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Dinke Abebe shows a handful of wheat at a traditional seed storage house in Boru Lencha village, Hetosa district, Arsi highlands, Ethiopia. (Photo: Peter Lowe/CIMMYT)

New publications: Gender and agricultural innovation in Oromia region, Ethiopia

Written by Emma Orchardson on . Posted in Publications.

Despite formal decentralization, agricultural services in Ethiopia are generally “top-down,” claim the authors of a recently published paper on gender and agricultural innovation. “Extension services,” they explain, “are supply-driven, with off-the-shelf technologies transferred to farmers without expectation of further adaptation.”

Drawing on GENNOVATE case studies from two wheat-growing communities in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, the authors examine how a small sample of women and men smallholders attempt to innovate with improved wheat seed, row planting, and the broad bed maker, introduced through the Ethiopian agricultural extension system. They also introduce the concept of tempered radicals, an analytic lens used to understand how individuals try to initiate change processes, and assess whether this can have validity in rural settings.

Dinke Abebe shows a handful of wheat at a traditional seed storage house in Boru Lencha village, Hetosa district, Arsi highlands, Ethiopia. (Photo: Peter Lowe/CIMMYT)
Dinke Abebe shows a handful of wheat at a traditional seed storage house in Boru Lencha village, Hetosa district, Arsi highlands, Ethiopia. (Photo: Peter Lowe/CIMMYT)

As the authors demonstrate through their literature review on cultural norms in the region, there are powerful institutional gender constraints to change processes, which can be punitive for women.

Ethiopian women smallholders are particularly disadvantaged because they have limited access to productive assets such as irrigation water, credit and extension services. Therefore, they find it harder to implement innovations. The study asserts that strategies to support innovators, and women innovators in particular, must be context-specific as well as gender-sensitive.

Read the full article “Gender and agricultural innovation in Oromia region, Ethiopia: from innovator to tempered radical” in Gender, Technology and Development.

Development of research methodology and data collection was supported by the CGIAR Gender and Agricultural Research Network, the World Bank, the Government of Mexico, the Government of Germany, and the CGIAR Research Programs on Maize and Wheat. Data analysis was supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Check out other recent publications by CIMMYT researchers below:

  1. Alternative use of wheat land to implement a potential wheat holiday as wheat blast control: in search of feasible crops in Bangladesh. 2019. Mottaleb, K.A., Singh, P.K., Xinyao He, Akbar Hossain, Kruseman, G., Erenstein, O. In: Land Use Policy v. 82, p. 1-12.
  2. Applications of machine learning methods to genomic selection in breeding wheat for rust resistance. 2019. González-Camacho, J.M., Ornella, L., Perez-Rodriguez, P., Gianola, D., Dreisigacker, S., Crossa, J. In: Plant Genome v. 11, no. 2, art. 170104.
  3. Genetic diversity and population structure of synthetic hexaploid-derived wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) accessions. 2019. Gordon, E., Kaviani, M., Kagale, S., Payne, T.S., Navabi, A. In: Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution v. 66, no. 2, p. 335-348.
  4. Genomic-enabled prediction accuracies increased by modeling genotype × environment interaction in durum wheat. 2019. Sukumaran, S., Jarquín, D., Crossa, J., Reynolds, M.P. In: Plant Genome v. 11, no. 2, art. 170112.
  5. Improved water-management practices and their impact on food security and poverty: empirical evidence from rural Pakistan. 2019. Ali, A., Rahut, D.B., Mottaleb, K.A. En: Official Journal of the World Water Council Water Policy v. 20, no. 4, p. 692-711.
  6. Integrating genomic-enabled prediction and high-throughput phenotyping in breeding for climate-resilient bread wheat. 2019. Juliana, P., Montesinos-Lopez, O.A., Crossa, J., Mondal, S., Gonzalez-Perez, L., Poland, J., Huerta-Espino, J., Crespo-Herrera, L.A., Velu, G., Dreisigacker, S., Shrestha, S., Perez-Rodriguez, P., Pinto Espinosa, F., Singh, R.P. In: Theoretical and Applied Genetics v. 132, no. 1, p. 177-194.
  7. Pre-harvest management is a critical practice for minimizing aflatoxin contamination of maize. 2019. Mahuku, G., Nzioki, H., Mutegi, C., Kanampiu, F., Narrod, C., Makumbi, D. In: Food Control v. 96, p. 219-226.
  8. Root-lesion nematodes in cereal fields: importance, distribution, identification, and management strategies. 2019. Mokrini, F., Viaene, N., Waeyenberge, L., Dababat, A.A., Moens, M. In: Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection v. 126, no. 1, p. 1-11.
  9. Spider community shift in response to farming practices in a sub-humid agroecosystem of southern Africa. 2019. Mashavakure, N., Mashingaidze, A.B., Musundire, R., Nhamo, N., Gandiwa, E., Thierfelder, C., Muposhi, V.K. In: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment v. 272, p. 237-245.
  10. Threats of tar spot complex disease of maize in the United States of America and its global consequences. 2019. Mottaleb, K.A., Loladze, A., Sonder, K., Kruseman, G., San Vicente, F.M. In: Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change v. 24, no. 2, p. 281–300.

New publications: Role of Modelling in International Crop Research

Written by Emma Orchardson on . Posted in Publications.

“Crop modelling has the potential to significantly contribute to global food and nutrition security,” claim the authors of a recently published paper on the role of modelling in international crop research.  “Millions of farmers, and the societies that depend on their production, are relying on us to step up to the plate.”

Among other uses, crop modelling allows for foresight analysis of agricultural systems under global change scenarios and the prediction of potential consequences of food system shocks. New technologies and conceptual breakthroughs have also allowed modelling to contribute to a better understanding of crop performance and yield gaps, improved predictions of pest outbreaks, more efficient irrigation systems and the optimization of planting dates.

While renewed interest in the topic has led in recent years to the development of collaborative initiatives such as the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP) and the CGIAR Platform for Big Data in Agriculture, further investment is needed in order to improve the collection of open access, easy-to-use data available for crop modelling purposes. Strong impact on a global scale will require a wide range of stakeholders – from academia to the private sector – to contribute to the development of large, multi-location datasets.

Resource-poor farmers worldwide stand to gain from developments in the field of crop modelling. Photo: H. De Groote/CIMMYT.
Resource-poor farmers worldwide stand to gain from developments in the field of crop modelling. (Photo: H. De Groote/CIMMYT)

In “Role of Modelling in International Crop Research: Overview and Some Case Studies,” CGIAR researchers outline the history and basic principles of crop modelling, and describe major theoretical advances and their practical applications by international crop research centers. They also highlight the importance of agri-food systems, which they view as key to meeting global development challenges. “The renewed focus on the systems-level has created significant opportunities for modelers to participant in enhancing the impact of science on developments. However, a coherent approach based on principles of transparency, cooperation and innovation is essential to achieving this.”

The authors call for closer interdisciplinary collaboration to better serve the crop research and development communities through the provision of model-based recommendations which could range from government-level policy development to direct crop management support for resource-poor farmers.

Read the full article in Agronomy 2018, Volume 8 (12).

Check out other recent publications by CIMMYT researchers below:

  1. A framework for priority-setting in climate smart agriculture research. 2018. Thornton, P.K., Whitbread, A., Baedeker, T., Cairns, J.E., Claessens, L., Baethgen, W., Bunn, C., Friedmann, M., Giller, K.E., Herrero, M., Howden, M., Kilcline, K., Nangia, V., Ramirez Villegas, J., Shalander Kumar, West, P.C., Keating, B. In: Agricultural Systems v. 167, p. 161-175.
  2. Cereal consumption and marketing responses by rural smallholders under rising cereal prices. 2018. Mottaleb, K.A., Rahut, D.B. In: Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies v. 8, no. 3, p. 461-479.
  3. Community typology framed by normative climate for agricultural innovation, empowerment, and poverty reduction. 2018. Petesch, P., Feldman, S., Elias, M., Badstue, L.B., Dina Najjar, Rietveld, A., Bullock, R., Kawarazuka, N., Luis, J. In: Journal of Gender, Agriculture and Food Security v. 3, no. 1, p. 131-157.
  4. Fit for purpose? A review of guides for gender-equitable value chain development. 2018. Stoian, D., Donovan, J.A., Elias, M., Blare, T. In: Development in Practice v. 28, no. 4, p. 494-509.
  5. Gendered aspirations and occupations among rural youth, in agriculture and beyond: a cross-regional perspective. 2018. Elias, M., Netsayi Mudege, Lopez, D.E., Dina Najjar, Kandiwa, V., Luis, J., Jummai Yila, Amare Tegbaru, Gaya Ibrahim, Badstue, L.B., Njuguna-Mungai, E., Abderahim Bentaibi. In: Journal of Gender, Agriculture and Food Security v. 3, no. 1, p. 82-107.
  6. Genome-wide association study reveals novel genomic regions for grain yield and yield-related traits in drought-stressed synthetic hexaploid wheat. 2018. Bhatta, M.R., Morgounov, A.I., Belamkar, V., Baenziger, P.S. In: International Journal of Molecular Sciences v. 19, no. 10, art. 3011.
  7. Identificacion de areas potenciales en Mexico para la intervencion con maiz biofortificado con zinc = Identification of potential areas in Mexico for intervention with biofortified high-zinc maize. 2018. Ramirez-Jaspeado, R., Palacios-Rojas, N., Salomon, P., Donnet, M.L. In: Revista Fitotecnia Mexicana v. 4, no. 3, p. 327 – 337.
  8. Impact of climate-change risk-coping strategies on livestock productivity and household welfare: empirical evidence from Pakistan. 2018. Rahut, D.B., Ali, A. In: Heliyon v. 4, no. 10, art. e00797.
  9. Impact of conservation agriculture on soil physical properties in rice-wheat system of eastern indo-gangetic plains. 2018. Kumar, V., Kumar, M., Singh, S.K., Jat, R.K. In: Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences v. 28, no. 5, p. 1432-1440.
  10. Impact of ridge-furrow planting in Pakistan: empirical evidence from the farmer’s field. 2018. Hussain, I., Ali, A., Ansaar Ahmed, Hafiz Nasrullah, Badar ud Din Khokhar, Shahid Iqbal, Azhar Mahmood Aulakh, Atta ullah Khan, Jamil Akhter, Gulzar Ahmed. In: International Journal of Agronomy v. 2018, art. 3798037.
  11. Introduction to special issue: smallholder value chains as complex adaptive systems. 2018. Orr, A., Donovan, J.A. In: Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies v. 8, no. 1, p. 2-13.
  12. Local dynamics of native maize value chains in a peri-urban zone in Mexico: the case of San Juan Atzacualoya in the state of Mexico. 2018. Boue, C., Lopez-Ridaura, S., Rodriguez Sanchez, L.M., Hellin, J. J., Fuentes Ponce, M. In: Journal of Rural Studies v. 64, p. 28-38.
  13. Local normative climate shaping agency and agricultural livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa. 2018. Petesch, P., Bullock, R., Feldman, S., Badstue, L.B., Rietveld, A., Bauchspies, W., Kamanzi, A., Amare Tegbaru, Jummai Yila. In: Journal of Gender, Agriculture and Food Security v. 3, no. 1, p. 108-130.
  14. Maize seed systems in different agro-ecosystems; what works and what does not work for smallholder farmers. 2018. Hoogendoorn, C., Audet-Bélanger, G., Boeber, C., Donnet, M.L., Lweya, K.B., Malik, R., Gildemacher, P. In: Food security v. 10, no. 4, p. 1089–1103.
  15. Mapping adult plant stem rust resistance in barley accessions Hietpas-5 and GAW-79. 2018. Case, A.J., Bhavani, S., Macharia, G., Pretorius, Z.A., Coetzee, V., Kloppers, F.J., Tyagi, P., Brown-Guedira, G., Steffenson, B.J. In: Theoretical and Applied Genetics v. 131, no. 10, p. 2245–2266.
  16. Potential for re-emergence of wheat stem rust in the United Kingdom. 2018. Lewis, C.M., Persoons, A., Bebber, D.P., Kigathi, R.N., Maintz, J., Findlay, K., Bueno-Sancho, V., Corredor-Moreno, P., Harrington, S.A., Ngonidzashe Kangara, Berlin, A., Garcia, R., German, S.E., Hanzalova, A., Hodson, D.P., Hovmoller, M.S., Huerta-Espino, J., Imtiaz, M., Mirza, J.I., Justesen, A.F., Niks, R.E., Ali Omrani., Patpour, M., Pretorius, Z.A., Ramin Roohparvar, Hanan Sela, Singh, R.P., Steffenson, B.J., Visser, B., Fenwick, P., Thomas, J., Wulff, B.B.H.,  Saunders, D.G.O. In: Communications Biology v. 1, art. 13.
  17. Qualitative, comparative, and collaborative research at large scale: an introduction to GENNOVATE. 2018. Badstue, L.B., Petesch, P., Feldman, S., Prain, G., Elias, M., Kantor, P. In: Journal of Gender, Agriculture and Food Security v. 3, no. 1, p. 1-27.
  18. Qualitative, comparative, and collaborative research at large scale: the GENNOVATE field methodology. 2018. Petesch, P., Badstue, L.B., Camfield, L., Feldman, S., Prain, G., Kantor, P. In: Journal of Gender, Agriculture and Food Security v. 3, no. 1, p. 28-53.
  19. Transaction costs, land rental markets, and their impact on youth access to agriculture in Tanzania. 2018. Ricker-Gilbert, J., Chamberlin, J. In: Land Economics v. 94, no. 4, p. 541-555.
  20. What drives capacity to innovate? Insights from women and men small-scale farmers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. 2018. Badstue, L.B., Lopez, D.E., Umantseva, A., Williams, G.J., Elias, M., Farnworth, C.R., Rietveld, A., Njuguna-Mungai, E., Luis, J., Dina Najjar., Kandiwa, V. In: Journal of Gender, Agriculture and Food Security v. 3, no. 1, p. 54-81.

 

New publications: Climate change impact and adaptation for wheat protein

Written by Courtney Brantley on . Posted in Publications.

Globally, wheat provides around 20 percent of the calories and protein in human diets. By mid-century, crop production must increase by 60 percent to meet global food demand and help reduce hunger, a challenge made even harder by climate change. “Climate Change Impact and Adaptation for Wheat Protein,” a study published in Global Change Biology in September 2018, examines why wheat grain protein concentration — a determinant of grain quality — is often overlooked in relation to improving global crop production in the face of climate change challenges.

“The impact of climate change on crops typically focuses on productivity; however, there are nutritional implications too,” says key contributor to the study Matthew Reynolds, wheat physiologist at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). “Since wheat also provides a significant proportion of protein in the diets of millions of resource-poor people, the negative impact of increased atmospheric CO2 on protein concentration in the grain is a disturbing fact,” stated Reynolds. “If not addressed, it could have a devastating impact on the health and livelihoods especially of marginalized people who cannot easily afford diverse sources of protein in their diet.”

Multi-location field trials, in addition to model testing, were used to systematically analyze the effects of increasing temperature, heat shocks, elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration, nitrogen, water deficiency and the combination of these factors on yield and wheat grain protein in the world’s main wheat producing regions. This study marked the first time that heat shock and high temperature interaction with elevated CO2 concentration was tested through an impact model. As noted in the study, “This is the most comprehensive study ever done of the effect of climate change on yield and the nutritional quality of one of the three major sources of human food security and nutrition.”

Read the full study here.

An improved wheat variety grows in the field in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Photo: A. Yaqub/CIMMYT)
An improved wheat variety grows in the field in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Photo: A. Yaqub/CIMMYT)

Check out other recent publications by CIMMYT researchers here:

  1. Association of Lr 34 gene complex with spot blotch disease resistance at molecular level in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Suneel Kumar, Singh, R.P., Joshi, A.K., Roder, M.S., Chhuneja Parveen, Mavi, G.S., Kumar, U. In: Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding v. 78, no. 3, p. 302-308.
  2. Base temperatures and degrees days development of 10 Mexican corn accessions. Arista-Cortes, J., Quevedo-Nolasco, A., Zamora-Morales, B.P., Bauer Mengelberg, J.R., Sonder, K., Lugo-Espinosa, O. In: Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Agricolas v. 9, no. 5, p. 1023-1033.
  3. Genetic analysis of resistance to stripe rust in durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. Var. Durum). Xue Lin, N’Diaye, A., Walkowiak, S., Nilsen, K., Cory, A.T., Haile, J.,  Kutcher, H.R., Ammar, K., Loladze, A., Huerta-Espino, J., Clarke, J.M., Ruan, Y., Knox, R.,  Fobert, P., Sharpe, A.G., Pozniak, C.J. In: PLoS One v. 13, no. 9, art. e0203283.
  4. Pre-harvest management is a critical practice for minimizing aflatoxin contamination of maize. Mahuku, G., Nzioki, H., Mutegi, C., Kanampiu, F., Narrod, C., Makumbi, D. In: Food Control v. 96, p. 219-226.
  5. Variations in food-fodder traits of bread wheat cultivars released for the Ethiopian highlands. Bezabih, M., Adie, A., Ravi, D., Prasad, K.V.S.V., Jones, C., Abeyo Bekele Geleta, Tadesse, Z., Zegeye, H., Solomon, T., Blummel, M. In: Field Crops Research v. 229, p. 1-7.
A woman in a climate-smart village in Bihar, India. (Photo: V.Reddy/ViDocs/CCAFS)

New publications: Does a climate-smart village approach influence gender equality in farming households?

Written by Emma Orchardson on . Posted in Publications.

South Asia faces multiple food security challenges, one of which being its extreme vulnerability to climate change. Millions living in the region are expected to be affected by water stress, yield loss, and other climate disasters caused by rising temperatures. Technological innovations can in important tool in ensuring food and livelihood security in the region, but social inclusivity is key to promoting the large-scale adoption of new technologies and practices.

Women’s participation in agricultural activities is increasing over time, but many still have limited capacity to contribute to farm decision-making. They may also have limited control over and access to resources such as credit, extension services and markets. The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) has developed and piloted the use of climate-smart villages (CSVs) in the Indian states of Bihar and Haryana to test climate-smart agriculture options for managing climate-related risks and promoting gender equality in agricultural production.

As climate change disproportionately affects poor and socially marginalized groups, including women, it is important to understand the ways in which the climate-smart approach helps to address specific climate change adaptation challenges. However, there are few studies to date focusing on this question.

In an attempt to fill this gap, a new study carried out as part of the CCAFS project on Climate-Smart Agriculture analyzes the extent to which the climate-smart village approach can contribute to establishing greater gender equality across the agricultural, political, social and economic sectors. The study introduces a Gender Empowerment Index for climate-smart villages, based on measurable indicators. It also documents the gender gap by mapping differences in empowerment levels across selected climate-smart villages and other villages across India’s eastern and western Indo-Gangetic Plains.

Read the full article “Does climate-smart village approach influence gender equality on farming households? A case of two contrasting ecologies in India” in Climatic Change.

The research was supported by the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS).

A woman in a climate-smart village in Bihar, India. (Photo: V.Reddy/ViDocs/CCAFS)
A woman in a climate-smart village in Bihar, India. (Photo: V.Reddy/ViDocs/CCAFS)

Check out other recent publications by CIMMYT researchers below:

  1. When the going gets tough: performance of stress tolerant maize during the 2015/16 (El niño) and 2016/17 (la niña) season in Southern Africa. 2018. Setimela, P.S., Gasura, E., Thierfelder, C., Zaman-Allah, M., Cairns, J.E., Prasanna, B.M. In: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment v. 268, p. 79-89.
  2. Potassium supplying capacity of diverse soils and K-use efficiency of maize in South Asia. 2018. Saiful Islam, Timsina, J., Muhammad Salim, Majumdar, K., Gathala, M.K. In: Agronomy v.8, no. 7, art. 121.
  3. Improvement of power tiller operated seeder for maize planting. 2018. Muhammad Arshadul Hoque, Gathala, M.K. In: Fundamental and Applied Agriculture v. 3, no. 2, p. 474–479.
  4. Climate change impact on Mexico wheat production. 2018. Hernandez-Ochoa, I.M., Asseng, S., Kassie, B.T., Wei Xiong, Robertson, R., Pequeño, D. N. L., Sonder, K., Reynolds, M.P., Md Ali Babar., Molero, A., Hoogenboom, G. In: Agricultural and Forest Meteorology v. 263, p. 373-387.
  5. Genetic dissection of grain zinc concentration in spring wheat for mainstreaming biofortification in CIMMYT wheat breeding. 2018. Velu, G., Singh, R.P., Crespo-Herrera, L.A., Juliana, P., Dreisigacker, S., Valluru, R., Stangoulis, J., Sohu, V.S., Gurvinder Singh Mavi,  Vinod Kumar Mishra, Balasubramaniam, A., Chatrath, R., Gupta, V., Gyanendra Pratap Singh, Joshi, A.K. In: Nature Scientific reports v. 8, art. 13526.
  6. Re-assessing nitrous oxide emissions from croplands across Mainland China. 2018. Qian Yue, Ledo, A., Kun Cheng, Albanito, F., Lebender, U., Sapkota, T.B., Brentrup, F., Stirling, C., Smith, P., Jianfei Sun, Genxing Pan, Hillier, J. In: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment v. 268, p. 70-78.
  7. Crop model and weather data generation evaluation for conservation agriculture in Ethiopia. 2018. Liben, F.M., Wortmann, C.S., Haishun Yang, Lindquist, J.L., Tsegaye Tadesse, Dagne Wegary Gissa. In: Field Crops Research v. 228, p. 122-134.
  8. Assessing sustainability in agricultural landscapes: a review of approaches. 2018. Eichler Inwood, Sarah E., Lopez-Ridaura, S., Kline, K.L., Gerard, B., Gardeazabal Monsalue, A., Govaerts, B., Dale, V.H. In: Environmental Reviews v. 26, no. 3, p. 299-315.
  9. Unpacking the push-pull system: assessing the contribution of companion crops along a gradient of landscape complexity. 2018. Kebede, Y., Baudron, F., Bianchi, F., Tittonell, P. In: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment v. 268, p. 115-123.
  10. Genetic relationships and heterotic structure of quality protein maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines adapted to eastern and southern Africa. 2018. Dagne Wegary Gissa, Vivek, B., Labuschagne, M. In: Euphytica v. 214, art. 172.

New publications: Does farm structure matter?

Written by Jérôme Bossuet on . Posted in Publications.

Farmland distributions are rapidly evolving in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, as data from the World Bank’s Tanzanian Living Standards Measurement Study-Integrated Surveys in Agriculture (LSMS-ISA) shows. Between 2009 and 2013, farms under 5 hectares have increased in absolute numbers – from 5.4 to 6.1 million –  as smallholdings became increasingly fragmented due to demographic and land inheritance patterns. But farms greater than 5 hectares also grew in number, and their share in the rural landscape, in terms of land area, grew quickly. The share of total farmland held by “small” farms of less than 5 hectares declined from 62% to 56% over the period while the share of farmland under farms of 10 or more hectares grew by 6%. So, what are the implications of such rapid changes in farm structure and concentration of land under larger farms?

CIMMYT spatial economist Jordan Chamberlin is using household survey data in innovative ways to reveal how changing patterns of land access and farm size distributions are influencing farmers’ livelihoods. He is investigating whether medium- and large-scale farms generate benefits for nearby smallholder farmers. In a case study in Tanzania, Chamberlin and his colleague, T.S. Jayne, estimated how rural incomes are affected by land concentration measures, such as the Gini coefficient, after controlling for other household and geographical factors, including market access, population density, and rainfall.

Lushoto, Tanzania. Photo: Rod Waddington
Lushoto, Tanzania. (Photo: Rod Waddington)

Another important finding was the lack of evidence for positive impacts of farmland concentration when such concentration was measured as the share of land in farms of 10 or more hectares. The intuitive explanation of this result is that the larger the farm, the less likely it is to generate benefits for surrounding smallholders. This may be because medium-scale farms, relative to larger commercial farming enterprises, are more likely to employ labor from surrounding households, and may also provide services such as mechanized traction.

More research is needed to identify these spillover mechanisms, and to understand the conditions under which larger farms generate positive impacts for smaller neighbors. As the farmland landscape is evolving quickly in sub-Saharan Africa, understanding these mechanisms could be instrumental to drive more inclusive rural development. Such research could help to add nuance to the current debate in agricultural and land policy circles about whether the de facto expansion of medium-scale and larger farms are a boon or a threat to the smallholder majority within the region’s agrifood systems.

Jordan Chamberlin presented results from this study in a webinar on 6 November 2018 hosted by CGIAR’s Policies, Institutions, Markets Research Program.

Read more:
Does Farm Structure Matter? The Effects of Farmland Distribution Patterns on Rural Households Incomes in Tanzania in Food Policy.

This research was carried out in collaboration with T.S. Jayne, Michigan State University, with support from USAID’s Feed the Future Innovation Lab on Food Security Policy, the BMGF-funded Guiding Investments in Sustainable Agricultural Intensification in Africa (GISAIAA) initiative, the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM).

Check out other recent publications by CIMMYT researchers below:

  1. BGGE: a new package for genomic-enabled prediction incorporating genotype × environment interaction models. 2018. Granato, I., Cuevas, J., Luna-Vazquez, F.J., Crossa, J., Montesinos-Lopez, O.A., Burgueño, J., Fritsche-Neto, R. In: G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics v. 8, no. 9, p. 3039-3047.
  2. Carotenoid and tocochromanol profiles during kernel tevelopment make consumption of biofortified “fresh” maize an option to improve micronutrient nutrition. 2018. Cabrera-Soto, L., Pixley, K.V., Rosales-Nolasco, A., Galicia-Flores, L.A., Palacios-Rojas, N. In: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry v. 66, no. 36, p. 9391–9398.
  3. Correction to: mapping adult plant stem rust resistance in barley accessions Hietpas-5 and GAW-79. 2018. Case, A.J., Bhavani, S., Macharia, G., Pretorius, Z.A., Coetzee, V., Kloppers, F.J., Tyagi, P., Brown-Guedira, G., Steffenson, B.J. In: Theoretical and Applied Genetics v.131, no. 10, p. 2267–2267.
  4. Registration of spring wheat germplasm ND 735 combining tan spot, Leaf, and stem rusts. 2018. Mergoum, M., Frohberg, R.C., Ali, S., Singh, P.K., Rasmussen, J.B., Miller, J.D. In: Crop Science v. 46, no. 2, p. 1003-1004.

New publications: Reducing agricultural risk is key to poverty eradication

Written by on . Posted in Publications.

The theme for this year’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is: Coming together
with those furthest behind to build an inclusive world of universal respect for human rights and dignity.

Drought is the primary constraint on maize production in the quiet rural village of Songshuwa, in Yunnan province, China.
Drought is the primary constraint on maize production in the quiet rural village of Songshuwa, in Yunnan province, China.

It serves as a reminder that people living in poverty often are disproportionately affected by human rights violations and global warming.

As climates shift and natural disasters become more common around the world, smallholder farmers and pastoralists face increasing threats to their livelihoods. The risk is particularly high in dryland regions where prolonged droughts or extreme heat can decimate crops and kill livestock. For those just barely hanging on, these shocks are enough to push them into the poverty trap. Uncertainty about what tomorrow brings further discourages farmers, rural financial services, value chain institutions and governments from investing in agriculture.

In a study released earlier this year, a group of researchers reviewed publications from the last decade to assess how agricultural production technologies and practices — for example, crop rotations — and institutional interventions — such as index-based insurance — can mitigate risk and improve farmer welfare. They found that improved crop varieties, conservation agriculture and diversified production systems can reduce adverse impacts of climate-related risk under some circumstances. Insurance and social protections can also create safety nets that enable farmers to manage risk and adopt improved technologies and practices.

The authors point out that there is limited evidence showing these interventions have helped a significant number of very poor farmers escape poverty. Further research is needed to understand what interventions, or combinations of interventions, can create impact at scale.

Learn more by reading Climate risk management and rural poverty reduction.

This work was implemented as part of the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), which is carried out with support from CGIAR Fund Donors and through bilateral funding agreements. For details, please visit https://ccafs.cgiar.org/donors. 

Check out other recent publications by CIMMYT researchers below: 

  1. Viewpoint: beasts of the field? Ethics in agricultural and applied economics. 2018. Leigh Josephson, A., Michler, J.D. In: Food Policy v.79, p. 1-11.
  2. Analysis of spot blotch resistance and its association with yield and its related traits in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) germplasm. 2018. Ritusga Tewari, Jaiswal, J.P., Kumar, A., Singh, P.K. In: The Bioscan v.11, no. 1, p. 921-924.
  3. Increasing yield stability and input efficiencies with cost-effective mechanization in Nepal. 2018. Park, A.G., McDonald, A., Devkota, M., Davis, A.S. In: Field Crops Research v.228, p. 93-101.
  4. Identification of novel quantitative trait loci linked to crown rot resistance in spring wheat. 2018. Erginbas-Orakci, G., Sehgal, D., Sohail, Q., Ogbonnaya, F.C., Dreisigacker, S., Pariyar. S.R., Dababat, A.A. In: International Journal of Molecular Sciences v. 19, no. 9, art, 2666.
  5. A Bayesian decision theory approach for genomic selection. 2018. Villar-Hernandez, B.d.J., Perez-Elizalde, S., Crossa, J., Perez-Rodriguez, P., Toledo, F.H., Burgueño, J. In: G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics v.8, no. 9, p. 3019-3037.

New publications: Exploring the gendered rules shaping agricultural innovation

Written by Emma Orchardson on . Posted in Publications.

How do gender norms, agency and agricultural innovation interlink? How can we research this question comparatively to better understand patterns without overlooking the specificities of different contexts and the people who occupy them? These questions set the stage for the new special issue in the Journal of Gender, Agriculture and Food Security (Agri-Gender) on the GENNOVATE research initiative.

Ahead of the International Day of Rural Women (October 15), researchers from across CGIAR drew on the voices of over 7,000 rural women and men across diverse regional contexts to demonstrate why understanding and addressing gender norms is critical for achieving sustainable and equitable development.

Gender norms comprise the social rules that differentiate what a society considers a man and a woman should be in their lives. The papers published in the GENNOVATE special issue provide new empirical and methodological contributions to the literature on gender, agricultural innovation and rural transformation. The testimonies gathered across 137 communities in 26 countries illuminate how agricultural innovation processes are regularly constrained by gender norms. These norms prescribe women’s deference to men’s authority and in turn assign women with heavy household and care work burdens. They also limit their access to resources, physical mobility and social interactions.

Challenging the norms

Women in Nepal participate in a focus group discussion as part of GENNOVATE's field research (Photo: Anuprita Shukla)
Women in Nepal participate in a focus group discussion as part of GENNOVATE’s field research (Photo: Anuprita Shukla)

Nevertheless, women and men find ways to challenge and redefine these norms, and village practices are often different from normative expectations. In a large majority of GENNOVATE research communities, women influence important household decisions and innovate in their rural livelihood activities, albeit often close to their homesteads and on a smaller scale than rural men. Some gender norms are beginning to relax to accommodate women’s and men’s changing lives, but these processes vary greatly across the types of norms, the groups of people concerned — young or unmarried women, widows, resource-constrained women, etc. — and the places where they live. By and large, women continue to face a myriad of barriers trying to expand their economic initiatives.

Two of the papers in the special issue explore gender norms in circumstances where farmer innovation and community development are particularly prevalent. CIMMYT researcher Lone Badstue and co-authors present findings from 336 semi-structured interviews with rural women and men from 19 countries who are known in their villages for agricultural innovation. While finance and physical assets emerge as important enablers of innovation, the testimonies stress that factors related to personality and agency are key drivers for both women’s and men’s capacity to innovate. Compared to men, women innovators are far more likely to detail how supportive spouses, parents, siblings, in-laws or children can help them learn about and adopt new farming techniques or otherwise actively innovate in their rural livelihoods.

Men in Kenya participate in a focus group discussion as part of GENNOVATE's field research (Photo: Renee Bullock/IITA)
Men in Kenya participate in a focus group discussion as part of GENNOVATE’s field research (Photo: Renee Bullock/IITA)

In another paper focused on 79 community case studies, Patti Petesch and co-authors focus on a small set of “transforming” villages, where participants in the GENNOVATE study widely reported accelerated processes of empowerment and poverty reduction in their communities. Case studies and comparative evidence are able to show that more equitable gender norms play a crucial role in catalyzing inclusive agricultural innovation and development processes.

Other papers in the issue emphasize concerns over innovation processes that reinforce gender inequality and marginalize specific social groups. For example, Marlène Elias and co-authors focus on rural youth in seven countries to demonstrate how norms that discriminate against women in agriculture are key for understanding young women’s limited aspirations in agricultural work. Petesch and co-authors also introduce the concept of local normative climate to shed light on the contextual and fluid ways in which norms operate, such as why in one community only men perceive their village to be an enabling climate for their agency and agricultural innovation, while in another community only women perceive this.

Women in Ethiopia participate in a focus group discussion as part of GENNOVATE's field research (Photo: Mahelet Hailemariam)
Women in Ethiopia participate in a focus group discussion as part of GENNOVATE’s field research (Photo: Mahelet Hailemariam)

A large-scale endeavor

Two papers describe GENNOVATE’s methodology and conceptual framework. The authors reflect on the challenges and opportunities faced in carrying out the large-scale qualitative study. They highlight the need to be attentive to the complexities of various local social contexts and women’s and men’s own understanding of their lives, while looking for patterns to make broader claims that can contribute to agricultural research and development. They also discuss GENNOVATE’s research protocols for sampling, data collection and analysis, and reflect on challenges that correspond with their application.

The GENNOVATE papers make evident that gender norms set the stage for agricultural innovation and that some people and places find pathways to forge ahead far faster than others. The special issue makes an important contribution to the development of strategies that are meaningfully informed by social realities while also allowing for comparisons across various contexts. This insight is relevant to research and development beyond the field of agriculture and natural resource management.

The GENNOVATE special issue in the Journal of Gender, Agriculture and Food Security (Agri-Gender) was published on September 2018, Volume 3, Issue 1.

The GENNOVATE research initiative is a collaboration of 11 CGIAR research programs.

Linear Selection Indices in Modern Plant Breeding

New publications: Book on linear selection indices, first on the subject in thirty years

Written by Courtney Brantley on . Posted in Publications.

Linear Selection Indices in Modern Plant BreedingAfter two years of meticulous work, the book Linear Selection Indices in Modern Plant Breeding has been released by Springer International Publishing for use by plant and animal breeders worldwide. The authors of the book, J. Jesus Céron-Rojas and José Crossa, are scientists with the Biometrics and Statistics Unit of the Genetic Resources Program at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). The authors saw a window of opportunity to better explain how various types of linear selection indices can be constructed, interpreted, optimized and applied in breeding through the research presented in this book.

As the first book released on the subject in over thirty years, the publisher describes it as “essential reading for plant quantitative geneticists” and “a valuable resource for animal breeders.” Its high-profile scientific contributions are expected to generate an extensive impact in the international community of theoretical and practical plant and animal breeders.

To examine classification more closely, breeders use indices to categorize traits of interest to make complete representations of desired qualities in plants and animals. Focused on the linear selection index theory and its statistical properties, breeders will be able to use phenotypic and genotypic information to assess the genetic merits of the candidates to selection.

The book is published as open access and available online.

This book is the result of financial support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), the CGIAR Research Program on Maize (MAIZE)and the CGIAR Research Program on Wheat (WHEAT).

Check out other recent publications by CIMMYT researchers below:

1. Soil organic matter underlies crop nutritional quality and productivity in smallholder agriculture. Wood, S.A., Baudron, F. In: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment v. 266, p. 100-108.
2. Wheat−the cereal abandoned by GM: genetic modification of wheat for disease resistance could help stabilize food production. Wulff, B.B.H., Dhugga, K. In: Science v. 361, no. 6401, p. 451-452.
3. Breeding for provitamin A biofortification of maize (Zea mays L.). Maqbool, M. A., Aslam, M., Issa, A.B., Khan, M. S. In: Plant Breeding v. 137, no. 4, p. 451-469.
4. Occurrence of the root-knot nematode species in vegetable crops in Souss region of Morocco. Janati, S., Abdellah Houari, Ahmed Wifaya, Adil Essarioui, Abdelaziz Mimouni, Abderrahim Hormatallah, Mohamed Sbaghi, Dababat, A.A., Mokrini, F. In: Plant Pathology Journal v. 34, no. 4, p. 308-315.
5. High N fertilizer application to irrigated wheat in Northern Mexico for conventionally tilled and permanent raised beds : effects on N balance and short term N dynamics. Grahmann, K., Verhulst, N., Dittert, K., Govaerts, B., Buerkert, A. In: Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science vol. 181, no. 4, p. 606-620.
6. Correction to: bayesian functional regression as an alternative statistical analysis of high-throughput phenotyping data of modern agriculture. Montesinos-López, A., Montesinos-Lopez, O.A., De los Campos, G., Crossa, J., Burgueño, J., Luna-Vazquez, F.J. In: Plant Methods v. 14, art. 57.
7. β-cryptoxanthin–biofortified hen eggs enhance vitamin a status when fed to male Mongolian gerbils. Heying, E.K., Leary Ziemer, K., Tanumihardjo, J.P., Palacios-Rojas, N., Tanumihardjo, S. A. In: The Journal of Nutrition v.148, no. 8, p. 1236-1243.
8. Urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts (SDG 13) : transforming agriculture and food systems. Campbell, B.M., Hansen, J.W., Rioux, J., Stirling, C., Twomlow, S., Wollenberg, E. In: Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability v. 34, p. 13-20.
9. Factors affecting the adoption of multiple climate-smart agricultural practices in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India. Aryal, J.P., Rahut, D.B., Maharjan, S., Erenstein, O. In: Natural Resources Forum v. 42, no. 3, p. 141-158.

Women farmers in Nepal use a mini tiller for direct seeding. (Photo: P.Lowe/CIMMYT)

New publications: What drives capacity to innovate?

Written by Emma Orchardson on . Posted in Publications.

Involving diverse segments of a target population in agricultural innovation interventions allows for more inclusive and equitable processes while stimulating local innovation and development outcomes. But what are the key characteristics of rural innovators? And how are their experiences similar for women and men, and how are they different?

To examine these questions, a team of researchers from CIMMYT, collaborating CGIAR centers, and Wageningen University and Research conducted individual interviews with 336 rural women and men known in their communities for trying out new things in agriculture. The results of this study are collected in 84 GENNOVATE community case studies from 19 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Building on study participants’ own reflections and experiences with innovation in their agricultural livelihoods, the research team combined variable-oriented analysis with analysis of specific individuals’ lived experience. The study provides in-depth knowledge on how the characteristics and experiences of individual innovators interlink with the social setting to facilitate or impede innovation.

Results indicate that factors related to personality and agency are what most drive capacity to innovate. Access to resources is not a prerequisite but an important enabling aspect. Women have great potential for local innovation, but structural inequalities mean that men are often better positioned to access resources and leverage support – as a result when women challenge the status quo, men’s support is important.

Read the full article in the Journal of Gender, Agriculture and Food Security: “What drives capacity to innovate? Insights from women and men small-scale farmers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America”

This paper draws on data collected as part of GENNOVATE case studies funded by the CGIAR Research Programs on Wheat, Maize, Grain Legumes, Humid Tropics and Rice, as well as RTB (Roots, Tubers and Bananas), A4NH (Agriculture for Nutrition and Health) and FTA (Forests, Trees and Agroforestry).

Development of research design and field methodology was supported by the CGIAR Gender & Agricultural Research Network, the World Bank, the governments of Mexico and Germany, and the CGIAR Research Programs on Wheat and Maize. Data analysis was supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Women farmers in Nepal use a mini tiller for direct seeding. Photo: CIMMYT/P. Lowe
Women farmers in Nepal use a mini tiller for direct seeding. (Photo: P.Lowe/CIMMYT)

Check out other recent publications by CIMMYT researchers below:

  1. Facilitating change for climate-smart agriculture through science-policy engagement. Dinesh, D., Zougmore, R., Vervoort, J., Totin, E., Thornton, P.K., Solomon, D., Shirsath, P.B., Pede, V.O., Lopez-Noriega, I., Läderach, P., Korner, J., Hegger, D., Girvetz, E.H,. Friis, A.E., Driessen, P.P.J., Campbell, B.M. In: Sustainability v. 10, no. 8, art. 2616.
  2. Assessment of management options on striga infestation and maize grain yield in Kenya. Kanampiu, F., Makumbi, D., Mageto, E.K., Omanya, G., Waruingi, S., Musyoka, P., Ransom, J. K. In: Weed Science v. 66, no. 4, p. 516-524.
  3. Maize combined insect resistance genomic regions and their co-localization with cell wall constituents revealed by tissue-specific QTL meta-analyses. Badji, A., Otim, M., Machida, L., Odong, T., Kwemoi, D.B., Okii, D., Agbahoungba, S., Mwila, N., Kumi, F., Ibanda, A., Mugo, S.N., Kyamanywa, S., Rubaihayo, P. In: Frontiers in Plant Science v. 9, art. 895.
  4. Gender and equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms through agricultural innovation platforms in Rwanda. Adam, R.I., Misiko, M.T., Dusengemungu, L., Rushemuka, P.N., Mukakalisa, Z. In:  Community Development vol. 49, no. 4, p. 380-397
  5. Genomic-enabled prediction models using multi-environment trials to estimate the effect of genotype × environment interaction on prediction accuracy in chickpea. Roorkiwal, M., Jarquín, D., Muneendra K. Singh., Pooran M. Gaur., Chellapilla Bharadwaj., Abhishek Rathore., Howard, R., Samineni Srinivasan., Ankit Jain., Vanika Garg., Sandip Kale., Annapurna Chitikineni., Shailesh Tripathi., Jones, E., Robbins, K., Crossa, J., Varshney, R. K. In: Scientific Reports v. 8, art. 11701.

New publications: Germplasm bank accessions add value to elite wheat lines

Written by Emma Orchardson on . Posted in Publications.

For the first time ever, a research team of more than 40 scientists has genetically characterized values of exotics in hexaploid wheat. CIMMYT scientists, together with partners in Demark, India, Mexico, Pakistan, and the UK, used next-generation sequencing and multi-environment phenotyping to study the contribution of exotic genomes to pre-breeding lines. Research required collaborative development, evaluation, and deployment of novel genetic resources to breeding programs addressing food security under climate change scenarios in India, Mexico, and Pakistan.

The team generated large-scale pre-breeding materials, which have been evaluated for important traits such as grain yield, quality, and disease resistance. Pre-breeding and haplotype-based approaches revealed useful genetic footprints of exotic lines in pre-breeding germplasm. Results of the study, recently published in Nature Scientific Reports, show that some DNA from exotic germplasm improved the biotic and abiotic stress tolerances of lines derived from crosses of exotics with CIMMYT’s best elite lines.

The practical successes of large-scale, impact-oriented breeding work will be useful to other wheat breeding programs around the world, and the information generated could be used to boost global wheat productivity.

Sukhwinder Singh, wheat lead on CIMMYT’s SeeD Project, explains that pre-breeding is in-demand and the resources developed through this study can serve as tools to address upcoming challenges in wheat production more efficiently, as desirable alleles from exotics have been mobilized into best elite genetic background. Breeding programs can now use this material to deliver outcomes in shorter timeframes by avoiding the lengthy process of searching for exotics first.

Read the full article in Nature Scientific Reports: “Harnessing genetic potential of wheat germplasm banks through impact-oriented-prebreeding for future food and nutritional security.”

This research was conducted as part of the Seeds of Discovery and MasAgro projects in collaboration with the Borlaug Institute for South Asia, and was made possible by generous support from Mexico’s Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA), the Government of Punjab, and the CGIAR Research Program on Wheat.

Wheat-seed-1

Check out other recent publications by CIMMYT researchers below:  

  1. Applications of machine learning methods to genomic selection in breeding wheat for rust resistance. González-Camacho, J.M., Ornella, L., Perez-Rodriguez, P., Gianola, D., Dreisigacker, S., Crossa, J. In: Plant Genome v. 11, no. 2, art. 170104.
  2. Bayesian functional regression as an alternative statistical analysis of high‑throughput phenotyping data of modern agriculture. Montesinos-López, A., Montesinos-López, O.A., De los Campos, G., Crossa, J., Burgueño, J., Luna-Vázquez, F.J. In: Plant Methods v. 14, art. 46.
  3. Effect of ppd-a1 and ppd-b1 allelic variants on grain number and thousand-kernel weight of durum wheat and their impact on final grain yield. Arjona, J.M., Royo, C., Dreisigacker, S., Ammar, K., Villegas, D. In: Frontiers in Plant Science v. 9, art. 888.
  4. Genomic-enabled prediction accuracies increased by modeling genotype × environment interaction in durum wheat. Sukumaran, S., Jarquín, D., Crossa, J., Reynolds, M.P. In: Plant Genome v. 11, no. 2, art. 170112.
  5. Mexican tropical cream cheese yield using low-fat milk induced by trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid: effect of palmitic acid. Granados-Rivera, L.D., Hernández-Mendo, O., Burgueño, J., Gonzalez-Munoz, S.S., Mendoza-Martinez, G.D., Mora-Flores, J.S.,  Arriaga-Jordan, C.M. In: CyTA-Journal of Food v. 16, no. 1, p. 311-315.

New publications: Toxin-producing fungal strains can now be detected in maize field soils with a new technique

Written by Carolyn Cowan on . Posted in Publications.

A novel approach allows the detection of aflatoxin-producing fungi in maize fields. A new study explains the technique and how it was tested. “Detection of Aflatoxigenic and Atoxigenic Mexican Aspergillus Strains by the Dichlorvos–Ammonia (DV–AM) Method” was developed in collaboration between scientists from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), the Japanese National Agriculture and Food Organization (NARO) and Fukui University of Technology, funded in part by the CGIAR Research Program on Maize (MAIZE).

Aflatoxins are harmful compounds produced by the fungi Aspergillus flavus, which can be found in the soil, plants and grain of a variety of cereals and commodities including maize, nuts, cottonseed, spices and dried fruit. The toxic carcinogenic qualities of aflatoxins pose serious health hazards to humans and animals when contaminated crops are ingested. These health risks include cancers of the liver and gallbladder, stunted development in children, premature births and abnormal fetal development.

Not all strains of A. flavus produce aflatoxins however, so it is important to be able to detect and distinguish between A. flavus strains that are benign (atoxigenic) and those that produce dangerous toxins (aflatoxigenic). Current methods of detection are often complicated by the fact that the fungal strains display very similar physiological and molecular traits, thus a new approach is required.

In the study, a novel approach to detect and distinguish A. flavus strains was tested. Using soil samples from a CIMMYT experimental maize field in Mexico, fungal isolates were chemically treated in-line with a method recently developed in Japan, resulting in a color change indicative of toxicity. The method was found to be effective and accurate in the detection of the aflatoxigenic strains of the fungus.

This study is foundational work in the development of a simple, cost-effective and efficient method of detecting aflatoxigenic strains of A. flavus, which will help inform growers about the potential aflatoxin contamination of their crops. This is of particular importance in the developing world, where the resources for effective control of the fungus are often lacking.

To read the original study, “Detection of Aflatoxigenic and Atoxigenic Mexican Aspergillus Strains by the Dichlorvos–Ammonia (DV–AM) Method”, please click here.

Original citation: Kushiro, M.; Hatabayashi, H.; Yabe, K.; Loladze, A. Detection of Aflatoxigenic and Atoxigenic Mexican Aspergillus Strains by the Dichlorvos–Ammonia (DV–AM) Method. Toxins 2018, 10, 263.

This article was originally published on the website of the CGIAR Research Program on Maize.

Maize ear infected with Aspergillus flavus. (Photo: Maize Pathology Laboratory/CIMMYT)
Maize ear infected with Aspergillus flavus. (Photo: Maize Pathology Laboratory/CIMMYT)

Check out other recent publications by CIMMYT researchers below:

  1. Genetic analysis of tropical midaltitude-adapted maize populations under stress and nonstress conditions. 2018. Makumbi, D., Assanga, S., Diallo, A., Magorokosho, C., Asea, G., Regasa, M.W., Bänziger, M. In: Crop Science v. 58, no. 4, p. 1492-1507.
  2. Interactions among genes Sr2/Yr30, Lr34/Yr18/Sr57 and Lr68 confer enhanced adult plant resistance to rust diseases in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) line ‘Arula’. 2018.  Randhawa, M.S., Caixia Lan, Basnet, B.R., Bhavani, S., Huerta-Espino, J., Forrest, K.L., Hayden, M., Singh, R.P. In: Australian Journal of Crop Science v. 12, no. 6, p. 1023-1033.
  3. Practical breeding strategies to improve resistance to Septoria tritici blotch of wheat. 2018. Tabib Ghaffary, S.M., Chawade, A., Singh, P.K. In: Euphytica v. 214, art. 122.
  4. Sashaydiall : A SAS program for hayman’s diallel analysis. 2018. Makumbi, D., Alvarado Beltrán, G., Crossa, J., Burgueño, J. In: Crop Science v. 58, no. 4, p. 1605-1615.
  5. Soil bacterial diversity under conservation agriculture-based cereal systems in indo-gangetic plains. 2018. Choudhary, M., Sharma, P.C., Jat, H. S., Dash, A., Rajashekar, B., McDonald, A., Jat, M.L.  In: 3 Biotech v. 8, art. 304.

New publications: Adopting new agricultural technologies in Bangladesh

Written by Emma Orchardson on . Posted in Publications.

New technologies are at the core of sustainable agricultural growth and rural poverty alleviation, says Khondoker Mottaleb, an Agricultural Economist working within CIMMYT’s Socioeconomic Program. However, he explains, despite the visible benefits of using new agricultural machinery or farm management practices, overall uptake remains low as a range of factors continue to limit farmers’ ability to invest.

In a bid to enhance irrigation efficiency, Bangladesh has tried to introduce and popularize the use of axial-flow pumps (AFPs) for surface water irrigation. These pumps can lift up to 55 percent more water than a conventional centrifugal pump, but despite the obvious benefits, there has been limited uptake in targeted areas of the country. From 2012-13, a CIMMYT initiative made AFPs available for purchase for farmers in the southern regions of Bangladesh, but as of September 2017 only 888 had been purchased by lead farmers and irrigation service providers.

A recent study by CIMMYT in Bangladesh used primary data collected from 70 irrigation service providers – each of whom was given a free AFP for one season under a demonstration program – to examine user perception of AFPs and the major constraints to their adoption. It found that even though the use of AFPs can significantly reduce irrigation and overall crop production costs, more demonstrations and awareness-raising programs are needed if uptake is to be increased in target areas.

The study also highlighted the need for continuous modification of new technologies based on farmers’ requirements, with Mottaleb emphasizing that these must be adapted to local demand specifications, and that prices must be competitive with those of alternative technologies in order to ensure rapid uptake.

This study was supported by USAID through the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia – Mechanization and Irrigation (CSISA-MI) project. It was also supported by USAID and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) Phase II project. 

Read the full article in Science Direct: “Perception and adoption of a new agricultural technology: Evidence from a developing country.”

A farmer in Bangladesh irrigates his land using an axial-flow pump. (Photo: Ranak Martin)
A farmer in Bangladesh irrigates his land using an axial-flow pump. (Photo: Ranak Martin)

Check out other recent publications by CIMMYT researchers below:

  1. Bayesian functional regression as an alternative statistical analysis of high-throughput phenotyping data of modern agriculture. 2018. Montesinos-López, A., Montesinos-Lopez, O.A., De los Campos, G., Crossa, J., Burgueño, J., Luna-Vazquez, F.J. In: Plant Methods v. 14, art. 46.
  2. Exploring the physiological information of sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence through radiative transfer model inversion. 2018. Celesti, M., van der‏ Tol, C., Cogliati, S., Panigada, C., Peiqi Yang, Pinto Espinosa, F., Rascher | Miglietta, F., Colombo, R., Rossini, M. In: Remote Sensing of Environment v. 215, p. 97-108.
  3. Genome-wide association mapping for resistance to leaf rust, stripe rust and tan spot in wheat reveals potential candidate genes. 2018. Juliana, P., Singh, R.P., Singh, P.K., Poland, J.A., Bergstrom, G.C., Huerta-Espino, J., Bhavani, S., Crossa, J., Sorrells, M.E. In: Theoretical and Applied Genetics v. 131, no. 7, p. 1405-1422.
  4. High-throughput method for ear phenotyping and kernel weight estimation in maize using ear digital imaging. 2018. Makanza, R., Zaman-Allah, M., Cairns, J.E., Eyre, J., Burgueño, J., Pacheco Gil, R. A., Diepenbrock, C., Magorokosho, C., Amsal Tesfaye Tarekegne, Olsen, M., Prasanna, B.M. In: Plant Methods v. 14, art. 49.
  5. Long-term impact of conservation agriculture and diversified maize rotations on carbon pools and stocks, mineral nitrogen fractions and nitrous oxide fluxes in inceptisol of India. 2018. Parihar, C.M., Parihar M.D., Sapkota, T.B., Nanwal, R.K., Singh, A.K., Jat, S.L., Nayak, H.S., Mahala, D.M., Singh, L.K., Kakraliya, S.K., Stirling, C., Jat, M.L. In: Science of the Total Environment v. 640-641, p. 1382-1392.
  6. Major biotic maize production stresses in Ethiopia and their management through host resistance. 2018. Keno, T., Azmach, G., Dagne Wegary Gissa, Regasa, M.W., Tadesse, B., Wolde, L., Deressa, T., Abebe, B., Chibsa, T., Mahabaleswara, S. In: African Journal of Agricultural Research v. 13, no. 21, p. 1042-1052.
  7. Detection of aflatoxigenic and atoxigenic mexican aspergillus strains by the dichlorvos–ammonia (DV–AM) method. 2018. Masayo Kushiro, Hidemi Hatabayashi, Kimiko Yabe, Loladze, A. In: Toxins v. 10, no. 7, art. 263.
  8. Excessive pruning and limited regeneration: Are Faidherbia albida parklands heading for extinction in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia? 2018. Tesfaye Shiferaw Sida, Baudron, F., Dejene Adugna Deme, Motuma Tolera, Giller, K.E. In: Land Degradation and Development v. 29, no. 6, p. 1623-1633.
  9. Multi-temporal and spectral analysis of high-resolution hyperspectral airborne imagery for precision agriculture: Assessment of wheat grain yield and grain protein content. 2018. Rodrigues, F., Blasch, G., Defourny, P., Ortiz-Monasterio, I., Schulthess, U., Zarco-Tejada, P.J., Taylor, J.A., Gerard, B. In: Remote Sensing v. 10, no. 6, art 930.
  10. Screening and validation of fertility restoration genes (Rf) in wild abortive CMS system of rice (Oryza sativa L.) using microsatellite markers. 2018. Bhati, P.K., Singh, S.K., Kumar, U. In: Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding v. 78, no. 2, p. 270-274.
  11. Time-series multispectral indices from unmanned aerial vehicle imagery reveal senescence rate in bread wheat. 2018. Hassan, M.A., Mengjiao Yang, Rasheed, A., Xiuliang Jin, Xianchun Xia, Yonggui Xiao, He Zhonghu. In: Remote Sensing v. 10, no. 6, art. 809.
  12. Natural variation in elicitation of defense-signaling associates to field resistance against the spot blotch disease in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). 2018. Sharma, S., Ranabir Sahu, Sudhir Navathe, Vinod Kumar Mishra, Chand, R., Singh, P.K., Joshi, A.K., Pandey, S.P. In: Frontiers in Plant Science v. 9, art. 636.
  13. Population structure of leaf pathogens of common spring wheat in the West Asian regions of Russia and North Kazakhstan in 2017. 2018. Gultyaeva, E.I., Kovalenko, N.M., Shamanin, V.P., Tyunin, V.A., Shreyder, E.R., Shaydayuk, E.L., Morgunov, A.I. In: Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genetiki i Selektsii v. 22, no. 3, p. 363-369.
  14. The ADRA2A rs553668 variant is associated with type 2 diabetes and five variants were associated at nominal significance levels in a population-based case–control study from Mexico City. 2018. Totomoch-Serra, A., Muñoz, M. de L., Burgueño, J., Revilla-Monsalve, M.C., Perez-Muñoz, A., Diaz-Badillo, A. In: Gene v. 669, p. 28-34.

New Publications: Increasing food and nutrition security in Sub-Saharan African maize-based food systems, a technological perspective

Written by on . Posted in Publications.

Two experimental lines of provitamin A-enriched orange maize, Zambia. Photo: CIMMYT.
Two experimental lines of provitamin A-enriched orange maize, Zambia. Photo: CIMMYT.

A new study from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and Wageningen University examines the preferences and needs of maize processors and consumers in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). According to the authors, the demand for maize, a staple crop in SSA, will triple by 2050 due to rapid population growth. At the same time, the effects of climate change, such as erratic rainfall and drought, threaten agricultural productivity and the ability to meet this growing demand, while persistently high malnutrition pose additional challenges to the region. The authors suggest six objectives to enhance maize breeding programs for better food security and nutrition in SSA.

First, they recommend breeding programs enhance the nutrient density of maize through biofortification to help reduce deficiencies in vitamin A, zinc and protein. Since wheat is difficult to grow in most of SSA and expensive to import, they also suggest that programs breed to enhance the suitability of maize for making bread and snacks. The authors recommend breeding to improve maize for use as ‘green maize’ – the first crop to reach the marketplace after the dry season. If suitable green maize varieties are available, the hunger gap between seasons could be significantly reduced.

The authors’ fourth suggestion is breeding to improve characteristics that enhance the efficiency of local processing. For example, soft maize is preferred for traditional dry and wet milling, but hard maize is usually preferred for pounding or refining processes in the home. Lastly, the authors suggest breeding to reduce waste by maximizing useful product yield and minimizing nutrient losses, and breeding to reduce anti-nutrient concentrations in grains. For example, phytate or phytic acid is a naturally occurring compound found in cereals that binds with minerals and prevents their absorption. Transgenic and gene editing approaches may offer viable options for reducing phytate production.

The authors emphasize that none of these opportunities to enhance breeding strategies are “magic bullet” solutions. Sustainable, diversified crop production and post-harvest management strategies will play an important role in improving nutrition, food security and livelihoods.

Check out the full article: “Sub-Saharan African maize-based foods: Technological perspectives to increase the Food and nutrition Security impacts of maize Breeding programmes” 2018. Ekpa, O., Palacios-Rojas, N., Kruseman, G., Fogliano, V., Linnemann, A. (2018). In: Global Food Security, v. 17, pp. 48-56 and check out other recent publication by CIMMYT staff below:

  1. Bayesian functional regression as an alternative statistical analysis of high-throughput phenotyping data of modern agriculture. Montesinos-López, A., Montesinos-Lopez, O.A., De los Campos, G., Crossa, J., Burgueño, J., Luna-Vazquez, F.J. In: Plant Methods v. 14, art. 46.
  2. Exploring the physiological information of sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence through radiative transfer model inversion. Celesti, M., van der‏ Tol, C., Cogliati, S., Panigada, C., Peiqi Yang, Pinto Espinosa, F., Rascher | Miglietta, F., Colombo, R., Rossini, M. In: Remote Sensing of Environment v. 215, p. 97-108.
  3. Genome-wide association mapping for resistance to leaf rust, stripe rust and tan spot in wheat reveals potential candidate genes. Juliana, P., Singh, R.P., Singh, P.K., Poland, J.A., Bergstrom, G.C., Huerta-Espino, J., Bhavani, S., Crossa, J., Sorrells, M.E. In: Theoretical and Applied Genetics v. 131, no. 7, p. 1405-1422.
  4. High-throughput method for ear phenotyping and kernel weight estimation in maize using ear digital imaging. Makanza, R., Zaman-Allah, M., Cairns, J.E., Eyre, J., Burgueño, J.,  Pacheco Gil, R. A., Diepenbrock, C., Magorokosho, C., Amsal Tesfaye Tarekegne, Olsen, M., Prasanna, B.M. In: Plant Methods v. 14, art. 49.
  5. IPM to control soil-borne pests on wheat and sustainable food production. Dababat, A.A., Erginbas-Orakci, G., Toumi, F., Braun, H.J., Morgounov, A.I., Sikora, R.A. In: Arab Journal of Plant Protection v. 36, no. 1, p. 37-44.
  6. Long-term impact of conservation agriculture and diversified maize rotations on carbon pools and stocks, mineral nitrogen fractions and nitrous oxide fluxes in inceptisol of India. Parihar, C.M., Parihar M.D., Sapkota, T.B., Nanwal, R.K., Singh, A.K., Jat, S.L., Nayak, H.S., Mahala, D.M., Singh, L.K., Kakraliya, S.K., Stirling, C., Jat, M.L. In: Science of the Total Environment v. 640-641, p. 1382-1392.
  7. Major biotic maize production stresses in Ethiopia and their management through host resistance. Keno, T., Azmach, G., Dagne Wegary Gissa, Regasa, M.W., Tadesse, B., Wolde, L., Deressa, T., Abebe, B., Chibsa, T., Mahabaleswara, S. In: African Journal of Agricultural Research v. 13, no. 21, p. 1042-1052.
  8. Natural variation in elicitation of defense-signaling associates to field resistance against the spot blotch disease in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Sharma, S., Ranabir Sahu,  Sudhir Navathe, Vinod Kumar Mishra, Chand, R., Singh, P.K., Joshi, A.K., Pandey, S.P. In: Frontiers in Plant Science v. 9, art. 636.
  9. Population structure of leaf pathogens of common spring wheat in the West Asian regions of Russia and North Kazakhstan in 2017. Gultyaeva, E.I., Kovalenko, N.M., Shamanin, V.P., Tyunin, V.A., Shreyder, E.R., Shaydayuk, E.L., Morgunov, A.I. In: Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genetiki i Selektsii v. 22, no. 3, p. 363-369.
  10. The ADRA2A rs553668 variant is associated with type 2 diabetes and five variants were associated at nominal significance levels in a population-based case–control study from Mexico City. Totomoch-Serra, A., Muñoz, M. de L., Burgueño, J., Revilla-Monsalve, M.C., Perez-Muñoz, A., Diaz-Badillo, A. In: Gene v. 669, p. 28-34.

New Publications: Tackling the wheat blast threat in South Asia

Written by Mike Listman on . Posted in Publications.

This blast-infected wheat spike contains no grain, only chaff. Photo: CIMMYT files.
This blast-infected wheat spike contains no grain, only chaff. Photo: CIMMYT files.

A spatial mapping and ex ante study regarding the risk and potential spread in South Asia of wheat blast, a mysterious and deadly disease from the Americas that unexpectedly infected wheat in southwestern Bangladesh in 2016, identified 7 million hectares of wheat cropping areas in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan whose agro-climatic conditions resemble those of the Bangladesh outbreak zone.

The study shows that, under a conservative scenario of 5-10% wheat blast production damage in a single season in those areas, wheat grain losses would amount to from 0.89 to 1.77 million tons worth, between $180 and $350 million. This would strain the region’s already fragile food security and forcing up wheat imports and prices, according to Khondoker Abdul Mottaleb, first author of the study.

“Climate change and related changes in weather patterns, together with continuing globalization, expose wheat crops to increased risks from pathogens that are sometimes transported over long distances,” said Mottaleb.

Foresight research at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) has focused on new diseases and pests that have emerged or spread in recent decades, threatening global food safety and security. For wheat these include Ug99 and other new strains of stem rust, the movement of stripe rust into new areas, and the sudden appearance in Bangladesh of wheat blast, which had previously been limited to South America.

“As early as 2011, CIMMYT researchers had warned that wheat blast could spread to new areas, including South Asia,” said Kai Sonder, who manages CIMMYT’s geographic information systems lab and was a co-author on the current study, referring to a 2011 note published by the American Pathological Society. “Now that forecast has come true.”

CIMMYT has played a pivotal role in global efforts to study and control blast, with funding from the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the CGIAR Research Program on Wheat (WHEAT), the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

This has included the release by Bangladesh of the first blast resistant, biofortified wheat variety in 2017, using a CIMMYT wheat line, and numerous training events on blast for South Asia researchers.

Read the full article in PLOS-One: “Threat of wheat blast to South Asia’s food security: An ex-ante analysis” and check out other recent publication by CIMMYT staff below:

  1. Africa’s unfolding economic transformation. 2018. Jayne, T.S., Chamberlin, J., Benfica, R. In: The Journal of Development Studies v. 54, no. 5, p. 777-787.
  2. Agricultural innovation and inclusive value-chain development: a review. 2018. Devaux, A., Torero, M., Donovan, J. A., Horton, D. In: Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies v. 8, no. 1, p. 99-123.
  3. Challenges and prospects of wheat production in Bhutan: a review. 2018. Tshewang, S., Park, R.F., Chauhan, B.S., Joshi, A.K. In: Experimental Agriculture v. 54, no. 3, p. 428.442.
  4. Characterization and mapping of leaf rust resistance in four durum wheat cultivars. 2018. Kthiri, D., Loladze, A., MacLachlan, P. R., N’Diaye, A., Walkowiak, S., Nilsen, K., Dreisigacker, S.,  Ammar, K., Pozniak, C.J. In: PLoS ONE v. 13, no. 5, art. e0197317.
  5. Fixed versus variable rest period effects on herbage accumulation and canopy structure of grazed ‘Tifton 85’ and ‘Jiggs’ Bermuda grass. 2018. Pedreira, C. G. S., Silva, V. J. da., Guimaraes, M. S., Pequeño, D. N. L., Tonato, F. In: Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira v. 53, no. 1, p. 113-120.
  6. Gestión de la interacción en procesos de innovación rural. 2018.  Roldan-Suarez, E., Rendon-Medel, R., Camacho Villa, T.C., Aguilar-Ávila, J. In: Corpoica : Ciencia y Tecnología Agropecuaria v. 19, no. 1, p. 15-28.
  7. Market participation and marketing channel preferences by small scale sorghum farmers in semi-arid Zimbabwe. 2018. Musara, J. P., Musemwa, L., Mutenje, M., Mushunje, A., Pfukwa, C. In: Agrekon v. 57, no. 1, p. 64-77.
  8. The economics behind an ecological crisis: livelihood effects of oil palm expansion in Sumatra, Indonesia. 2018. Kubitza, C., Krishna, V.V., Alamsyah, Z., Qaim, M. In: Human Ecology v. 46, no. 1, p. 107–116.
  9. Understanding the factors that influence household use of clean energy in the Similipal Tiger Reserve, India. 2018. Madhusmita Dash, Behera, B., Rahut, D. B. In: Natural Resources Forum v. 42, no. 1, p. 3-18.

New Publications: Biofortified maize to reduce malnutrition

Written by on . Posted in Publications.

Screenshot 2018-05-17 at 6.23.40 PM
A farmer carries maize back from the field.

A new science brief, written by scientists from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and partner organizations details the use of naturally occurring diversity in maize to breed higher levels of Vitamin A into the crop.

Diets high in cereal crops are often lacking in vitamins and minerals, leading to malnutrition. However, maize, which is eaten widely in developing countries, and provides nearly one third of total calories to over 4.5 billion people globally, can be bred to naturally produce nutritionally adequate levels of VA.

Vitamin A (VA) deficiency is the leading cause of preventable childhood blindness and nearly one third of children under the age of five are at risk of developing VA deficiency. ProVA maize has been shown to be effective at increasing VA status in at-risk children, reducing the likelihood that they will suffer from complications such as blindness.

The science brief details the use of the naturally occurring genetic diversity, found in the nearly 30,000 maize cultivars held between the germplasm banks at CIMMYT and at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), to breed higher levels of VA into maize which is more suited for the tropical environments where VA deficiencies are more common.

This initiative to increase VA in maize is part of a larger CGIAR-wide initiative for biofortification with HarvestPlus and Crop Trust. This article is part of a series on biofortification by Crop Trust, find the rest of the series here.

Check out the full article: “Vitamin A-Biofortified Maize: Exploiting Native Genetic Variation for Nutrient Enrichment. Science Brief: Biofortification No. 2.” 2018. Menkir, A., Palacios-Rojas, N., Alamu, O., Dias Paes, M.c., Dhliwayo, T., Maziya-Dixon, B., Mengesha, W., Ndhlela, T., Oliveira Guimarães, P.E., Pixley, K., Rocheford, T. (February 2018). CIMMYT, IITA, EMBRAPA, HarvestPlus, and Crop Trust. Bonn, Germany.

Check out other recent publication by CIMMYT staff below:

  1. Do mature innovation platforms make a difference in agricultural research for development? a meta-analysis of case studies. 2018. Schut, M., Cadilhon, J. J., Misiko, M., Dror, I. In: Experimental Agriculture v. 54, no. 1, p. 96-119.
  2. Nematode management in rain-fed smallholder maize production systems under Conservation Agriculture in Zimbabwe. 2018. Madamombe, S.M., Nyagumbo, I., Mvumi, B.M., Nyamugafata, P., Wuta, M., Chinheya, C.C. In: Experimental Agriculture v. 54, no. 3, p. 452-466.
  3. High-yielding winter synthetic hexaploid wheats resistant to multiple diseases and pests. 2018. Morgounov, A.I., Abugalieva, A.I., Akan, K., Akın, B., Baenziger, S., Bhatta, M.R., Dababat, A.A., Dutbayev, Y., Moustapha El Bouhssini, Erginbas-Orakci, G., Kishii, M., Keser, M., Koc, E., Kurespek, A., Mujeeb-Kazi, A., Yorgancılar, A., Ozdemir, F., Ozturk, I., Payne, T.S., Qadimaliyeva, G., Shamanin, V., Subasi, K., Suleymanova, G., Yakisir, E., Zelenskiy, Y., Demir, L. In: Plant Genetic Resources v. 16, no. 3, p. 273-278.
  4. Measuring farm and market level economic impacts of improved maize production technologies in Ethiopia : evidence from Panel Data. 2018. Kassie, M., Marenya, P., Tessema, Y., Jaleta Debello Moti, Zeng, D., Erenstein, O., Dil Bahadur Rahut. In: Journal of Agricultural Economics v. 69, no. 1, p. 76–95.
  5. Cereal cyst nematodes : importance, distribution, identification, quantification, and control. 2018. Toumi, F., Waeyenberge, L., Viaene, N., Dababat, A.A., Nicol, J.M., Moens, M., Ogbonnaya, F.C. In: European Journal of Plant Pathology v. 150, no. 1, p. 1-24.