agriculture and beyond, the foundation has been laid for sustainable growth, not only for the Zinduka Women’s Group but for the entire community.
South Asia, a region heavily impacted by climate change, faces rising temperatures, erratic monsoon rains causing intermittent drought and excessive moisture within the season, and frequent episodes of heat waves. These extreme weather events are challenging agrarian practices and affecting millions, especially smallholder farmers dependent upon rainfed cultivations. The halcyon days of consistent environmental conditions are gone, and adaptation and mitigation strategies have become essential in South Asia.
In May 2024, over 20 districts in the Terai region of Nepal and many parts of northern India recorded maximum temperatures between 40°C and 45°C, with several districts also experiencing heat waves during the same period. The temperature rise is not limited to the lowland plains; the effects are also being felt in the mountains, where rapid snowmelt is becoming increasingly common. In the Hindu Kush Himalayas region of Pakistan, farmers have had to shift their cropping cycles by a month to cope with drought stress caused by rising temperatures, which are leading to the early melting of snow in the region.
Partners in South Asia visiting heat stress tolerant hybrids demonstration in Nepal (Photo: CIMMYT-Nepal)
Collaborating to rise above the challenge
Amid the growing climate crisis, the Heat Stress Tolerant Maize for Asia (HTMA) project was launched by CIMMYT in 2012, with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Feed the Future initiative of the U.S. Government. The overarching goal of the HTMA project was to help farm families, particularly maize growers, to adapt to the impacts of soaring heat on maize productivity in South Asia. The project was implemented in partnership with 28 public and private sector stakeholders across the region and beyond to develop a multipronged approach to overcoming these challenges.
“Our aim is to develop and deploy maize hybrids with high yield potential and possess traits resilient to heat and drought stresses,” said P.H. Zaidi, Principal Scientist, and HTMA project lead at CIMMYT. Zaidi noted that during heat stress “high temperatures alone are not the only limiting factor- it is the combination of high temperature with low atmospheric humidity (high vapor pressure deficit), that creates a “killer combination” for maize production in the Asian tropics.”
This was also emphasized in a recently published article that he co-authored.
The development of heat stress-tolerant maize involves the use of cutting-edge breeding tools and methods, including genomics-assisted breeding, double haploidy, field-based precision phenotyping, and trait-based selection. Over 20 such hybrids have been officially released in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Bhutan. Between 2023 and 2024, over 2,500 metric tons of seed from these hybrids were distributed to farmers, helping them beat the heat.
Agile partnerships-from discovery to scaling
The first phase of the project (2012-2017) focused on discovering heat-tolerant maize varieties. During this time, pipeline products underwent field evaluations in stress-prone environments, leveraging the project’s product evaluation network of public and private partners, who contributed by managing trials and generating performance data. In the second phase (2018-2023), the focus shifted toward the deployment and scaling of heat-tolerant hybrids and strengthening seed systems in target countries to enable large-scale delivery, benefiting millions of farm families, particularly in South Asia’s rainfed ecologies. For example, the seed produced in 2023-2024 sufficed to cover over 125,000 hectares and benefited nearly 2.5 million people in the region.
HTMA project partners gathered in Nepal for the annual and project closure meeting (Photo-CIMMYT-Nepal)
Hailu Tefera, from USAID, praised the project’s success during the annual review and project closure meeting held in Nepal from August 21-22, 2024. “We have seen great strides in scaling heat stress tolerant hybrids in the region. This initiative aligns with the US Government’s Global Food Security Strategy, where building farmers’ resilience to shocks and climate vulnerability is central,” said Tefera, acknowledging the adaptive and agile partnership demonstrated by the project’s partners throughout HTMA’s discovery and scaling phases.
One of the project’s key achievements was creating a multi-stakeholder platform and leveraging resources across the region. Partners, including national agricultural research systems, seed companies, and higher learning institutes, expanded the project’s impact. “The collaboration we fostered under the HTMA project is a working example of effective partnerships,” said B.M. Prasanna, Director of CIMMYT’s Global Maize Program. He highlighted how synergies with other developmental projects in the region, especially projects supported by the USAID country mission in Nepal helped launch local hybrid seed production, transforming the country from a net importer of hybrid maize seeds to producing locally in just a few years, and such seeds of resilience cover nearly 10,000 hectares in 2023/24 alone. Using heat tolerant (HT) maize seed allows smallholder farmers to harvest nearly one metric ton per hectare additional yield than normal maize under stress conditions.
The value of the seed these new hybrids was validated by adopter farmers who grow maize in stress-vulnerable ecologies by expressing their willingness to pay a premium price for HT hybrid seed as per the study conducted in Nepal and India. “The spillover effect of the project is helping countries like Bhutan to strengthen their seed systems and initiate hybrid seed production for the first time,” added Prasanna, expressing gratitude to USAID and all project partners.
The salient achievements of the project, including technical know-how, outputs, outcomes, and learnings were compiled as an infographic, titled “HTML Tool‘‘ and it was formally released by Narahari Prasad Ghimire, Director General of the Department of Agriculture, Government of Nepal, during the HTMA meeting in Nepal.
Rewarding achievement
Subash Raj Upadhyay, Managing Director of Lumbini Seed Company in Nepal, recalls the early days of producing heat stress-tolerant hybrid maize seed in Nepal, which began in 2018. “Our journey started with just one hectare of seed production in 2018 and 2019, and we expanded to 30 hectares by 2022. This was the first time that we started hybrid maize seed production in Nepal, specifically RH-10, a heat stress tolerant hybrid from CIMMYT, released by the National Maize Research Program of Nepal. The support of USAID’s projects like the Nepal seed and fertilizer project was crucial for our success,” said Upadhyay, who was among the award recipients for setting a potent example in scaling up heat stress-tolerant hybrids.
HTMA TOOL- an infographic launched during the meeting (Photo-CIMMYT Nepal)
In addition to Lumbini Seed Company, Jullundur Seed Private Limited Company in Pakistan was also recognized for its efforts in seed scaling. The National Maize Research Program of Nepal and the University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, India, were acknowledged for their rewarding achievement in research and development during the project period.
“The recognition exemplifies the public-private partnership that we demonstrated under the HTMA project, where the public sector mainly focused on strategic research and product development, and seed companies took charge of seed delivery and scaling,” said Zaidi during the project’s phaseout meeting in Nepal, attended by over 60 participants from the project’s target and spillover countries. “Such partnership models need to be strengthened and replicated in other projects. It is important to consolidate the gains and maintain the momentum of the HTMA project in the years to come to benefit millions of smallholder farmers,” echoed Prasanna, who presented certificates of recognition to the partners in the presence of USAID representatives, senior government officials from Nepal and project partners from South Asia and beyond.
As Southern Africa faces unprecedented drought conditions CIMMYT continues to lead efforts in reducing the devastating impact of extreme weather. Through its role as a partnership convener, CIMMYT has brought together climate change advisories and climate-smart agriculture to empower farmers, who are demonstrating incredible resilience by continuing to produce food for their families and communities.
“The current climate crisis highlights the urgency of scaling resilient agricultural practices. At CIMMYT, we believe that empowering farmers to adopt drought-tolerant crops and sustainable methods is essential to securing food systems and ensuring communities can weather the challenges ahead,” said Bram Govaerts, Director General of CIMMYT.
By strengthening seed systems and applying global best practices, CIMMYT has empowered farmers across Zambia and Malawi to adapt to drought, ensuring nutritional security and improved livelihoods. The adoption of innovations, including conservation agriculture and resilient legume systems, is increasing farmers’ resilience and buffering against future shocks.
Strengthening Early-Warning Systems
CIMMYT has expanded access to early-warning systems and climate advisories through the GROWSMART campaign, which has reached over 1 million farmers in Zambia and Malawi. Through a network of digital champions and voice-activated advisories accessible via simple mobile phones, CIMMYT has provided critical, real-time information. This has enabled farmers to plan more effectively, reducing crop losses and optimizing planting schedules in response to changing weather patterns.
Scaling Resilient Solutions
CIMMYT has strengthened private sector and civil society partnerships to significantly expand the production of climate-resilient legumes, which were harvested early to provide nutritious food. In combination with maize hybrids like SC 555 and Ntondo (MH35), these legume systems have improved the food security of over 700,000 smallholder farmers.
Moving forward, CIMMYT plans to expand seed systems further, aiming to support the adoption of game-changing crops and conservation agriculture by the end of 2025. This expansion will provide farmers with the tools needed to mitigate the impacts of unpredictable weather patterns, ensuring food security in the face of persistent droughts.
Empowering Women and Youth in Agriculture
Recognizing the vital roles that women and youth play in agriculture, CIMMYT has prioritized gender-sensitive training programs and access to financing for women farmers, who comprise 78% of Zambia’s agricultural workforce. In Malawi, youth-focused initiatives, such as the LUANAR Agribusiness Hub, are helping young agro-entrepreneurs adopt climate-resilient farming methods. These efforts are not only boosting food production but also driving economic empowerment.
Climate-Resilient Maize and Legume Systems: A Lifeline for Farmers
CIMMYT’s Southern Africa Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative (AID-I)as part of the USAID Feed the Future investments has played a key role in providing smallholder farmers access to drought-tolerant maize hybrids like SC 555 in Zambia and Ntondo (MH35) in Malawi. These hybrids, combined with legume systems such as groundnut and pigeonpea, are designed to thrive under extreme weather conditions, improving soil health and ensuring profitable, nutritionally secure cropping systems.
In Zambia, the SC 555 maize hybrid has shown exceptional resilience during the 2023-2024 season. Farmers like Mr. Chizela from Chinwe Mpongwe, who faced a six-week dry spell, have harvested abundantly despite the drought, ensuring food security and income stability. Similarly, in Malawi, the Ntondo (MH35) hybrid has demonstrated remarkable drought tolerance at Msunga Farm, with yields of up to 4.37 tons per hectare—far exceeding those of non-drought-resistant varieties.
Building for the Future
CIMMYT’s ongoing research and innovation efforts are focused on developing even more resilient maize and legume varieties to withstand both drought and extreme temperatures. Set for release by 2025, these new varieties will offer farmers sustainable, high-yield solutions to address the growing threat of climate change.
About CIMMYT
CIMMYT is a cutting-edge, nonprofit, international organization dedicated to solving tomorrow’s problems today. It is entrusted with fostering improved quantity, quality, and dependability of production systems and basic cereals such as maize, wheat, triticale, sorghum, millets, and associated crops through applied agricultural science, particularly in the Global South, building strong partnerships. This combination enhances the livelihood trajectories and resilience of millions of resource-poor farmers while working toward a more productive, inclusive, and resilient agrifood system within planetary boundaries.
CIMMYT is a core CGIAR Research Center, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources.
Ceremony for the awarding of an honorary doctorate to Dr. Bram Govaerts of CIMMYT. (Photo: Richa Puri / BISA)
During a formal ceremony at Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology (CSA) in Kanpur, India, Bram Govaerts, CIMMYT Director General, was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor Honoris Causa. This prestigious honor not only recognizes Govaerts’ outstanding career but also highlights CIMMYT’s innovative and collaborative work on behalf of global food security, a joint effort that impacts millions of farmers and communities around the world.
Upon receiving the recognition, Govaerts dedicated it to the entire CIMMYT team, emphasizing, “This honor is a testament to the tireless work of my colleagues and collaborators at CIMMYT, who, through science and innovation, are contributing to food and nutrition security in key regions such as India and South Asia.” He further noted that this Honorary Doctorate symbolizes the global commitment of CIMMYT and Mexico in addressing the agricultural and climate challenges that threaten food production.
This recognition also underscores the strong agricultural partnership between Mexico and India, a collaboration that has saved millions of lives. This alliance dates back to the Green Revolution, led by Norman Borlaug, who introduced wheat varieties developed in Mexico that allowed India to double its agricultural output and avert a catastrophic famine in the 1960s.
Ceremony for the awarding of an honorary doctorate to Dr. Bram Govaerts of CIMMYT. (Photo: Richa Puri / BISA)
Today, CIMMYT continues to be a vital partner for India, developing maize and wheat varieties that are resilient to extreme climate conditions and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. The Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA), established in 2011 as a collaboration between CIMMYT and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), is a testament to the progress made through international collaboration. BISA has played a critical role in strengthening India’s agri-food systems, improving the livelihoods of millions of farmers, and contributing to environmental restoration in the region.
Beyond commercial ties, scientific collaboration between Mexico and India has been a cornerstone of agricultural improvements in both countries. India, the world’s second-most populous country, faces significant food production challenges, many of which mirror Mexico’s struggles, such as soil degradation and the effects of climate change. Thanks to CIMMYT’s collaboration with Indian institutions, critical advances have been made to address these challenges, paving the way for more resilient and sustainable agriculture.
The honorary doctorate awarded to Bram Govaerts not only recognizes his leadership but also the transformative impact of CIMMYT and its partners in improving the lives of millions of people around the world. Govaerts said, “This award reflects the strength of international scientific collaboration and the power of science to change the world.”
With food insecurity affecting 733 million people worldwide, the need for solutions is urgent as World Food Day draws near. CIMMYT’s leadership in promoting sustainable agricultural systems is exemplified by Sieglinde Snapp, Director of the Sustainable Agrifood Systems Program, who emphasizes the role of biodiversity in building resilient food systems. By encouraging the use of resilient crops like millet and sorghum, CIMMYT is working to improve soil health and enhance farmers’ livelihoods, especially in regions like sub-Saharan Africa. Empowering women and ensuring smallholder farmers have access to resources are key elements in transforming global food systems, a cause CIMMYT is deeply invested in.
Rice is a critical staple for food security and a key export crop for India. The study published in Nature Communications explores context-specific pathways for increasing rice production in India, focusing on sustainable intensification — boosting yields without harming the environment or farm profitability.
The research analyzed over 15,000 field records across seven major rice-producing states in India using advanced machine learning techniques. The study identified nitrogen application and irrigation as key factors limiting yields, particularly in Eastern India (Bihar and Uttar Pradesh). By targeting farms with nitrogen and irrigation deficiencies, the study projects that yield gains could more than triple compared to general recommendations. Specifically, farms suffering from co-limitation by both nitrogen and irrigation could see the most significant gains in productivity and profitability.
Four scenarios for sustainable intensification were evaluated, ranging from blanket application of current nitrogen recommendations to highly targeted interventions. The analysis showed that targeted strategies, focusing on farms with the greatest yield constraints, could significantly improve nitrogen use efficiency and result in greater yields and profitability without excessive resource use.
The study highlights the potential of data-driven, context-specific solutions for rice intensification in India, emphasizing that targeted interventions could offer both higher returns for farmers and better environmental sustainability. It suggests a move away from “one-size-fits-all” approaches towards more precise, farm-specific recommendations based on local conditions and data. This approach could help close yield gaps while aligning with sustainable development goals.
In the heart of Ndeini village in Machakos County—a region in Kenya known for unpredictable weather and difficult farming conditions—farmer Festus Muthoka’s story is a testament to resilience and innovation. Festus transformed his livelihood by making strategic crop choices and adopting new pigeon pea varieties, resulting in higher yields and incomes.
“When I couldn’t find a job in Nairobi, I returned to the countryside and realized that the fields held more potential for me,” said Festus. For seven years, he had been growing maize, beans, and local pigeon pea, but inconsistent rainfall made it difficult to achieve the desired yields. Pigeon pea offered new hope, particularly when Festus discovered the new variety ‘Mituki.’
Festus Muthoka, a pigeon pea farmer in Machakos County, shows one of his pigeon pea crops on his farm. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
Mituki as a gamechanger
Unlike traditional pigeon pea, which takes up to nine months to mature, the Mituki variety matures in four and a half months and can be harvested two to three times a year. “The first year, I planted three lines of Mituki and saw its potential. It is more profitable to sell pigeon pea when it is green. This variety stays green for a long time, and the demand, especially in local hotels, is very high. I sold it for a good profit,” said Festus.
Now in his third year of cultivating Mituki, Festus has expanded his farm to 4-5 acres with plans to increase it to 10 acres in the next planting season. The financial gains have been substantial. “For my first harvest, I made over US $1,500 by selling green pigeon pea. Even after harvesting, the crop remains lush, allowing ongoing sales,” he said.
Festus’s story shows the importance of pigeon pea as an opportunity crop that meets the needs of farmers in challenging environments as well as in challenging economic times. Rael Karimi, a researcher and breeder at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) in Katumani, played a key role in developing the Mituki variety. “When I first started working on the pigeon pea breeding program, we identified a gap in the local varieties, which took a whole year to mature. The commercial short-duration variety, which matures in three months, had small pods and grain, therefore not acceptable to farmers. Farmers needed early- to medium-maturing varieties with market- and farmer-preferred traits, such as larger grains and pods for ease of shelling for green vegetables. This resulted in the development and release of the Mituki variety in 2018,” she said.
Festus Muthoka harvests the pigeon pea pods on his farm. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
The development and promotion of new pigeon pea varieties involve extensive testing and active farmer participation. “We conducted on-station trials, followed by on-farm testing with farmers to ensure the varieties had the farmer-preferred traits. The Mituki variety is a medium-duration variety, giving two harvests per year, making it very popular among farmers,” Karimi added.
Creating awareness during field days
Promoting new varieties is equally important as developing them. “It’s one thing to release a variety but another to ensure promotion and popularization. If you release it and put it on the shelves, farmers will not be aware that a better variety is available,“ said Rael. This is where on-farm demonstrations and field days are crucial.
Field days are critical in ensuring that new, improved varieties reach the farmers who require them the most, bridging the gap between varietal development and practical application in the field. They also emphasize the importance of using high-quality seeds rather than recycled seeds, which often come with significant challenges.
A field day held in July in Ndeini village effectively raised awareness among numerous farmers about the benefits of the Mituki variety and how it can provide two harvests per year compared to their long-duration local varieties, which only give one harvest in a year.
Rael Karimi, a researcher and breeder at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) in Katumani, engages with farmers during the pigeon pea farmers field day in Machakos County. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
Seed purity for improved yields
Chris Ojiewo, seed systems lead for the Dryland Crops program at CIMMYT, emphasizes the importance of maintaining seed purity and good farming practices. “Farmers often recycle seeds for years, resulting in cross-pollination and loss of desirable traits. We encourage them to regularly buy new seeds, which ensures high yield and disease resistance. With support from CIMMYT and the Accelerated Varietal Improvement and Seed Systems in Africa (AVISA) Project, we are now able to produce and distribute quality seeds to farmers,” he said.
Chris highlighted the challenges of recycling seeds. Genetic impurity is a significant concern due to pigeon pea outcrossing. It prevents such grains from entering the formal value chain and, as a result, reduces farmer profits. Additionally, recycled seeds may accumulate diseases and pests, diminishing crop health. Stored seeds can also have low germination capacity and vigor, leading to poor crop performance.
To address these issues, Chris advocates for behavior change communications to educate farmers on the benefits of using pure seeds. Linking farmers to formal seed value chains ensures that they understand the financial incentives of using pure seeds. Moreover, improving the production, availability, affordability, and timely supply of quality seeds can prevent the need for recycling.
Collaborative efforts in pigeon pea breeding
Ganga Rao, a pigeon pea breeder with the Dryland Crops program, explains how CIMMYT provides support to both farmers and researchers. “CIMMYT has been instrumental in advancing pigeon pea breeding programs by providing technical support and resources. We collaborate closely with local researchers at KALRO to ensure that the new varieties are tailored to the specific needs and conditions of the farmers,” he said.
Through the collaborative efforts of the pigeon pea CGIAR-NARES network, CIMMYT, under the AVISA project, has supported KALRO in producing pigeon pea seed for the Mituki variety. The promotion of this seed used small seed packets of 200g. This approach created demand for the new variety, with many farmers purchasing the seed ahead of the short rains 2024 cropping season. This is an indication that farmers are willing to buy certified seeds when they are made aware of improved varieties that offer both farmer- and market-preferred traits.
Ganga emphasized the importance of continuous improvement and farmer engagement. “Our goal is to develop varieties that are high yielding and resilient to climate stresses and diseases. Through on-farm trials and demonstrations, farmers provide us with valuable feedback, which informs our breeding programs. This collaborative approach ensures that the varieties we release meet the market demands and preferences,” he added.
Farmers and community members purchase the Mituki seeds during the farmers field day. (Photo: Ganga Rao/CIMMYT)
Ganga emphasized the importance of continuous improvement and farmer engagement. “Our goal is to develop varieties that are high yielding and resilient to climate stresses and diseases. Through on-farm trials and demonstrations, farmers provide us with valuable feedback which informs our breeding programs. This collaborative approach ensures that the varieties we release meet the market demands and preferences,” he added.
The future of pigeon pea is bright
Festus’s success with Mituki variety demonstrates the potential of strategic crop selection and good agricultural practices. “I now see pigeon pea as a major agro-enterprise for food security and as a significant source of income. The market demand for green pigeon pea is high, and with proper seed management farmers can sustain and improve their livelihoods,” Festus concluded.
Looking ahead, Karimi is optimistic that more farmers will adopt this new variety. “The future for pigeon pea is bright. We aim to have farmers producing throughout the year, meeting the high market demands and ensuring food security. By aggregating their produce, this will ensure adequate tradable volume which helps farmers negotiate for better prices and achieve greater financial stability,” she said.
Ganga added, “CIMMYT’s ongoing support in seed production and farmer training is crucial. We are committed to empowering farmers with the knowledge and resources they need to maximize their yields and improve their livelihoods. Pigeon pea has the potential to transform the agricultural landscape in dryland regions.”
Ganga Rao, a pigeon pea breeder with the Dryland Crops program in CIMMYT interacts with farmers during the farmers field day in Machakos. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
As Festus prepares to expand his farm and continue his journey, his story serves as an inspiration to many farmers in Ndeini and beyond. With support and innovations in crop breeding, farmerssuch as Festus are not only surviving but thriving, turning challenges into opportunities and paving the way for a prosperous future in agriculture.
Gogo Consilia Nyamunda in her pigeon pea field (CIMMYT)
When she first ventured into growing pigeon peas as a baby trial host farmer, Gogo Consilia Nyamunda doubted that intercropping them with maize would bring any benefits, especially given the weather had not been lenient over the past few years in Buhera district, in eastern Zimbabwe. “This year has been the hardest. I’ve never experienced such drought and heat stress, but it’s not just me—it’s affecting the entire country,” says Gogo Consilia. Yet, her production turned out to be better than that of farmers growing only maize, a popular crop in Southern Africa. Encouraged by the results, she expanded her efforts, dedicating half a hectare to pigeon peas. “From just 0.2 hectares of pigeon peas, I still managed to harvest 10 kilograms in these extremely dry conditions. It’s not just for feeding my chickens—other farmers are now interested in the seeds as well,” she explains.
In the face of a changing climate, building the resilience of local farmers is crucial to safeguarding both their meal baskets and livestock feed. In this context, LIPS Zimbabwe has emerged as a strategic initiative, deeply rooted in farmer-driven trials to scale fodder production while maximizing the potential of mechanization for smallholder farmers in Buhera. By integrating improved agronomic practices with scalable fodder production, LIPS Zimbabwe is helping farmers withstand the challenges posed by climate change.
Empowering local farmers through fodder production
In the same district, Shirley Makoni also began as a baby trial farmer, intercropping maize with jack bean, a leguminous crop resilient to drought. Her case highlights the importance of diversifying crops and adapting to the realities of climate change: despite initial skepticism, Shirley found that jack beans not only survived the drought but also provided valuable feed for her cows. “I didn’t think anything would come out of it, but the cows love the leaves and seeds. They’ve gained weight, and the crop has been easy to manage,” she shares. While her maize and other crops failed due to the severe weather, jack bean proved to be a reliable source of feed, allowing her to bale the leaves and even share the harvest with others.
Shirley Makoni proudly holds her jack bean hay bale (CIMMYT)
One of the key strategies employed by LIPS Zimbabwe is the promotion of resilient fodder crops that can thrive under harsh climatic, semi-arid conditions where potential evapotranspiration far exceeds seasonal rainfall, which is often below 600 mm. This approach not only ensures a reliable source of feed for livestock but also contributes to the overall resilience of farming systems. The success story of farmers like Gogo Consilia Nyamunda highlights the transformative impact of these efforts.
“The idea of testing new innovations has paid off. Despite the poor sandy soils in Buhera, these fodder crops (jack bean and pigeon pea) have done well!” says Isaiah Nyagumbo, a Systems Agronomist leading the CIMMYT component of the LIPS-Zim project. “This means we now have a more diverse range of leguminous fodder crop species that can be grown in these semi-arid conditions, apart from the more common ones such as mucuna, lablab, and cowpeas.”
Some preliminary laboratory results also suggest that jack bean contains much higher crude protein than popular fodder legumes like mucuna. Jack bean could thus offer a new resilient feed option for farmers in these drought-prone regions and can be grown as an intercrop or in rotation with cereals.
Transforming fodder production through mechanization
Tying the LIPS Zimbabwe project together is the introduction of the mechanization component, from planting to processing the fodder crops, which is crucial for increasing the scale of fodder production in Zimbabwe’s semi-arid regions. By processing forage legumes such as jack bean, lablab, pigeon pea, mucuna, and cowpea, farmers can ensure a steady supply of nutritious feed for their livestock, even in the face of unpredictable weather patterns.
Local farmers in Buhera have been equipped with machinery such as a chopper grinder, hay balers, planters, and tractors, and trained to use and maintain the equipment. “Among the machinery at hand, the hay baler has been a great win for me, especially for the cows,” says Gandani Nhachi. “Last season, I made 27 bales of fodder, which has been vital for my herd. I’ve also grown my goat herd from 16 last year to 35 this year,” he proudly shares.
Building resilience for the future
As climate change continues to challenge farmers, initiatives like LIPS Zimbabwe are essential for building resilience. By combining traditional knowledge with modern practices, scaling fodder production, and embracing mechanization, farmers in Buhera are better equipped to protect their livelihoods and ensure food security. As Gandani puts it, “Climate change is inevitable, but with the right practices, we can still thrive. When I give my goats food, they multiply. Even if one side fails, all hope is not lost.”
Partners at the AID-I exhibition booth (Photo: CIMMYT)
In Tanzania, the first week of August is all about agriculture. From August 1 to 8, agricultural fairs, also known as Nane Nanefairs, are held all over the country to recognize the contribution of farmers to the national economy. ‘Nane Nane’ in the local language means ‘eight eight,’ referring to August 8, which is celebrated as Farmers Day in the country.
Organized by the Agricultural Society of Tanzania, these fairs serve as a landmark event for agricultural stakeholders across the region. This year, the 31st edition of the fair was organized at the Nzuguni grounds in Dodoma. It saw 500 exhibitors, including smallholder farmers, agricultural enterprises, public and private sector entities, and government officials.
Themed ‘Embrace Visionary Leadership for Agricultural Transformation,’ the event emphasized the need for leadership commitment to sustainable agriculture, while highlighting the critical role of agriculture in Tanzania’s economic growth and food security.
TheSouthern Africa Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative (AID-I), funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by CIMMYT, along with several partners, played a prominent role at this year’s fair. In addition to raising awareness of the innovative work being done, the fair provided a platform for AID-I and its partners to showcase a range of innovative agricultural technologies designed to address the specific needs of Tanzanian farmers. The event also enabled AID-I and its partners to interact directly with farmers and entrepreneurs, resulting in valuable feedback.
Celebrating the Success of AID-I Beneficiaries at Nane Nane
The Nane Nane fair was more than just a display of agricultural technologies. It was also a celebration of the successes of local entrepreneurs who had benefited from AID-I’s support.
Among them was Sarah Mashauri, an entrepreneur from the Tabora region, who ventured into the business world by producing and selling maize flour, both wholesale and retail. Starting with only one sack of maize and a loan of 100,000 Tanzanian shillings (approximately US$36), Sarah faced numerous obstacles, including regulatory challenges that resulted in the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority confiscating her items. The AID-I project recognized her potential and resilience. She was equipped with a milling and dehulling machine, which significantly improved her business. “Before the AID-I project came into my life, I was struggling on my own,” she said. “The support, coupled with the extensive training they provided, enabled me to scale up my operations. I went from employing seven people to 35, and my business expanded significantly. I am now able to source raw materials easily from small-scale farmers, thanks to the networks and training provided by AID-I.”
Agatha Laiza, managing director of Seasoning Palate, a food products company operating under the brand name Tobi Product in Dar es Salaam, is another entrepreneur who benefited from AID-I’s support. Agatha specializes in peanut butter, crunchy nuts, and peanut oil. Her journey began in 1996 with a focus on food product processing. She later realized the potential in peanut production and shifted to adding value to peanuts, while also addressing the critical issue of aflatoxin contamination. With support from AID-I, Agatha was able to build solar dryers for farmers and provide them with high-quality seeds, significantly reducing the risk of aflatoxin in their crops. “The support from USAID, CIMMYT, and AID-I has been invaluable,” Agatha said. “They have helped us build confidence among our farmers, reducing ground nut loss and ensuring safe, quality produce. Our factory, which can process up to three tons of peanuts daily, now operates more efficiently and our products are safer and more reliable.”
Aithan Chaula, executive director of the Dodoma Agriculture Seed Production Association (DASPA), also benefited from the AID-I project’s support. Since beginning pigeon pea production in 2022, DASPA saw substantial growth in demand for pigeon pea seeds, partnering with ALSSEM, a local seed production company.
DASPA expanded its operations to produce quality declared seeds (QDS) and certified seeds, catering to a growing market. Aithan attributed their success to the strategic support from AID-I and partnerships with organizations such as CIMMYT and ALSSEM. “The collaboration allowed us to expand our production capabilities and reach more farmers across various regions,” he said. DASPA is currently working with approximately 20,000 farmers and plans to increase this number by distributing small seed packs and conducting field demonstrations.
“This year at Nane Nane, we were able to distribute small packs of pigeon pea seeds to approximately 1,200 farmers to plant and farm,” said Aithan. “This effort, supported by AID-I, ensures that pigeon pea cultivation becomes well-known and widely adopted by farmers, contributing to both food security and income generation.”
The U.SA Ambassador to Tanzania interacting with exhibitors at the AID-I exhibition booth (Photo: CIMMYT)
Dr. Michael A. Battle Sr., the United States Ambassador to Tanzania, paid a visit to the AID-I exhibition booth. He engaged with AID-I representatives and the exhibitors, praising their innovative efforts to advance climate-smart agriculture and enhance food security. “It’s a joy to be participating in Nane Nane, particularly because USAID is interested in assisting Tanzania not only to become food secure but also to help with East Africa’s food security and ultimately the continent’s food security,” said Ambassador Battle Sr. He added that it was fulfilling to see the entire value chain of agriculture and agribusiness involving young people and old people engaged in the process of making Tanzania wealthier and more food secure.
For AID-I and its partners, the fair was a crucial opportunity to highlight ongoing initiatives and foster new partnerships. Peter Setimela, the Legume Seed Systems lead for AID-I, emphasized the importance of such events. “Our work in accelerating innovative technologies and ensuring they reach the farmers is reliant on strong partnerships. We bring these technologies to farmers by strengthening local seed systems, connecting farmers to financial services and products, and providing advisory services,” he said.
