Rajendra in the maize field (Photo: Deepa Woli, CIMMYT)
Rajendra Kathariya, a 41-year-old resident of Joshipur-2 in Kailali district, far-west of Kathmandu, has transformed his life and that of his family of five through commercial agriculture. Despite many challenges, Rajendra has remained committed to achieving financial sustainability through enhanced farming practices. Over the last two years, his partnership with Nepal Seed and Fertilizer (NSAF) and CIMMYT, in collaboration with Nisrau Multipurpose Cooperative, a partner cooperative of NSAF, has been instrumental in his success.Â
Moving from traditional to modern farming
Previously, Rajendra cultivated cereal crops using traditional methods which often led to food crises for his family. However, he has now shifted to cultivating various crops throughout the year using modern farming techniques on his 1.02 ha of land and an additional 2.71 ha which he has leased.Â
“Before NSAF’s support, we only cultivated two crops per year. Now we harvest three crops and are considering commercial maize production,” Rajendra said.Â
Remarkable achievements in crop production
Last year, Rajendra cultivated rice on 3.72 ha, yielding 8.8 metric tons (t) worth NPR 250,000 (US $1,880.71). Similarly, he sold 3.8t of spring maize from 1.35 ha, earning NPR 110,000 (US $827.51). This year, he expanded maize cultivation to 2.03 ha, with an expected income of NPR 200,000 (US $1,504.57). His potato crop yielded 5.5t worth NPR 125,000 (US $940.35), with an additional 5.5t stored for future sale.Â
In addition to crops, Rajendra has established a pig farm, earning NPR 400,000 (US $3,009.13) in 2023 from selling pigs. He received a feed-making machine for pigs from NSAF, under its support to agribusiness Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Â
Embracing modern technology and techniques
Rajendra uses both organic and chemical fertilizers and follows improved farming techniques such as hybrid seeds, line sowing, and machinery use. He owns a mini tiller and rents other machinery as needed. This year, with support from NSAF, he used a drone to spray fertilizer on his spring maize, significantly reducing labor and time.Â
“I have viewed videos of drones spraying fertilizer but never imagined it happening on my spring maize land. As a demonstration, 0.57 ha was used for nano urea spraying. The task was completed within five minutes of the drone taking flight. Similarly, I was astonished to learn that a drone can cover 2.02 ha in a mere 20 minutes,” he shared.Â
Intercropping and future plans
Rajendra has also implemented intercropping, combining maize with legumes on a 0.10-hectare plot. “Spring maize-legume intercropping is productive and effective for farmers such as me. We can make a profit from legumes, as well as spring maize. I will continue using this practice in the future,” he said.Â
Financial investments and community impact
The profits from agriculture have helped Rajendra to manage his household comfortably. He can now provide education for his four children, manage household expenses, and also pay the loan that he had taken for his household expenses. In addition, he recently invested NPR 250,000 (US $1,880.71) to build a new pig shed. He also sells his produce in local markets at Joshipur, Kailali. Â
“I have travelled a long way from being a subsistence farmer to engaging in commercial farming. This shift from traditional to improved farming technologies has been made possible with the support of NSAF/CIMMYT. I am grateful for their assistance and encouragement,” Rajendra said.Â
Vision for sustainability
Rajendraâs story reflects his dedication and hard work. “I was working as a daily wage laborer in India, hoping to secure a promising future for my children. Today, I can achieve complete sustainability through agriculture and provide quality education and a better life for my children,” he shared.Â
Drone on maize field (Photo: by Shishir Sapkota, CIMMYT)
Mariam Salim with amaranth grain that is ready to harvest from her vegetable field. (Photo: World Vegetable Centre)
On Pemba Island, part of Tanzaniaâs Zanzibar archipelago, more women are engaging in vegetable production and value addition, bolstering household nutrition and income security. This movement is significant in areas where modern agricultural technology and awareness of nutrient-rich crops like amaranthâa vegetable high in fiber, protein, and essential micronutrientsâare limited.
Mariam Salim, who lives in Mjini Ole village on Pemba Island, is among the women embracing amaranth cultivation. Along with 272 other farmers, 53% of whom are women, she attended a three-day training course on vegetable cultivation and value addition. Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through CIMMYT under the Southern Africa Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative (AID-I) project, and implemented by the World Vegetable Center, the training covered good agricultural practices, as well as the cultivation and processing of grain amaranth into flour.
The training equipped Mariam with essential knowledge and skills to enhance her agricultural productivity and livelihood.
Sowing seeds for success
Participants received seed kits containing eight varieties of nutritious traditional African vegetables, including African eggplant, African nightshade, amaranth, cowpea, and Ethiopian mustard. Farming a diverse range of crops supports food security and improves community nutrition.
During the training, Mariam realized the potential of growing grain amaranth for seed production. âI discovered that I could produce my own seeds and amaranth flour,â she said. âThis opened up new opportunities for me to take control of my farming practices and increase my self-sufficiency.â
Seed production is a vital part of sustainable agriculture, enabling farmers like Mariam to boost productivity, diversify crops, and adopt climate-smart practices. By venturing into seed production, Mariam not only gained a valuable skill but also contributed to conserving and propagating important crop varieties within her community.
Mariam now sells seeds to other farmers, providing her with a new income source while supporting the broader agricultural community by facilitating access to quality seeds. Since the training in July 2023, Mariam has harvested 150 kg of seeds, selling them per kilogram (kg), earning US $450 and enhancing her household income security.
Healthy choices for communities
As the first woman in her community to undertake such an endeavor, Mariam is inspiring other women to explore new farming and food processing opportunities. Through the AID-I project on Zanzibar Island, more than 500 women have started home gardening to access quality vegetables for family consumption and business purposes, introducing new crop varieties and increasing household vegetable consumption.
This light bulb moment underscores the transformative power of education and knowledge-sharing initiatives under AID-I. By providing farmers with information on vegetable grain production and value addition, the project fosters self-reliance and innovation in sustainable farming practices.
Mariam’s detailed description of her seed production process highlights her dedication to agricultural innovation and community health. âIt takes three months to harvest seeds, so I must be patient and committed to nurturing healthy crops,â she said. âI must also be precise in caring for the seeds through harvesting, drying, tapping, and sifting.â
The World Vegetable Center promotes home gardening among women. More than 500 participants actively cultivate and process vegetables into nutrient-dense packs. By growing their own vegetables, these women access nutritious food for their families, generate income from surplus produce, and improve health and well-being within the community.
Mariam Salimâs light bulb moment came during a training session on amaranth grain, where she recognized the potential of producing her own seeds. (Photo: World Vegetable Center)
Written by mcallejas on . Posted in Uncategorized.
Bulinda is a Value Chains Specialist with 8 years of experience leading Value Chains design and analysis, Livelihood, and Social Protection Programs in rural and humanitarian settings across the country. He interacts closely with policy processes and actively engages in generating knowledge that improves the delivery of development programs in the region.
Bulinda is currently a consulting research associate at CIMMYT. He has previously worked for other organizations and projects, providing technical support in strategy and project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluations, and humanitarian programming. He has specifically worked on projects for CHASP, ACTS, ICIPE, GROOTS Kenya, AfriDev Consulting, 3R-Netherlands’s project, ILRI, and Policy and Market Options.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness Management and an MSc degree in Agribusiness Management at The Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Agriculture and Agribusiness Management (CESAAM) from Egerton University.
Farmer Gidey explaining to the CIMMYT research team and implementing partners the multiple benefits of the CSA intervention in Folfolo village (Photo: Desalegne Tadesse).
Agricultural activities, particularly the production of cereal crops and major staple foods like maize, wheat, teff, barley, and sorghum, are vital to the livelihoods of rural communities in Ethiopia. For example, about 80% of agricultural operations in the Tigray regionâs Adwa district are related to cereal production. However, this, as well as agriculture in general, is highly susceptible to the effects of climate variability and change, which have a direct influence on farming communitiesâ rural livelihoods.
With support from the Development Fund (DF), CIMMYT is collaborating with several partners to address the challenges caused by climate variability in agriculture through the implementation of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies and practices. Efforts are currently focused on the Folfolo and Lalay Logomti watersheds in Adwa, where CSA demonstration sites are being implemented through Ethiopiaâs Climate Adaptation and Rural Development (CARD)-II Program.
On 2 August 2024, CIMMYT scientists and experts from CSA-implementing partners under the CARD-II program visited the CSA demonstration sites to observe the ongoing activities, interact with farmers, and share their thoughts on progress so far.
Rehabilitating the natural environment
Since 2021, CIMMYT and partners, including the Relief Society of Tigray (REST), iDE, Women Empowerment Action, ORDA-Ethiopia, and HELVETAS, have been implementing numerous CSA-related activities on hillsides, farmlands, homesteads, and gullies. These activities provide multiple benefits for farmers to ensure food and nutrition security and include the management of natural resources, such as creating an arboretum, constructing trenches, and planting indigenous trees and forage plants in the upper catchments. Lower catchments and farmlands are undergoing biological and physical reclamation of gullies and riverbanks, trench construction, percolation ponds, crop diversification, and homestead plantations.
Moti Jaleta, a CIMMYT agricultural economist coordinating the implementation of CSA activities under the CARD-II Program, was excited by the visit and the effort farmers and partners have put into rehabilitating the natural environment and degraded croplands. He was also impressed by the food and feed crop technologies farmers have integrated into the rehabilitation work, as well as the overall benefits farmers have witnessed from their efforts.
âIt is crucial to understand that the benefits of CSA technologies often extend beyond boosting yields,â said CIMMYT systems agronomist Tesfaye Shiferaw, who passionately described the program’s successes so far. âFor example, in smallholder farming systems facing terminal droughts, an improvement in soil moisture content that would extend crop growth duration by just ten days can mean the difference between a complete crop failure and a normal yield.â
âThis underscores the vital role of CSA technologies, especially under challenging conditions,â he explained. âDuring our field visit to those sites, such anecdotes were repeatedly emphasized.â
Natural resource management activity demo site at Gedeba watershed in Folfolo village (Photo: Desalegne Tadesse).
Streams begin to flow
Farmer testimonies from the field attest to the numerous benefits of CSA practices. âThis area was known for its high runoff and water erosion some years ago,â said Giday Hagos, a 70-year-old farmer from Folfolo village. âProducing crops and engaging in other agricultural pursuits seemed unimaginable. But following the intervention of the CSA, I was very excited when the streams at the mountainâs base began to flow, and I started farming immediately using the stream for supplementary irrigation.â
Hagos used to grow cereal crops, but he was excited to make use of the potential offered by CSA technologies and has now shifted to market-driven commodities. âLast year, I was able to generate an income of about ETB 90,000 (approx. $815) from the sale of onions,â he explained. âAnd this year, expanded the farming activities to other areas by renting additional plots.â
The program was designed to increase productivity, adaptation, and sustainability while enhancing resilience to climate shocks through mitigation. So far, the successes are numerous. Upper catchment hills have seen an increase in vegetation cover, degraded lands have undergone regeneration, water runoff has decreased, groundwater yield has increased, streams and springs are thriving, soil moisture and forage availability have increased, and farmers have diversified their crop and livestock production. These are just a few of the multiple effects of the CSA technologies and practices implemented at the watershed level by the local farming community, the Relief Society of Tigray (REST), the Ethiopian government, and other local partners. The adoption of CSA technologies has also provided greater opportunities to reduce the harmful effects of climate change on agriculture and improve rural livelihoods.
Farmer Gidey Hagos, a champion farmer who practices CSA to grow maize intercropping with fruits and other crops using the percolation ponds at Folfolo watershed (Photo: Desalegne Tadesse).
As the summer cultivation season began in May 2024, Fatima Hassan, a 52-year-old farmer from New Halfa, Kassala State, in eastern Sudan, faced an uncertain future. Like thousands of other farmers in her region, Fatima lacked the financial means to purchase seeds, fertilizers, herbicides, or even hire a tractor. The ongoing armed conflict in Sudan had severely disrupted agricultural activities, leaving farmers without the necessary resources to cultivate their land.
‘When I learned about the Sudan Food Security Initiative (SFSI), I was extremely happy. The support from the initiative has given me and my family renewed hope,’ Fatima said while tending to her groundnut farm.”
Fatima Hassan weeds her groundnut field cultivated with support from the SFSI. (Photo credit: Suliman Fadlalla/CIMMYT)
Under the aegis of the SASAS program, the USAID-funded SFSIÂ was launched in May 2024 in response to Sudan’s food security challenges. Targeting over 50,000 farmers in the New Halfa scheme, the initiative aims to strengthen resilient food production systems by providing significantly subsidized agricultural inputs and technologies, ensuring that farmers can sustain and enhance their farming practices despite the ongoing conflict in the region.
Hamid Rahama expresses his gratitude to the tractor driver ploughing his land in New Halfa as part of the SFSI. (Photo credit: Suliman Fadlalla/CIMMYT)
Sowing seeds of optimism
‘Support from SASAS came at a critical time as the armed conflict spread into new areas across the country, de-risking the crucial summer planting season. Through the SFSI, we are enabling farmers to adopt improved technologies and inputs at more affordable rates, thereby enhancing Sudan’s domestic food production,’ said SASAS Program Chief of Party Abdelrahman Kheir.
The SFSI provides each farmer with a 70% subsidy on a comprehensive package that includes land preparation for 0.42 hectares (ha), improved seeds for groundnut and sorghum, crop protection supplies, fertilizers, and agricultural advisory services. This initiative has already resulted in the planting of 14,568 ha of sorghum and 5,882 ha of groundnut. The crops are showing promising signs, with germination progressing well across all cultivated areas.
‘We had lost all hope of benefiting during this cultivation season. The subsidized land preparation, seed purchase, and other inputs have given us a lifeline. In the past, I was not able to buy fertilizers and herbicides, so my sorghum production was poor. This time things have changed dramatically, and we are well-equipped for a good cultivation season,’ said Hamid Rahama, a farmer from northern Halfa. Hamid echoes the optimism shared by many farmers in the region.”
Focus on a sustainable and food secure ecosystem
One of the most significant aspects of the initiative is its focus on building a sustainable seed production system. In partnership with 120 farmers and a private seed company, 252 ha (189 ha of sorghum and 63 ha of groundnut) were established for seed production in New Halfa. The initiative is projected to yield 360 metric tons (t) of sorghum and 270 t of groundnut seeds, thereby enhancing the resilience of the local agricultural ecosystem.
The anticipated yields from these efforts instill a much-needed optimism in an otherwise challenging situation. For groundnuts, the expected yield is 4.5 t/ha, resulting in an output of 26,000 t, enough to meet the nutritional needs of over 1.2 million people. Likewise, the sorghum harvest is projected to reach 54,000 t, providing sustenance for approximately 720,000 people.
An agricultural expert from SASAS inspects the growth of groundnuts cultivated under the SFSI in New Halfa. (Photo credit: Suliman Fadlalla/CIMMYT)A farmer inspects the growth of his sorghum field in New Halfa cultivated with support from the SFSI. (Photo credit: Suliman Fadlalla/CIMMYT)
The bold sections indicate the changes made for grammatical correctness, including unit consistency and phrasing adjustments.
In addition to providing inputs, the SASAS program also addresses broader food security challenges by ensuring that farmers receive the necessary technical support throughout various agricultural operations. This includes the introduction of drought-tolerant sorghum varieties, which are showcased to farmers through field days and demonstration plots.
Despite the numerous challenges posed by the ongoing conflict in Sudan, CIMMYT and its partners involved in implementing the SASAS initiative remain undeterred. Although the ongoing armed conflict has compelled many local agriculture advisory companies to scale back their operations due to security and logistical difficulties, the teams remain committed to supporting Sudanese farmers and improving agricultural productivity, thereby contributing to Sudanâs overall food security.
‘We lost a significant number of improved seed production fields due to the conflict. Nevertheless, we ensured the provision of all necessary certified seeds for the SFSI, along with top-quality herbicides,’ said the CEO of Harvest Agricultural Company Isam Ali. He added that despite considerable challenges in transporting agricultural machinery due to security issues, the company completed all land preparations in a timely manner for farmers.
The early impact of SFSI is evident in the renewed hope and optimism among farmers in New Halfa, who are now better equipped to face the challenges of the summer cropping season and contribute to the nationâs food security. With the harvest dates approachingâNovember for groundnuts and December for sorghumâthe initiative is on track to significantly enhance food production in the region, providing a lifeline to thousands of farmers such as Fatima and Hamid.
Packing improved sorghum seeds for delivery to farmers as part of the SFSI in New Halfa. (Photo credit: Suliman Fadlalla/CIMMYT)
Dr Sieg Snapp is Program Director, Sustainable Agrifood Systems, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)
Climate change is upending weather patterns across Africa, presenting dire challenges for farming communities. In Zambia, the impact is particularly harsh. Agriculture is the lifeblood of the economy, with two-thirds of the countryâs workforce employed in agriculture, and 78% of these workers are women.
The country faced a severe El Niño during the 2023/2024 season, causing a severe drought that devastated over 1 million hectares of cropland. The president declared it a national disaster. El Niño events typically result in catastrophic drops in crop yields, often reducing maize harvests by 30-40%. These events not only impact food security but also hinder economic growth, with the agricultural sector’s contribution to Zambia’s GDP dropping from 9.4% to 3.39%.
The devastating El Niño-induced drought in Zambia is starkly illustrated by the story of Melody Limweta, a 31-year-old farmer. She and her husband, Collins Manenekela, have seen their already fragile livelihood pushed to the brink by severe water shortages. Typically, they rely on dry season gardening and small-scale farming, including raising chickens, during the rainy season. However, the drought has dried up local water sources, making gardening impossible and sharply reducing their income. The couple’s practice of planting maize in the same field each year with recycled seeds and traditional methods has worsened their situation, as the El Niño-induced rainfall deficits have led to poor yields. Their primary source of food and income has withered in the field due to insufficient rainfall.
A consortium of partners led by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) have joined together as a rapid delivery hub for these challenging times, providing vital support to rural communities and families such as Melody and Collins. Farmers have a strong voice in this unique delivery mode. With support from the people of the U.S. government, the Southern Africa Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative (AID-I) is promoting access to drought-tolerant crops, climate-busting and nutritious legume seeds, agricultural advice and early warning systems to combat climate change. AID-I provides critical support to ensure that millions of smallholder farmers in the Haut-Katanga region of DR Congo, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia have access to information and innovations needed for gains in food production that help buffer drought, flood and rising food, fuel, and fertilizer prices.
Speed and Scale: planting drought-tolerant maize
The idea of the ADI-I as a rapid delivery hub is to make available innovations and agronomic information at both speed and scale. Traditional farming methods and crops struggle with climate extremes like El Niño, which bring prolonged dry spells and heatwaves. Drought-tolerant maize varieties offer a promising solution by enhancing agricultural resilience. These adapted maize varieties yield 30-50% more than traditional ones under drought conditions, as demonstrated in recent trials during El Niño periods. However, these improved varieties are only useful when in farmersâ hands.
Working with local partners, AID-I is scaling drought-tolerant maize varieties to help Zambian farmers manage unpredictable weather patterns. In the 2023/2024 season, approximately 27% of Zambia’s smallholder farmers saw a significant boost in their maize harvests, benefiting over 900 thousand people in drought-affected regions, owing to drought-tolerant maize varieties. Over six hundred thousand households planted drought-tolerant maize varieties and produced 235 thousand metric tons of maize, accounting for 19% of Zambiaâs maize production in the 2023/2024 season. This is huge return, as only 10% of the maize-growing area being planted with these resilient varieties.
Crop diversification for family nutrition
In addition to drought-tolerant maize, studies indicate that diversifying with legume crops is crucial for managing weather extremes, especially droughts and for improving soil health. Planting legumes helps spread the risk with varied planting and harvest times, cushioning the impact of erratic rainfall on crop yields. Women can feed their families due to crops like peanuts that mature early and need less rainfall. The benefits are sustained over time, as combining legumes with cereals improves overall nutrition and soil health, even amid unpredictable weather.
To support this effort, AID-I linked over 2,000 farmers to high-quality seeds for groundnuts (peanuts) and soybeans. On average, each household harvested about 80 kg of groundnuts and 175 kg of soybeans, earning roughly $75 and $58, respectively. Collectively, this initiative produced about 205 metric tons of these crops, accounting for around 14.3% of Zambia’s total production in the drought-stricken season. Farmers had a voice in choosing which crop varieties to grow through a feedback system called âlet’s chatâ where with an ordinary flip phone farmers could call in and learn from their neighbour’s recorded commentary and testimonials. For the first time ever, farmers could provide comments on which crops they preferred, providing a lifeline of communication with agritraders, government and agricultural advisors.
A recent assessment found that Zambian women made up 60% of those benefiting from cowpeas, 65% from groundnuts, 62% from soybeans, and 36% from drought-tolerant maize.
Forewarned is forearmed – early-warning systems
Weather information services, especially early warnings about upcoming droughts, are vital for helping farmers adapt to climate change. Accurate and timely weather forecasts enable farmers to make informed decisions about planting, resource use, and crop management. This reduces losses and boosts productivity. Research shows that access to climate information can significantly increase crop yields and incomes, with some farmers experiencing up to a 66% boost in yields and a 24% rise in income.
The forecast of an El Niño for the 2023/2024 season prompted an early warning campaign to raise awareness about the hazards associated with El Niño and provide response mechanisms for smallholder farmers. AID-I used an Interactive Voice Response platform hosted by Viamo, a global social enterprise that uses mobile technology to connect people to valuable information and services. This rapid El Niño advisory campaign reached over 500 thousand farmers, with 60% male and 40% female listeners, and 93% of them under 35 years old. The campaign provided crucial advice on planting schedules, drought-resistant crops, and water-saving techniques.
Additionally, AID-I established demonstration sites that showcased effective winter crop production methods and introduced over 2,000 farmers to innovative agricultural practices. These interventions significantly improved farmers’ ability to respond to the drought.
Looking ahead
Scaling the adoption of drought-tolerant maize, improved legumes, and timely advisories is vital to protecting Zambia’s agriculture from climate extremes. The introduction of an AID-I-supported digital advisory campaign in September 2023 was a turning point for farmers like Melody and Collins. By engaging with the content, they learned about improved seeds, crop rotation, and better agronomic practices, which helped them cope with ongoing challenges and protect their resources. Initiatives like this can help families on the margins survive and rebuild agricultural production faster.
AID-I’s impact on families like Melody and Collins shows that investing in rapid delivery hubs is crucial for building resilience in farming communities. Expanding such initiatives will ensure more smallholder farmers have access to the innovations needed to maintain or increase food production amid climatic challenges.
Additionally, studies by organizations like Springer and the American Geophysical Union highlight the importance of integrating rapid delivery hubs into mainstream agricultural programs to enhance climate resilience and food security. Therefore, this necessitates an open call for international development alliesâincluding donors, governments, NGOs, and businessesâto incorporate initiatives like AID-I into broader agricultural agendas, essential for fostering resilience and ensuring the future stability of farming communities in Zambia and beyond.
*Dr. Sieg Snapp is a leading agricultural scientist, renowned for creating the “mother and baby” trial design, a global method that enhances farmer-researcher collaboration, improving genetics and soil management in 30 countries. As Program Director at CIMMYT in Mexico, she oversees sustainable agrifood systems research, leading a large team focused on supporting smallholder farmers in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Her work emphasizes gender-aware, inclusive development and has fostered partnerships for sustainable agricultural practices. A Professor at Michigan State University with over 180 publications, Dr. Snapp has also significantly influenced agricultural policy and technology adoption in Africa. Her contributions have earned her numerous prestigious awards, and she holds a Ph.D. from the University of California Davis.
Melinda Smale’s groundbreaking work in agricultural economics, particularly her collaboration with CIMMYT, has played a pivotal role in advancing the understanding of crop diversity conservation. At CIMMYT, Smale worked with plant breeders and agronomists to analyze maize landraces and wheat genetic diversity, contributing to the development of strategies that support sustainable agriculture and food security. Her research has informed CIMMYTâs efforts to preserve biodiversity and enhance the resilience of farming systems, directly aligning with the organization’s mission to improve global food security through science and innovation.
Stakeholder collaboration to create a coherent digital agriculture framework, an ecosystem to promote digital agriculture, and local government participation emerged as top recommendations to bridge the gap between technology and agriculture during the International Digital Agriculture Forum, Nepal 2024, held in Kathmandu, Nepal. Â
The event themed âInnovate, Cultivate, Thrive: Advancing Agriculture with Digital Solutionsâ brought together global and local stakeholders to explore the transformative potential of digital solutions in Nepalâs agricultural sector. Â
The focus on addressing the digital divide in Nepalâs agricultural sector by sharing emerging technologies and innovations, generating research ideas to provide inputs to the upcoming digital agriculture strategy of Nepal National Digital Agriculture Strategy and Action Plan for Nepal, and promoting an inclusive and sustainable transformation in the agriculture and food systems of Nepal.Â
Over the course of two days, the event attracted 135 participants, including 11 international experts and 29 national experts and representatives. It was organized by the Nepal Seed and Fertilizer Project (NSAF) and implemented by CIMMYT, with support from the United States Agency for Agriculture Development (USAID) in partnership with Pathway Technologies & Services Pvt Ltd, Seed Innovation Pvt Ltd, and Kathmandu Living Labs Pvt Ltd.
Key highlights from the event Â
The forum included keynote presentations, success stories of ICT business practices, and panel discussions with global subject experts, industry leaders, government agencies and local agritech companies. The event also comprised breakout groups for in-depth discussions, and formal and informal networking opportunities.Â
In his welcome address, Country Representative for Nepal and Coordinator of NSAF Dyutiman Choudhary highlighted the impact of digital agriculture on Nepalese farmers through the NSAF project. He shared how, in partnership with GeoKrishi and PlantSat, farmers now stay more informed on various issues through mobile app, SMS, IVR, farmer advisory services, and crop insurance. Â
The opening session was chaired by Dr. Deepak Kumar Kharal, secretary, agriculture development, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD). Keynote speeches included a global perspective on digital agriculture by Prof. Athula Ginige from Western Sydney University, and national perspective by Ms. Shabnam Shivakoti, joint secretary MoALD. Â
Prof. Ginige presented on âCultivating Innovation: Transforming Challenges into a Sustainable Digital Agrifood Future.â He highlighted the plight of 719 million smallholder farmers living below the poverty line and stressed the need to use digital opportunities such as IoT, AI, and big data to address challenges of food waste and climate change. He shared his experience in developing mobile platforms to improve the lives of smallholder farmers. Â
In her keynote address Shivakoti set the context of Nepalâs digital agriculture and the initiatives undertaken by the government. She highlighted how digital innovations such as virtual agriculture commodity market E-hatbazar, programs such as digital land record maintenance, remote sensing data, and digital apps like GeoKrishi are driving growth in Nepalâs agricultural sector. She also shared details about the draft National Digital Agriculture Strategy. Â
Judith Almodovar, acting director of the Economic Growth Office at USAID-Nepal, emphasized the importance of digital tools in enhancing productivity, efficiency and sustainability. She highlighted USAID’s investment through NSAF in digital innovations, such as seed and soil fertility management using digital tools. Â
âBy leveraging advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, and remote sensing, we can provide real-time insights, improve supply chain management, and increase farmers’ resilience to climate shocks,â she said. Â
The forum featured three technical sessions: innovations in digital agriculture; digital agriculture in actionâpolicies and practices and; rapid fire presentations by seven Nepalese digital ag companies. Additionally, six local digital start-up companies displayed their products. Â
The closing session was chaired by Dr. Narahari Prasad Ghimire, director general of the Department of Agriculture, while Dr. Rajendra Prasad Mishra, secretary of Livestock Development, was invited as chief guest.Â
Recommendations from the forum Â
The discussions and deliberations led to a series of recommendations primary among which were the importance of stakeholder collaboration to create a cohesive digital agriculture framework and developing partnerships and ecosystems to support digital agriculture, including data governance and personalized advisory services for farmers. Participants also emphasized that local governments must be encouraged to lead agricultural digitization initiatives, including staff training and adopting IoT-based intelligent irrigation systems, sensor-based drip irrigation, and drone technology for monitoring crops and livestock. Digital input certification and QR-based agri-input verification (seed, breed, saplings, and fertilizer) tracking systems to enhance trust and transparency emerged as a critical factor. Participants agreed that it was necessary to design technical information, including emergency agricultural alerts, in various formats (text, video, audio) to accommodate farmers with lower levels of literacy. Â
The World Food Prize Foundation names CIMMYT’s former Deputy Director General for Research, Marianne BĂ€nziger, and current post-harvest specialist in the Sustainable Agrifood Systems (SAS) program, Sylvanus Odjo, as two of its inaugural 2024 Top Agri-food Pioneers (TAP).Â
The TAP List, introduced by the Foundation in celebration of its 38th anniversary, highlights 38 innovators from 20 countries and six continents who are making groundbreaking contributions to food and agriculture. Working in a wide range of fields, including agriculture, agtech, nutrition, education and advocacy, these pioneers embody the spirit of innovation needed to address the challenges facing global food systems today.Â
Leading the way: Meet the Top Agri-Food Pioneers of 2024Â
Photo: CIMMYT
Sylvanus Odjo, one of the awardees, is a postharvest specialist focused on the development and implementation of postharvest practices to improve food security in rural communities. He leads a network of research platforms in Mexico, Central America, and Africa, working with collaborators to fill research gaps and provide key recommendations to farmers, the private sector, governments, and NGOs. Odjo holds an M.S. in Food Science and Nutrition and a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Biological Engineering, with his doctoral research focused on the effects of drying processes on maize grain quality.
Photo: CIMMYT
Marianne BĂ€nziger, also recognized on the TAP list, received her Ph.D. in plant physiology from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1992. She is the former Deputy Director General for Research at CIMMYT, where she coordinated efforts to develop drought-tolerant maize varieties for smallholder farmers, promoting innovative approaches such as stress breeding methods and participatory trials.Â
Throughout her career, she has held positions in both science and management. BĂ€nziger has an impressive publication record, with more than 50 articles and book chapters in peer-reviewed international journals and books.Â
As the first cohort of the TAP List, this group of pioneers will grow annually to form a global network dedicated to fostering collaboration and shared learning across food systems. These pioneers will also be featured at the 2024 Borlaug Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa, October 29 to 31.Â
CGIAR has launched a pilot program in Zimbabwe’s Mbire and Murehwa districts to promote agroecological solutions, with CIMMYT as a key partner. The initiative aims to develop sustainable farming practices by addressing challenges like pest outbreaks, drought, and access to quality seeds. CIMMYT’s involvement includes introducing innovative technologies such as demonstration plots and seed fairs, designed to enhance agricultural resilience and sustainability in the region. This collaborative effort seeks to empower local farmers and create a more sustainable agricultural system in Zimbabwe.
Umm Zeina, a 40-year-old farmer living in El Nahal, in Sudanâs Gadarif State, was not happy with her yield, blaming the poor seeds and traditional techniques she was using. This was until she participated in the extensive seeds production training program organized by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).
âWe learned a lot on how to produce seeds and how to control the parasite Striga mixed with crops. The training draws our attention to the fact that the availability of quality seed is the foundation for food production and productivity. As traditional farmers, we had very poor information about the availability, characteristics, and prices of seed of improved varieties,â Umm Zeina stressed.
ICRISATâs extensive training attracted more than 350 (68 female) seed producer farmers from El Fashaga and El Nahal localities aimed at helping seed producers provide seeds of appropriate varieties for use by different categories of farmers. Farmers were also trained in better selection, treatment, and storage of seed from their own farms. The training also focused on the production of disease-free seeds to support agricultural productivity and success. The training helped to enhance farmersâ demand for improved seeds and eventually aimed to deliver improved seeds to more than 6000 farmers in El Fashaga, El Nahal and other neighboring localities.
This training was held as part of CIMMYTâs Sustainable Agrifood Systems Approach for Sudan (SASAS) program, which empowers farmers and herders to reduce the need for humanitarian assistance even in conflict-affected Sudan. In the context of the atrocious food crisis in Sudan, SASAS and partners work to ensure that farmers produce the quality seeds they need to enhance food production amid escalating conflict.
In El Fashaga and El Nahal localities, the seeds production training focused on sorghum, as this crop is widely adapted and drought tolerant as well as it is a staple crop to strengthen food security and contributes to agricultural diversity and economic growth in the regions where it is cultivated.
âDuring the training, we learnt a lot on how to choose the best seeds to produce improved seeds and how to choose the land, isolation area, and cleanliness to harvest. I was extremely interested to learn more about how to keep the seed to its purest form for replanting purposes and human or animal consumption,â said Tarig Hassan, a farmer living in El Nahal locality.
The seeds production training also aimed at maintaining seeds quality control through training and regulatory systems, and how to multiply and distribute seeds in a timely manner and at a price affordable for farmers. Farmers also learnt to use a revolving seed mechanism to make available seeds for many new seed producer farmers for the next season through farmer-to-farmer seeds distribution.
âThe seed production training is not only on how to produce quality seeds and protect loss of seeds, but also about the use of diversified seeds of sorghum, millet and ground nut that serve for both food and nutrition securityâ, said Gizaw Desta, Senior Scientist in ICRISAT.
SASASâs objective is to improve food security and access to income-generating opportunities through the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices and the promotion of agri-processing and post-harvest management. It focuses on supporting smallholder crop and livestock farmers to adapt their farming activities to climate change and abiotic pressures by diversifying their crops to further cushion themselves from climatic vagaries, reduce post-harvest loss, and improve market participation, and functionality. Women and youth are supported through training and agricultural and veterinary inputs to increase income generation activities and access to economic resources.
âAt SASAS, we strive to train farmers in basic farm seed production. This helps preserve and expand the diversity of the seed on which our food systems in Sudan rely. Considering the dire food security situation in the country, we fully encourage farmers to be engaged in seeds production to provide different and improved seed varieties,â said Abdelrahman Kheir, SASAS Chief of Party in Sudan.
SASAS works with ICRISAT to uplift smallholder farmers and ensure food security in semi-arid tropics. SASAS partners are committed to elevating crop productivity, resilience, and sustainability vital to dryland communities’ prosperity. This steadfast commitment profoundly affects millions in the world’s most challenging agricultural regions.
Food security in the prevailing uncertain climatic and economic conditions can only be guaranteed by deliberate actions toward maximizing production, especially in stress-prone environments. The main priority of the CGIAR and NARS breeding programs is to enhance genetic gain in crops through the assessment of seed varieties with drought-resilient, nutritional, and yield traits. This is achieved by leveraging data-driven approaches and embracing contemporary tools and methodologies.
Innovative approaches such as molecular tools, doubled haploid technology, and refined breeding schemes have greatly contributed to the strides made in CIMMYTâs endeavor to elevate genetic gain within breeding pipelines. These advancements not only drive improved productivity but also promise cost-effective strategies for navigating the challenges posed by climate variability.
Molecular Tools
In maize breeding, traditionally, at each stage of the pipeline, entries are grown in multi-location trials. Phenotyping in multiple environments helps to select the best entries not only based on their genetic values but also on environmental factors and their interaction with diverse environments. However, this is also a labor-intensive and time-consuming step in the breeding pipeline. Molecular breeding offers a transformative solution by expanding breeding programs while minimizing phenotyping requirements. It is a well-known fact that trait phenotype results from both genetic and non-genetic factors, with genetic factors being contributed by the expression of genes at the DNA level.
Identifying genomic regions close to causative genes for traits of interest, such as high yield, disease resistance, or quality, can help to incorporate desirable genes/alleles into selected elite genotypes. DNA-based markers aid in efficiently tracking the inheritance of genetic traits, thereby facilitating the selection of desired traits in breeding programs. Marker-assisted forward breeding accelerates the selection of plants with desired traits by identifying the genetic markers associated with those traits. With such harnessed genotypic information, breeders can pre-select genetic material before embarking on the resource-intensive phenotyping stages. This strategic utilization of molecular markers, particularly in identifying susceptibility to key diseases like maize streak virus (MSV) and maize lethal necrosis (MLN), enables the judicious allocation of resources for phenotyping.
Figure 1. Summary of marker-assisted forward breeding across six breeding pipelines for MLN- and MSV-resistance haplotypes over the past six years.
Since 2018, CIMMYT has been implementing marker-assisted forward breeding for MSV and MLN. Since then, more than 100,000 pure breeding lines have been tested by examining their favorable haplotypes with a small set of 10 genetic markers and discarding the lines carrying unfavorable haplotypes for MSV and MLN resistance. In the last six years, nearly 30,000 lines have been rejected before undergoing field testing. In southern Africa, for instance, a rapid response to seed movement using molecular and serological techniques prevented the spread of MLN and facilitated the incorporation of resistance traits into new plant varieties.
Most hybrids in the final stages of breeding pipelines are passed through forward breeding. While Fall Armyworm, Gray Leaf Spot, common rust, and Turcicum Leaf Blight also cause substantial yield reductions in sub-Saharan Africa, research carried out under the AGG project indicates that the genetic makeup of these traits is oligogenic, governed by both moderate and small effect quantitative trait loci (QTLs), but lacking a single major-effect QTL and not amenable to forward breeding. This means that their resistance is influenced by complex multiple genetic factors, rather than being primarily controlled by a few major genetic regions. Alternatively, these biotic stress traits can be improved effectively through genomic selection.
Genomic selection is used to improve complex traits that are controlled by many small-effect QTLs. This approach does not require prior genetic information about the trait of interest and uses genome-wide marker information to estimate all marker effects and select individuals with high genomic-estimated breeding values (GEBVs). This means it uses data from various genetic markers to predict which individuals are likely to have desirable alleles for MSV and MLN. Genomic selection is being applied for grain yield under drought stress, and efforts are underway to extend its application to address more complex challenges related to plant diseases and pests. Foliar diseases are moderately complex traits.
Proof of concept on applying genomic selection for foliar diseases like gray leaf spot and northern corn leaf blight showed high prediction accuracies, supporting the implementation of genomic selection together with forward breeding for other traits at the early stage of the breeding pipeline. Implementing genomic selection for GY under optimum and drought management proved that maize breeders could obtain the same gain as with conventional breeding, where all entries are phenotyped in the field, but at approximately 35-40% less cost. Many candidate hybrids now entering the advanced stages of the breeding pipeline were developed using genomic selection. Several of our earlier studies (Beyene et al., 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021; Chaikam et al., 2019; Crossa et al., 2017; Prasanna et al., 2022; Vivek et al., 2017) showed that breeding pipelines achieved high genetic gain by adopting new molecular tools, thus confirming the benefit of adopting molecular breeding tools.
Currently, in CIMMYTâs eastern and southern breeding pipelines, all product profiles are using genomic selection at stage I, where the training population is evaluated in multiple locations with a sparse design, estimating the GEBVs for the unphenotyped lines, and using GEBVs and phenotypic BLUPs of test crosses in the selection for stage II. This process allows the handling of a large number of lines at stage I with a fixed budget without losing selection accuracy. Since 2017, we have used the âtest half and predict halfâ strategy (Figure 2), where all the lines were genotyped with mid-density markers, and the selected ~50% of the total stage I lines were testcrossed and evaluated in multiple locations to be used as a training population to estimate the GEBVs for the other 50% of the unphenotyped lines for the traits of interest. High prediction correlations were observed in three selected product profiles for GY under optimum, managed drought, and low soil N conditions (Figure 3).
Genomic selection is also implemented to reduce the breeding cycle. However, our final products are three-way cross hybrids, where genomic selection is applied only to select the best line rather than selecting the best hybrid combinations. Historical data were used to test the possibility of reducing the breeding cycle. However, our results showed that the use of historical data to predict 100% of lines from the current year yielded low to moderate prediction correlations both under optimum and drought conditions for GY, anthesis date, and plant height (Figure 4). Incorporating 10 to 30% of the testing population into the training population leads to high prediction correlations. This concludes that by using historical data, the training population, which needs to be test-crossed and evaluated in multiple locations every year, can be reduced from 50% to 10-30%, which helps breeders allocate the saved resources to evaluate more lines without losing prediction accuracy.
Doubled Haploid Technology
Doubled haploid technology speeds up the creation of inbred lines by producing entirely uniform lines. Pedigree line development is a traditional method in plant breeding aimed at gradually improving and stabilizing the genetic makeup of the new variety over time. It involves multiple generations of controlled crosses between parent plants with known characteristics. Each subsequent generation is carefully selected based on specific traits of interest, such as yield, disease resistance, or quality. Pedigree line development is expensive, particularly when nurseries are in remote locations.
Unlike traditional methods where some genetic variation remains, doubled haploid lines are completely homogeneous. This means that there is increased heritability of desirable traits and improved accuracy of selection. Doubled haploid technology, which is more compatible with the use of molecular markers, simplifies breeding processes and shortens the time needed to develop inbred lines (Chaikam et al., 2019).
The first doubled haploid facility in Africa was established in 2013 and is extensively used by the CGIAR, NARES, and the private sector. Over the past five years, 1,349 populations have been induced and more than 223,144 doubled haploid lines delivered to breeding programs from CGIAR, NARES, and the private sector in sub-Saharan Africa. Shifting from traditional pedigree-based breeding to doubled haploid technology has shown a high impact on key breeding metrics (gain per cycle and gain per year) not only in CIMMYT but also in national partners’ breeding programs, thus increasing genetic gain within the available budget.
Figure 2. Number of lines evaluated with phenotypic selection (PS) and genomic selection (GS) at stage I in EAPP1 product profile from 2017 to 2023. (PS â phenotypic selection, GS â genomic selection)Figure 3. Prediction correlations for grain yield (GY) under optimum (OPT), drought (MDt) and low soil N (low N) management conditions in EAPP1, EAPP2 and SAPP1 at stage I in 2023
Figure 4. Prediction accuracies for grain yield (GY), anthesis date (AD) and plant height (PH) estimated from independent validation schemes using a training population (TRN) consisting of 2017- and 2018-years breeding data and 10%, 30%, 50%, 70% and 90% of 2019 data converted from the testing population (TST) to the training population under optimum and managed drought conditions
Beyene, Y., Gowda, M., Suresh, L. M., Mugo, S., Olsen, M., Oikeh, S. O., Juma, C., Tarekegne, A., and Prasanna, B. M. (2017). Genetic analysis of tropical maize inbred lines for resistance to maize lethal necrosis disease. Euphytica213.
Beyene, Y., Semagn, K., Crossa, J., Mugo, S., Atlin, G. N., Tarekegne, A., et al. (2016). Improving maize grain yield under drought stress and non-stress environments in sub-saharan africa using marker-assisted recurrent selection. Crop Science 56, 344â353. doi: 10.2135/cropsci2015.02.0135
Beyene, Y., Semagn, K., Mugo, S., Tarekegne, A., Babu, R., Meisel, B., Sehabiague, P., Makumbi, D., Magorokosho, C., and Oikeh, S. (2015). Genetic gains in grain yield through genomic selection in eight biâparental maize populations under drought stress. Crop Science55, 154-163.
Chaikam, V., Molenaar, W., Melchinger, A. E., and Prasanna, B. M. (2019). Doubled haploid technology for line development in maize: technical advances and prospects. Theor. Appl. Genet. 132, 3227â3243. doi: 10.1007/s00122-019-03433-x
Prasanna BM, Burgueño J, Beyene Y, Makumbi D, Asea G, Woyengo V, Tarekegne A, Magorokosho C, Wegary D, Ndhlela T, Zaman-Allah M, Matova PM, Mwansa K, Mashingaidze K, Fato P, Teklewold A, Vivek BS, Zaidi PH, Vinayan MT, Patne N, Rakshit S, Kumar R, Jat SL, Singh SB, Kuchanur PH, Lohithaswa HC, Singh NK, Koirala KB, Ahmed S, San Vicente F, Dhliwayo T, Cairns JE. 2022. Genetic trends in CIMMYTâs tropical maize breeding pipelines. Scientific Reports 12, 20110. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-24536-4
Vivek, B. S., Krishna, G. K., Vengadessan, V., Babu, R., Zaidi, P. H., Kha, L. Q., et al. (2017). Use of genomic estimated breeding values results in rapid genetic gains for drought tolerance in maize. Plant Genome 10, 1â8. doi: 10.3835/plantgenome2016.07.0070
Science without policy is just academia; policy without science is just guesswork. Through a blend of robust field research and policy advocacy, CIMMYT aims to bridge the gap between policy and practice in promoting sustainable agricultural practices through crop diversification in South Asia.
Taking Bangladesh as an example, CIMMYTâs work in the country highlights the critical need to link research with policy to achieve sustainable agricultural practices, enhance food security, and improve farmer livelihoods.
The power of research-informed policy
Bangladesh’s agriculture is highly rice-centric; although rational, this is risky and arguably unsustainable. This means there needs to be a focus on crop diversification, which is one of the approaches toward sustainable agriculture that can address socioeconomic and environmental challenges.
Recognizing these challenges, CIMMYT has been at the forefront of developing solutions by conducting extensive multi-location on-site and on-farm trials that consider the socioeconomic and pedoclimatic dimensions of farm households.
Additionally, CIMMYT analyzes historical policies and initiatives that have been implemented by the Bangladeshi government and international partners to promote crop diversification. Several opportunities for improvement were identified in past policies and project implementation; addressing these challenges requires bridging the gap between policies and research to scale up crop diversification efforts.
Through the RUPANTAR and CGIAR Transforming Agrifood Systems in South Asia (TAFSSA) projects, CIMMYT-Bangladesh has developed an analytical tool to understand the political economy of crop diversification policies and practices. When applied to agriculture policy research, this tool can be tailored to any country and policy context in South Asia.
For example, while the government recognizes crop diversification in its agriculture policies starting with the Fifth Five-Year Plan, substantial funding for crop diversification efforts was only recently allocated. Integration of crop diversification into the government’s annual funding systems is essential to mainstream crop diversification in agriculture.
Many crop diversification policies and projects primarily focus on production, neglecting market systems development for new crops. Similarly, research suggests insufficient attention is paid to cold storage and other infrastructure needed to support diversification.
Most initiatives appear to have been project-driven, resulting in short-lived action without long-lasting impact. Insufficient coordination and support from government agencies appears to have affected projects led by both governments and development partners.
Stakeholder engagement spreads awareness
Without translating research into policy, we leave innovation on the shelf. CIMMYT-Bangladesh disseminates research findings to policymakers through the country Priority Investment Plan for the crop sector at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member countries through regional consultation workshops on accelerating the transformation process for sustainable and nutrition-sensitive food systems.
Looking ahead, CIMMYTâs efforts in South Asia remain dedicated to bridging the gap between research and policy. Ongoing projects aim to generate robust evidence, advocate for informed policy decisions, and foster partnerships across sectors. By continuing to lead in this space, CIMMYT strives to contribute to a more resilient agrifood system for South Asia.
Written by mcallejas on . Posted in Uncategorized.
Fredrick Otiato is a highly analytical and process-oriented researcher with extensive expertise in research methodologies, data management, and statistical analysis. He holds an MSc in Applied Statistics from the University of Nairobi and a BSc in Statistics from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. With a career spanning more than a decade in roles such as Senior Research Analyst and Data and Insights Manager, Fredrick has led complex data operations and supported the design and analysis of both qualitative and quantitative research. He has also contributed to various research projects, resulting in multiple scientific publications. Passionate about using data to drive meaningful insights, Fredrick is dedicated to creating actionable outcomes that foster growth and development.
Wheat breeding strategies for increased climate resilience
With the challenges of climate change already affecting plant breeding, especially warmer days and warmer nights, the time to future proof the worldâs food supply is now. In order to make the best-informed changes, scientists at CIMMYT ran simulations mimicking five scenarios that might play out over the next 70+ years.
The researchers used 3,652 breeding line records from six global nurseries administered by the International Wheat Improvement Network, which is coordinated by CIMMYT, and involves hundreds of partners and testing sites worldwide. Researchers ran the data through five different climate change scenarios, ranging from stable to severe.
Along with colleagues from Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China, ICARDA, and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, CIMMYT scientists published their research in Nature Climate Change.
The results showed that less than one-third of wheat varieties adapted well to the warming the planet has already seen in the last 10 years. As temperatures increased in the simulation, researchers found a clear connection between rising temperatures and lower stability for a variety. As the global wheat-growing area becomes warmer and experiences more frequent heatwaves, breeding programs have to look beyond just yield optimization.
âStability is key for breeding programs and farmers,â said co-lead author Matthew Reynolds, CIMMYT distinguished scientist and head of wheat physiology. âKnowing that a specific variety works well in a specific environment and produces an expected amount of yield allows farmers better plan their crop futures.â
âWe performed the analysis from different perspectives, so that climate effects and appropriate adjustment suggestions for current breeding models can be considered from climate change, gene selection and/or geneâenvironment interaction perspectives,â said co-lead author Wei Xiong, CIMMYT Senior Scientist and Agricultural System Modeler.
The paradox of breeding elite lines
Local and regional breeding programs, as well as targeted breeding by CIMMYT, contribute to gene pools that overlap for many key agronomic traits, which limit genetic diversity.
âIt is an unintended consequence,â said Reynolds. âAs conventional breeding focuses on crossing the best and elite material, such focus can actually reduce genetic diversity.â
This âparadoxâ shows the need to increase genetic variability and environmental diversification in breeding programs that are developing higher-yielding climate-resilient cultivars. Breeding programs also need to target traits associated with improved adaptation to increased temperatures and tolerance to heatwaves, which requires multidisciplinary integration.
Looking to the past for answers
Over the past 10,000 years, the climate has been unusually stable, meaning modern, domesticated bread wheat has not been exposed to wide swings in temperature that are forecast for the next 100 years. Wild wheat relatives, like Triticeae, have had millions of years of experience in weathering changing climates.
CIMMYT has a pre-breeding program that examines wild wheat races and more exotic sources for climate resilience traits. When such traits are identified genetically, new breeding techniques such as gene editing can be employed and breeding models refined.
To activate these new techniques, several barriers need to be overcome, including more sharing of germplasm between countries and breeding teams, the use of faster breeding cycles where appropriate and improved understanding of genes that improve heat tolerance without a yield penalty.
With reduced climate resilience and slow cultivar development, the need to increase genetic variability for climate adaptation is urgent, particularly in developing countries, where warming rate is unprecedented, and breeding cycles tend to be longer than in developed countries.
âFaced with more climate variability, breeders need to revisit their breeding strategies to integrate genetic diversity that confers climate resilience without penalties to productivity,â said Reynolds.
