Climate change threatens to reduce global crop production, and poor people in tropical environments will be hit the hardest. More than 90% of CIMMYT’s work relates to climate change, helping farmers adapt to shocks while producing more food, and reduce emissions where possible. Innovations include new maize and wheat varieties that withstand drought, heat and pests; conservation agriculture; farming methods that save water and reduce the need for fertilizer; climate information services; and index-based insurance for farmers whose crops are damaged by bad weather. CIMMYT is an important contributor to the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security.
Atubandike (“Let’s Chat”) is a phygital platform co-developed by CIMMYT, Viamo, and farmers to transform agricultural information channels in Zambia’s Eastern and Southern Provinces. Through the toll-free 667 platform, 4,000 farmers – more than 50% of whom are women – access an interactive voice response (IVR) menu powered by a Viamo Database (see infographic). The platform delivers timely and engaging pre-recorded messages on climate-smart agriculture (CSA); enables farmers to ask questions, which informs content for the platform’s biweekly “talk shows” (like radio shows but on a mobile phone); and provides a space for them to share their stories as “peer farmer experiences” on the platform.
(Infographic: Eugune Mumiah, Project Milieu Group)
Atubandike’s model involves farmers as co-creators, not merely recipients, of advisory content. Their contributions are curated by a content committee – with farmer, government, and scientist representation – before being published on the 667 platform. Village-based digital champions (50% women, 42% youth aged 18-29) play a crucial role in supporting farmers’ digital skills and promoting trust in digital advisory; they also act as intermediaries between farmers and CIMMYT to address time-sensitive farming questions immediately.
The Atubandike initiative mobilizes local communities to take collective action in challenging social norms that underpin digital access divides. Through community-driven efforts, digital champions are nominated and social changemakers selected to promote inclusive access to the platform.
Together, we are advancing awareness and uptake of CSA practices to boost agricultural productivity and climate change adaptation, using on-the-ground insights to continuously refine Atubandike’s services and ensure every farmer, across the spectrum of demographic groups, thrives in today’s dynamic agricultural landscape.
At COP29, the Rockefeller Foundation highlighted its support for CIMMYT through a grant focused on advancing regenerative agricultural practices on farms in Mexico. This collaboration underscores CIMMYT’s pivotal role in driving sustainable farming solutions that enhance food security, environmental resilience, and biodiversity conservation. By integrating regenerative techniques into agrifood systems, CIMMYT contributes to global efforts to mitigate climate change while safeguarding the productivity and health of vital ecosystems.
The collaborative long-term experiments (LTEs) established by CIMMYT and Ambo University on the Guder Mano Mezemer campus, specifically at the Abebech Gobena Agricultural Research Center (Photo: CIMMYT)
A collaboration effort between CIMMYT and Ambo University has positioned CIMMYT as the national leader in implementing high-impact technologies to improve the quality and quantity of cereal crop production in Ethiopia. This partnership, established over three decades ago at national and regional levels, has become a vital element in driving innovations and advancements in the agricultural sector.
A recent field visit to the LTEs, which were established three years ago, at the Abebech Gobena Agricultural Research Center in Guder, West Shewa Zone of the Oromia Region, demonstrated the importance of collaboration between research and development partners. The LTEs were established to study three main climate-smart interventions: nutrient management (including organic, inorganic, and residue-based practices), crop rotation, and intercropping, over an extended period of time. The event highlighted CIMMYT’s ongoing efforts to improve Ethiopia’s agricultural production, particularly by testing agronomic practices that increase yields and enhance soil health through the use of different organic fertilizers along with inorganic fertilizer and proper cereal-legume rotation over the past two years at the center and in farmers’ fields.
Focus areas of research
Research will focus on developing the best combination of locally available organic inputs with inorganic fertilizer, together with appropriate cereal-legume rotation on LTE plots, to monitor yield and soil health parameters such as organic matter accumulation over time, improve resource use efficiency, and enhance soil health. The main crops involved are:
Maize (Zea Mays): Jibat variety
Wheat (Triticum aestivum): Wane variety
Teff (Eragrostis teff): Quncho variety
Legumes: Faba bean, soybean, haricot bean, and pigeon pea
The LTE sites have served as demonstration and learning platforms for local communities. The cropping system in the area has traditionally been dominated by continuous monocropping of cereals for decades. In response, this collaborative LTE initiative has introduced four legume crops into rotation and intercropping systems, three of which are new to the area. Some of these new crops have been well received by farmers, who have selected the most promising options to try on their fields as “baby trials,” with the LTE plots referred to as “mother trials.” These efforts have been accompanied by training and resources for farmers and extension workers.
Community engagement and outcomes
The initiative has involved 55 farmers from three villages, with a focus on optimizing crop yields and promoting sustainable agriculture. Dr. Tesfaye Sida, an Agronomist/Sustainable Agrifood Systems at CIMMYT, highlighted the importance of these trials in improving food security and soil health in the intervention areas. He added, “This streamlined client-based collaboration, based on capacity development and knowledge transfer, is helping us to drive the pathways for climate-resilient, sustainable, and inclusive agricultural development for food and nutrition security in Ethiopia.”
A diverse group of stakeholders visiting the collaborative research trial sites (Photo: CIMMYT)
On September 23, 2024, a significant stakeholder gathering, including academic professionals, research and development partners, and farmers, as well as local government decision-makers, visited the trial sites to observe the research activities and progress at the Guder Mano Mezemer campus in Birbirsa village, where CIMMYT and Ambo University are conducting collaborative research. During the event, Dr. Gizachew Kebede, a soil scientist at CIMMYT, highlighted the dual focus of the research: crop rotation and soil nutrient management. “Despite farmers’ familiarity with crop rotation, they often face challenges in identifying the best companion crops and appropriate sequences. We are addressing this by rotating cereals such as maize, wheat, and teff with legumes such as soybean and pigeon pea, some of which are new to the system and likely to improve soil fertility and system resilience. The other fascinating part of the research is the testing of both organic and non-organic fertilizers, an intelligent approach to determining best practices for soil health and productivity, with a particular focus on understanding long-term effects, with plans extending for at least a decade. This kind of knowledge transfer is crucial to improving agricultural productivity and sustainability in the community, and we have seen great results from the trials so far.”
Dr. Tesfaye Shiferaw, an agronomist/Sustainable Agrifood Systems emphasizes the model. “Initially these were long-term experiments (LTEs), which mainly established the long-term impacts of interventions (nutrient management, crop rotation, intercropping, etc.) on climate change effects, productivity, and soil health. However, during the demonstrations of these LTEs, local farmers expressed interest in trying the agricultural technology/intervention/practice of their choice. We then added potential other technologies that could be options and allowed them to conduct their own mini-trials (called baby trials) to increase the number of alternatives. In this context, the LTEs can now be referred to as “mother trials.”
Research collaborators also echoed this sentiment. Dr. Nigusie Bekele, Director of Guder Mezemer Campus, highlighted Ambo University’s pride in hosting trials and major events related to their research collaboration with CIMMYT. He emphasized the university’s commitment to multidisciplinary research and service to the community, noting that their partnership with CIMMYT is instrumental in this regard, particularly in promoting productive, inclusive, and resilient food systems in Ethiopia. Dr. Nigusie described their joint action research and innovation efforts as transformative, benefiting not only the local community but also the wider Ethiopian population dependent on smallholder agriculture.
New launch of common beans and farmer insights
Farmer Shelema Hirpasa proudly displays a thriving crop of haricot beans grown after receiving seeds from CIMMYT. This image highlights the positive impact of research and support in increasing agricultural productivity and empowering local farmers (Photo: CIMMYT)
The photo features young farmer Shelema Hirpasa proudly displaying a thriving crop of haricot beans grown after receiving seeds from CIMMYT. This image highlights the positive impact of research and support in increasing agricultural productivity and empowering local farmers.
The introduction of soybean and pigeon pea in the intervention villages has generated considerable interest among farmers, leading to increased participation and positive results. Farmer Shelema Hirpasa from Tuke Kutaye District was enthusiastic about the exceptional performance of these new crops, noting a stark contrast with the traditional varieties he had previously grown. Highlighting the advantages of crop diversification, he said: “I have been involved in farming since my childhood but have never seen such performance in my crops.” This reflects the transformative impact of these new agricultural practices on local farming communities.
CIMMYT researcher gives visitors a detailed briefing on the ongoing activities at the demonstration sites (Photo: CIMMYT)
This interaction highlights the importance of knowledge sharing and engagement in agricultural research, as stakeholders learn about innovative practices and advances being implemented in the field. The gathering also reflects the commitment of the various partners in the initiative, showcasing their shared interest in advancing agricultural research and promoting food security through collaboration between CIMMYT and Ambo University.
Media coverage and future directions
The collaboration and field visits have drawn media attention, with coverage from outlets such as the Oromia Broadcasting Network (OBN). This initiative, implemented by CIMMYT and Ambo University with support from One CGIAR’s Excellence in Agronomy (EIA) and Ukama Ustawi initiatives, is paving the way for sustainable and resilient agricultural practices in Ethiopia.
Through continued partnership and innovation, CIMMYT and Ambo University are not only transforming agricultural practices in the region but also contributing to the broader goal of food and nutrition security throughout Ethiopia.
Climate change-induced drought is jeopardizing barley production in Mexico’s Altiplano, which supplies 93% of the country’s barley, putting both local and global beer supplies at risk. To combat this, CIMMYT and Heineken Mexico have launched the “Cultivando un México Mejor” program, which promotes conservation agriculture practices to optimize water use, retain soil moisture, and increase yields. This initiative aims for 100% sustainably produced barley by 2030, helping farmers adapt to climate challenges while supporting the brewing industry’s sustainability goals.
Germplasm Bank team that participated in the new shipment of seeds to Svalbard (Photo: Jenifer Morales/CIMMYT)
In an act that underlines Mexico’s commitment to biodiversityconservation and global food security, CIMMYT has delivered its ninth shipment of maize seeds to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. This deposit marks a significant milestone, completing 90% of the maize collection and 92% of the wheat collection, making CIMMYT one of the leading custodians of the world’s agricultural biological heritage.
The Svalbard Vault, known as the “vault at the end of the world,” is an impressive repository located on a Norwegian island, more than 8,000 kilometers from Mexico. Its purpose is to store seeds from around the world to protect biodiversity from natural disasters, conflicts, or the effects of climate change. With this latest shipment, Mexico strengthens its role in conserving seeds that, in critical situations, could mean the difference between the collapse or resilience of global food systems.
Cristian Zavala, germplasm conservation specialist at CIMMYT, emphasized the importance of this shipment for the maize and wheat collections. “This shipment is essential to ensure the availability of seeds in the future,” said Zavala, alluding to the long process needed to complete the conservation of the collections. “While this is not the last shipment to Svalbard, it is a critical one to ensure the availability of the seed in the future,” he added.
These efforts are aimed not only at protecting the genetic diversity of these crops but also at ensuring that the seed is available for distribution. Zavala explained, “In addition to supporting 92% of this shipment, the wheat collection has reached 90% availability for distribution, which makes us eligible to participate in long-term funding.” This availability is key to ensuring food security and allows these seeds to be recovered and distributed to regions that may need repatriation.
The CIMMYT Germplasm Bank at Texcoco, which houses the largest and most diverse collections of maize and wheat in the world, serves not only Mexico but all of humanity. Protected as a “global good,” these seeds are available for research, agriculture, and education. “When we talk about a public good or a global good, we mean that all of humanity has the right to enjoy this diversity in a responsible way,” said Zavala.
The Svalbard Vault, with its ability to withstand natural disasters and other threats, is a guarantee to the countries that store their seed collections there. In Zavala’s words, “If this diversity is lost, only these types of gene banks can and will be able to return it to its place of origin.” This reflects the global and collaborative effort needed to conserve agricultural biodiversity.
This achievement is the result of a collective effort. “To make this shipment possible, a large team of people participated. This year, about 50 people supported this set of seeds,” said Zavala. Conservation of genetic resources is a team effort that involves many actors to ensure the availability of these seeds in the future.
The shipment to Svalbard is a reminder of the importance of gene banks as a critical tool in addressing the challenges of climate change and ensuring global food security. The seeds sent are not intended for immediate cultivation but will serve as a backup, ready to be used in the event of a disaster affecting the original collections. In this way, Mexico is contributing to a public good of inestimable value for all humanity.
In a world increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, biodiversity loss, or social instability, these shipments are more than just storage. They are an act of collective responsibility that will allow humanity to maintain its ability to feed and thrive.
Crops struggling to grow in drought conditions, Bihar (Photo: Moben Ignatius/CIMMYT)
Agriculture is one of the sectors most affected by droughts, which can last for months or even years. In Bihar, where rain-fed agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for many, droughts can be devastating for rural farmers. The growing threat of climate change to crop production and farming practices calls for adopting alternative farming methods. In 2022-23, many districts in Bihar experienced drought conditions.
To better understand the impact of drought on crop production practices and farmers’ livelihoods, researchers from CSISA, a CIMMYT-led project, conducted a survey in Bihar during both the Kharif and Rabi seasons of 2022-23, the year of the drought. In the Kharif season, 518 farmers from 11 districts, 39 blocks, and 79 villages were surveyed, while 339 farmers participated in the Rabi season survey. The primary goal of this data collection was to assess the impact of drought on agricultural practices and provide evidence to guide policy and decision-making processes.
The survey collected data on 123 variables related to rice production, including land preparation, cropping patterns for 2022 and 2021, crop establishment methods, irrigation management, fertilizer application, and weed management. Farmers also shared their perceptions of how the drought had altered their rice production practices and affected their livelihoods compared to the previous year.
For many farmers, the experience of the drought was harsh. Magni Singh from East Champaran reflected on the challenges: “This year (2022), the drought hit us hard. I could only plant paddy on a small piece of land, but with no rain, there was not much harvest. Our fragmented land makes efficient irrigation almost impossible, and relying on rain feels like gambling with each season. Farming in these conditions is becoming increasingly unsustainable.”
Similarly, Shanti Devi of Banka shared her struggles: “The season started with drought, and we struggled to get water to the crops. By the time the rain came, it was too late – it came during the harvest and damaged the crop. I couldn’t afford fertilizers in time, which made things worse. Every year, it feels like we’re battling both nature and rising costs.”
This drought impact assessment by CSISA is also valuable for further research, particularly for comparing rice production practices between drought and non-drought years. Such comparisons can help researchers and policymakers develop effective drought mitigation strategies tailored to farmers’ needs.
An electric pump used to irrigate a paddy field in Buxar, Bihar (Photo: Nima Chodon/CIMMYT)
From left to right: Bram Govaerts, Diego Montenegro, and Pedro Díaz. (Photo: Jenifer Morales / CIMMYT)
Texcoco, State of Mexico, November 6-7, 2024 – Reducing carbon (CO₂) emissions has become a global priority, as the severe consequences of global warming directly affect everyone. CO₂ is the most abundant greenhouse gas (GHG), accounting for 82% of global emissions. Carbon sinks are natural systems that can remove part of atmospheric CO₂ through capture or recarbonization. Healthy soils are the second most important carbon sink after oceans, and implementing progressive regenerative practices to restore soil health is essential in agriculture to contribute significantly to soil recarbonization.
Efforts to recarbonize agricultural soils in primary production must be complemented by a vigorous process to decarbonize agri-food systems. By reducing GHG emissions across their value chains, these systems can ensure a long-term solution to the current climate emergency.
In alignment with this approach, CIMMYT, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), and the Trust Funds for Agriculture (FIRA) have joined forces in a strategic alliance to transform agri-food systems. Their focus is on recarbonizing soils and decarbonizing agri-food systems and value chains, convinced that, beyond being part of the climate change problem, agriculture is a crucial part of the solution.
At the first forum, “Recabonization of Agricultural Soils and Decarbonization of Agri-food Systems,” experts from public and private institutions shared experiences and explored how integrating science and the ancestral knowledge of rural communities can regenerate soils, reduce emissions, and build low-emission, highly adaptable production systems in response to climate impacts across Mexico and Latin America’s diverse agro-ecological regions.
Bram Govaerts, Director General of CIMMYT, stated: “Mitigating climate change requires both soil recarbonization and decarbonization. Here, carbon is our metric, but we also consider nitrogen fertilizer emissions, which, when released into the air, have a larger footprint than carbon itself. Beyond this, we need to shift from a purely productive focus, which was perhaps the goal 50-60 years ago, to a resilience-centered approach. This means evolving from efficient production to effective and resilient practices. Resilience is essential for the agri-food sector to adapt to phenomena like El Niño or changing rainfall patterns, such as in 2004, when rain arrived late but intensely for a short period.”
Jelle Van Loon, Associate Director of the Sustainable Agri-food Systems Program at CIMMYT, emphasized the importance of institutional cooperation to address the challenges posed by climate change in agriculture. “Regenerative agriculture is not just a concept; it is an imperative for food security and the planet’s sustainability,” he stated. Van Loon highlighted research findings and long-term trials showing the benefits of regenerative practices, such as cover cropping and organic fertilization, in improving soil health and reducing CO₂ emissions.
Jesús Alan Elizondo Flores, General Director of FIRA, detailed FIRA’s sustainability strategy, driven by a network of 88 local offices across Mexico. His approach includes ecological finance, biofertilizer use, agroforestry, and farmer-to-farmer extension models, all aimed at transitioning small-scale producers to the carbon credit market, thus strengthening soil recarbonization efforts.
Diego Montenegro, IICA’s representative in Mexico, emphasized the strategic alliances among actors in the agri-food system as essential for technical cooperation, with producers as central figures. He stated, “This forum should guide us toward a new paradigm, a new way of doing agriculture in Mexico and globally. This collective work will bring about the sustainable agricultural practices we need to expand.”
At the second keynote address, Rattan Lal, 2020 World Food Prize Laureate and Goodwill Ambassador for IICA, stressed the importance of understanding soil carbon’s environmental impact and called for the restoration of degraded soils as part of the climate solution, advocating for “soil rights” to protect and responsibly manage soils worldwide.
In a panel discussion, Elisa Muñoz Rodríguez, a chemical engineer and producer from Guanajuato, and María Eugenia Rico González, a conservation farmer from the Valley of Santiago, shared their experiences in implementing sustainable practices, underlining both benefits and challenges in convincing others to adopt these methods.
In final reflections, José Luis Ayala, IICA Mexico’s Technical Coordinator, noted that collective action with producers is key to achieving a resilient and efficient agricultural model. “Together, we can progress in food security, reduce poverty, and collectively build a better future,” he concluded.
The forum featured participants from international organizations like FAO, private sector actors like ILBI, Canopia, and Nestlé, public sector entities like the government of Chile, and academic institutions like UNAM and Oxford University, promoting a systemic approach to recarbonization and decarbonization for impactful climate action.
About CIMMYT
CIMMYT is an international public organization dedicated to improving agricultural systems in the Global South through applied science, innovation, and collaboration.
About IICA
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) is committed to agricultural development and rural well-being across the Americas, promoting policies, technical cooperation, and capacity building to ensure sustainability, competitiveness, and resilience.
About FIRA
The Trust Funds for Agriculture (FIRA) support Mexico’s agricultural development through finance, technical assistance, and capacity building, assisting farmers in transitioning to sustainable, low-emission, and climate-resilient production systems.
The World Food Prize honored Cary Fowler and Geoffrey Hawtin for their lifelong dedication to preserving genetic resources critical to global food security. They have led efforts to protect seeds from over 6,000 crops by establishing germplasm banks worldwide, including the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, to safeguard biodiversity against climate threats. With partners like INIFAP, CIMMYT has played a key role in conserving the genetic diversity of staple crops, ensuring these resources are available for future agricultural resilience.
The World Food Prize this year celebrates the essential role of genebanks in global food security—a mission at the heart of CIMMYT’s work. Through its maize and wheat collections, CIMMYT’s genebank preserves crop diversity that is critical for developing resilient, climate-adapted varieties. Highlighted by former CIMMYT maize curator Denise Costich, this recognition underscores the value of conserving genetic resources, which allow CIMMYT and its partners to create solutions for a rapidly changing agricultural landscape. As a vital part of the global genebank network, CIMMYT’s efforts ensure that biodiversity remains a foundation for food security and resilience worldwide.
Matthew Reynolds, Distinguished Scientist and Head of Wheat Physiology at CIMMYT, is the recipient of the 2024 China Friendship Award. This recognition highlights his cutting-edge research to enhance the climate resilience and yield of wheat cropping systems, as well as his dedication to fostering collaboration between CIMMYT and China.
Researcher, Innovator, Collaborator, Mentor
During his 35-year tenure at CIMMYT, Reynolds has played a pivotal role in developing a new generation of advanced wheat lines based on physiological breeding approaches. This work has led to the creation of more resilient wheat varieties from diverse gene pools, significantly boosting yield potential.
Reynolds is the eighth CIMMYT scientist to receive the China Friendship Award. His numerous accolades include being an elected member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences and earning fellowships with the American Society of Agronomy and the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), the latter representing the society’s highest individual honor. He has also been honored with the prestigious 2024 International Crop Science Award by CSSA.
A prolific author in crop physiology and genomics, Reynolds actively promotes international collaboration among wheat scientists, tapping expertise and emerging technologies that enhance plant science. He provides young scientists with mentorship and opportunities to engage in agricultural research. He also leads key initiatives, such as the International Wheat Yield Partnership (IWYP) and the Heat and Drought Wheat Improvement Consortium (HEDWIC), which leverage collective expertise and innovations to improve yields and climate resilience.
About the China Friendship Award
The China Friendship Award is the highest honor given by the Chinese government to foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to China’s economic and social progress. It was established in 1991 by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs under the authorization of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China. As of September 2024, a total of 1,998 experts from over 80 countries and regions have received this award.
CIMMYT contributed over 5,400 maize and wheat samples to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault’s recent historic deposit, reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding crop diversity essential for global food security. These deposits protect genetic resources vital for adapting to climate change and improving resilience, especially in vulnerable regions. This backup effort ensures CIMMYT’s research on these staple crops remains available to support sustainable food systems and address crises worldwide.
CIMMYT, through the USAID-funded Sustainable Agrifood Systems Approach for Sudan (SASAS) program, empowers farmers and herders to reduce their reliance on humanitarian assistance, even in conflict-affected Sudan, where over 10 million people have been displaced and livelihoods across the country have been severely impacted. Improving agricultural value chains and agribusiness development is one of the five broad intervention areas of the SASAS program.
Several SASAS program partners support agribusiness development by working directly with micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which act as intermediaries between large firms and smallholder farmers, facilitating farmers’ access to inputs and promoting national food security. The critical role and challenges faced by agricultural MSMEs have been exacerbated by the ongoing civil war in Sudan. Due to pre-existing gender norms, the impact may differ between women and men entrepreneurs. SASAS implementing partners urgently need up-to-date, ground-level insights into the key business challenges. This includes understanding which businesses are existing and why, identifying promising and actionable coping strategies adopted by agrifood entrepreneurs, and capturing MSME owners’ perspectives on the priority interventions needed to support them.
To provide SASAS partners with critical evidence to inform their development activities with agricultural MSMEs, a team of CIMMYT researchers conducted semi-structured interviews in May 2024 with 20 women and 20 men agrifood enterprise owners residing in Kassala and Gadarif states. The findings from this research were documented in reports. The next phase of the CIMMYT team’s participatory action research focused on holding results dissemination meetings in each of the two states. The purpose of these meetings was to share study findings with research participants and SASAS partners, Mercy Corps and Practical Action, and provide an opportunity for feedback. This feedback helps clarify and validate the study findings and is central to the CIMMYT team’s approach to generating nuanced, contextually based lessons that inform the programming of SASAS partners working with agribusinesses.
Attendance at results dissemination meetings and perceptions of participants
The results dissemination meetings brought together SASAS development partners and MSME owners (research participants). In Kassala, 20 agrifood entrepreneurs (10 women and 10 men), along with several representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC), and local Kassala communities, attended the meeting. CIMMYT’s partner, Practical Action, co-organized the session. In Gadarif, 13 agrifood entrepreneurs (10 women and 3 men) were joined by representatives from the MoA and local community leaders for the results dissemination meeting, hosted by CIMMYT’s partner Mercy Corps. Participants in both states engaged actively in open discussions about the research findings, offering valuable feedback, while also helping to validate and refine the results.
Participants in the research results dissemination meeting –in Kassala actively participate in the group work (Photo: Mohamed Abdulmajid/CIMMYT)
After introductions and an icebreaker, the results dissemination meetings turned into a brief presentation of key study findings facilitated by CIMMYT’s MEL consultant, Mudar Ahmed. Participants in both meetings listened intently, and their initial feedback conveyed the relevance of the study results to their lives. For instance, when asked about the applicability of the study findings, one participant in Kassala said, “The research on the impact of war on women and men agrifood entrepreneurs is valuable as it gathers various perspectives on how war has affected our work, outlines the challenges we face, identifies coping mechanisms, and offers suggestions to overcome the current bottleneck.”
Social norms influencing women’s and men’s participation in the agrifood sector
One of the factors influencing CIMMYT’s selection of Gadarif and Kassala states as study sites, aside from the relatively stable security situation and concentration of agrifood enterprises, was the interesting contrast the two states offer in terms of women’s participation in the labor market and (agricultural) business operation, with women in Gadarif generally being more active. During the meetings, participants were asked to elaborate on these gender dynamics and how they play out in their lives.
A female participant in Kassala state explained this regional difference in gendered agricultural roles and shared insights into how and why it is changing over time, “In Gadarif most of the agricultural activities are rainfed and farms are in remote areas, limiting the number of women in cultivation activities. However, more and more women cooperatives are active in agriculture and many of them get loans from funding institutions and receive technical support from women’s empowerment institutions. The main challenge that hinders more women from participating in agricultural activities in Gadarif is that rainfed cultivation requires a lot of financial resources that women cannot access. In Kassala, although the community is more conservative and many believe that women need to stay at home and not to go out for work, more and more women are active in agricultural activities, including manual weed control and harvesting. Now thousands of women in Kassala are active in vegetable production and processing like drying okra and onions.”
Participants further explained that while there are differences in occupational gender dynamics in different states, in general, women farmers in Sudan face major barriers to agricultural entrepreneurship regardless of location. However, some highlighted ongoing improvements towards gender equality. A female participant in Gadarif had this to say: “Most agricultural land is inherited or assigned by authorities, often excluding women from ownership. However, as more women become active agrifood entrepreneurs, many have purchased farms, and several women’s cooperatives have gained access to these lands.”
Participants in the results dissemination meeting in Gadarif (Photo: Mohamed Abdulmajid/CIMMYT)
War-related challenges to daily business operations
One of the top discussion points at the meetings, was the war-related challenges to participants’ daily business operations.
A male agricultural input dealer in Gadarif noted, “Since the conflict began, prices for agricultural inputs have soared and availability has decreased, leaving us without funding and diminished profits. Many of our customers have exited agriculture and stopped purchasing from us, resulting in significant stagnation. To mitigate the adverse effects of the war on our business, we have sought joint ventures with other dealers to cut operational costs and are looking for funding to revive our operations.”
A female agrifood entrepreneur in Kassala described how internal displacement during the war has strained her business, driven by a sense of obligation to help those most in need “Due to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, hundreds of thousands of displaced people resorted to Kassala state seeking safety and work opportunities. However, the limited housing capacity in the town forced many displaced people to shelter on farms limiting our cultivation activities. As vegetables and fruit producers, we had to give some of our yields freely to these vulnerable displaced people.”
A participant sharing his view during a group discussion in Gadarif (Photo: Mohamed Abdulmajid/CIMMYT)
War-related financial challenges
Participants discussed how the ongoing conflict has impacted access to finance, cash flow, and overall business sustainability. They highlighted several challenges, including the loss of assets, difficulties in accessing loans, and shifts in market dynamics caused by the war. In both Kassala and Gadarif, discussions emphasized the rising prices, which have directly affected their businesses and personal lives.
A common issue raised was the lack of adequate financial assistance, largely due to the suspension of financial aid projects that previously provided grants or microfinance through various institutions. Participants in Kassala proposed forming partnerships with institutions that could offer funding opportunities as a potential solution. Meanwhile, participants in Gadarif suggested creating small savings funds to meet the needs of the most vulnerable by offering credit opportunities within the community.
War-related non-financial challenges
Participants in this group discussed the broader non-financial impacts of the ongoing conflict, focusing on issues such as displacement, lack of infrastructure, and psychological stress. They shared personal experiences and explained how these challenges have negatively impacted business operations and development.
In Kassala, one of the key issues raised was the suspension of education, which has left thousands of students out of school. This directly affected businesses involved in food production and marketing to students. Another major challenge discussed was the increased competition in the labor market, exacerbated by the influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Participants suggested that small NGOs should provide more support to herders and called for government intervention to address the education crisis.
In Gadarif, the group discussed security concerns that have made it difficult to conduct business operations or even move around the area safely. They also noted the strain on basic services due to the influx of IDPs, which has led to overpopulation of the state. As solutions, participants emphasized the need for an end to the conflict, improved security, and better services to address the IDP crisis and strengthen basic infrastructure and social services.
Future business plans and needs
At the results dissemination meetings, agrifood entrepreneurs openly discussed how the ongoing conflict has affected their business expansion plans. As one male participant in Kassala state noted, “Our growth plans have been severely affected by the current economic situation, as many financial institutions are no longer operating, the operational and fuel costs are high, our marketing areas have shrunk, we face competition from new businesses established by displaced people, and public services such as electricity, water, and transportation are under increased demand.”
While most participants agreed that the conflict has created significant challenges, some meeting participants described opportunities that have arisen for local agrifood entrepreneurs during the current civil war in Sudan. For example, some participants described how internally displaced farmers have begun to cultivate in Gadarif and Kassala, creating a moderate demand for agricultural inputs that has benefited agribusinesses. It was also noted that displaced entrepreneurs have started new businesses in the two states, which, in addition to financial and other support from international NGOs, has facilitated the acquisition of new skills and technologies, including solar systems for processing agricultural products. Finally, one participant explained that the conflict has made entrepreneurs become more agile. These observations provide examples of human resilience and document how growth can persist even under the most challenging circumstances.
A participant shares the findings from a group discussion about the Impact of War on Women and Men Agrifood Entrepreneurs Research (Photo: Mohamed Abdulmajid/CIMMYT)
As Southern Africa faces unprecedented drought conditions CIMMYT continues to lead efforts in reducing the devastating impact of extreme weather. Through its role as a partnership convener, CIMMYT has brought together climate change advisories and climate-smart agriculture to empower farmers, who are demonstrating incredible resilience by continuing to produce food for their families and communities.
“The current climate crisis highlights the urgency of scaling resilient agricultural practices. At CIMMYT, we believe that empowering farmers to adopt drought-tolerant crops and sustainable methods is essential to securing food systems and ensuring communities can weather the challenges ahead,” said Bram Govaerts, Director General of CIMMYT.
By strengthening seed systems and applying global best practices, CIMMYT has empowered farmers across Zambia and Malawi to adapt to drought, ensuring nutritional security and improved livelihoods. The adoption of innovations, including conservation agriculture and resilient legume systems, is increasing farmers’ resilience and buffering against future shocks.
Strengthening Early-Warning Systems
CIMMYT has expanded access to early-warning systems and climate advisories through the GROWSMART campaign, which has reached over 1 million farmers in Zambia and Malawi. Through a network of digital champions and voice-activated advisories accessible via simple mobile phones, CIMMYT has provided critical, real-time information. This has enabled farmers to plan more effectively, reducing crop losses and optimizing planting schedules in response to changing weather patterns.
Scaling Resilient Solutions
CIMMYT has strengthened private sector and civil society partnerships to significantly expand the production of climate-resilient legumes, which were harvested early to provide nutritious food. In combination with maize hybrids like SC 555 and Ntondo (MH35), these legume systems have improved the food security of over 700,000 smallholder farmers.
Moving forward, CIMMYT plans to expand seed systems further, aiming to support the adoption of game-changing crops and conservation agriculture by the end of 2025. This expansion will provide farmers with the tools needed to mitigate the impacts of unpredictable weather patterns, ensuring food security in the face of persistent droughts.
Empowering Women and Youth in Agriculture
Recognizing the vital roles that women and youth play in agriculture, CIMMYT has prioritized gender-sensitive training programs and access to financing for women farmers, who comprise 78% of Zambia’s agricultural workforce. In Malawi, youth-focused initiatives, such as the LUANAR Agribusiness Hub, are helping young agro-entrepreneurs adopt climate-resilient farming methods. These efforts are not only boosting food production but also driving economic empowerment.
Climate-Resilient Maize and Legume Systems: A Lifeline for Farmers
CIMMYT’s Southern Africa Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative (AID-I)as part of the USAID Feed the Future investments has played a key role in providing smallholder farmers access to drought-tolerant maize hybrids like SC 555 in Zambia and Ntondo (MH35) in Malawi. These hybrids, combined with legume systems such as groundnut and pigeonpea, are designed to thrive under extreme weather conditions, improving soil health and ensuring profitable, nutritionally secure cropping systems.
In Zambia, the SC 555 maize hybrid has shown exceptional resilience during the 2023-2024 season. Farmers like Mr. Chizela from Chinwe Mpongwe, who faced a six-week dry spell, have harvested abundantly despite the drought, ensuring food security and income stability. Similarly, in Malawi, the Ntondo (MH35) hybrid has demonstrated remarkable drought tolerance at Msunga Farm, with yields of up to 4.37 tons per hectare—far exceeding those of non-drought-resistant varieties.
Building for the Future
CIMMYT’s ongoing research and innovation efforts are focused on developing even more resilient maize and legume varieties to withstand both drought and extreme temperatures. Set for release by 2025, these new varieties will offer farmers sustainable, high-yield solutions to address the growing threat of climate change.
About CIMMYT
CIMMYT is a cutting-edge, nonprofit, international organization dedicated to solving tomorrow’s problems today. It is entrusted with fostering improved quantity, quality, and dependability of production systems and basic cereals such as maize, wheat, triticale, sorghum, millets, and associated crops through applied agricultural science, particularly in the Global South, building strong partnerships. This combination enhances the livelihood trajectories and resilience of millions of resource-poor farmers while working toward a more productive, inclusive, and resilient agrifood system within planetary boundaries.
CIMMYT is a core CGIAR Research Center, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources.
In parts of the conflict-ridden Sudan, including the eastern regions such as Kassala and Gadarif, rainfall is sparse and recurring droughts caused by climate change compound the issue. Consequently, perennial grasses that are supposed to grow back year after year are dramatically disappearing.
In addition, uncontrolled and heavy grazing in large areas in Sudan is also negatively affecting soil by increasing erosion, and cattle hooves can compact the soil, preventing plant roots from receiving enough oxygen, water, and nutrients.
Due to these factors, many pastoralist groups in east Sudan are seeking grazing resources outside their recognized tribal territory. A major problem for these groups has been the recurrent droughts and the deterioration of pasture areas, which has forced them to stay longer in areas with rich grazing, thus competing with other groups and leading to frictions and conflicts.
Livestock-Food Systems Development (LFSD) is a component of the Sustainable Agrifood Systems Approach for Sudan (SASAS), funded by USAID, focused on the dairy and meat subsector of the livestock sector. The LFSD aims to enhance the utilization of appropriate forage and feeding options through the demarcation of migratory routes to ease access to grazing, avoid conflicts, and reduce long-distance livestock travel impact on livestock health.
Along with partners, Practical Action and International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), LFSD, is establishing a 50 km migratory route demarcation from Al Hindiiyya to Banqir in the Atbara River locality, Kassala State, East Sudan. These routes connect villages to public grazing land for livestock to pass through without impacting farmland.
The intervention also includes reseeding 1,000 feddans (around 420 hectares) of grazing lands and creating water ponds for animals during the rainy season. SASAS is also enhancing water harvesting by using a tractor to increase soil moisture. The two interventions were recommended by local communities and agriculture and animal resources authorities in Kassala state.
“As the rainy season is commencing, we started working with the local communities and reseeding the targeted areas in rural Kassala and River Atbara localities as recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture,” said Dr. Abdallah Osman, Project Manager, Practical Action.
Reseeding around 1,000 feddans of grazing lands in River Atbara Locality, Kassala (Photo:Suliman Fadlalla/CIMMYT )
“To ensure the best results, we used a mix of five high-quality seed types, all of which were recommended by the Kassala State Ministry of Agriculture,” Osman said.
The reseeding will serve 15 villages and enhance grazing lands for over 100,000 animals in the area. In addition, water storing capacity will be increased by constructing 15 large water ponds.
“For the past decades, our grazing lands had diminished gradually, and we face huge challenges in feeding our livestock, especially during dry seasons. In most cases, we had to buy costly fodder and water trucking,” said Ahmed Hassan, a community leader and a herder from River Atbara Locality, Kassala State. “We feel very proud to participate in reseeding the grazing lands in our areas, as this will increase grass yield and quality, enabling us to feed our animals better.”
The intervention also aims to rehabilitate animal migratory route demarcations to ease access to grazing, avoid conflicts, and reduce long-distance livestock travel impact on livestock health.
“As farmers, we suffer a lot from animals that cross into our agricultural fields and destroy our crops. We are relieved that reseeding will create more grazing lands for herders, and the demarcation of animal routes will help reduce the chronic seasonal conflicts between farmers and herders,” said Haw Osman, a farmer from Am Safri, Kassala Rural locality.
“At SASAS, we strive to ensure that herders have access to rich grazing lands. We work with our partners to address all problems linked to overgrazing, reseeding pasture lands, and treating the causes of conflict between herders and farmers. We involve local communities in creating clear animal migration routes away from farms and increasing water sources for animals through water harvesting projects,” said Abdelrahman Kheir, SASAS Chief of Party in Sudan.
Water harvesting to create water ponds for animals in River Atbara Locality, Kassala State (Photo: Suliman Fadlalla/CIMMYT )SASAS partners work with local communities in rural Kassala and River Atbara to mark animal migration routes for animals (Photo: Suliman Fadlalla/CIMMYT)
Ceremony for the awarding of an honorary doctorate to Dr. Bram Govaerts of CIMMYT. (Photo: Richa Puri / BISA)
During a formal ceremony at Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology (CSA) in Kanpur, India, Bram Govaerts, CIMMYT Director General, was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor Honoris Causa. This prestigious honor not only recognizes Govaerts’ outstanding career but also highlights CIMMYT’s innovative and collaborative work on behalf of global food security, a joint effort that impacts millions of farmers and communities around the world.
Upon receiving the recognition, Govaerts dedicated it to the entire CIMMYT team, emphasizing, “This honor is a testament to the tireless work of my colleagues and collaborators at CIMMYT, who, through science and innovation, are contributing to food and nutrition security in key regions such as India and South Asia.” He further noted that this Honorary Doctorate symbolizes the global commitment of CIMMYT and Mexico in addressing the agricultural and climate challenges that threaten food production.
This recognition also underscores the strong agricultural partnership between Mexico and India, a collaboration that has saved millions of lives. This alliance dates back to the Green Revolution, led by Norman Borlaug, who introduced wheat varieties developed in Mexico that allowed India to double its agricultural output and avert a catastrophic famine in the 1960s.
Ceremony for the awarding of an honorary doctorate to Dr. Bram Govaerts of CIMMYT. (Photo: Richa Puri / BISA)
Today, CIMMYT continues to be a vital partner for India, developing maize and wheat varieties that are resilient to extreme climate conditions and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. The Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA), established in 2011 as a collaboration between CIMMYT and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), is a testament to the progress made through international collaboration. BISA has played a critical role in strengthening India’s agri-food systems, improving the livelihoods of millions of farmers, and contributing to environmental restoration in the region.
Beyond commercial ties, scientific collaboration between Mexico and India has been a cornerstone of agricultural improvements in both countries. India, the world’s second-most populous country, faces significant food production challenges, many of which mirror Mexico’s struggles, such as soil degradation and the effects of climate change. Thanks to CIMMYT’s collaboration with Indian institutions, critical advances have been made to address these challenges, paving the way for more resilient and sustainable agriculture.
The honorary doctorate awarded to Bram Govaerts not only recognizes his leadership but also the transformative impact of CIMMYT and its partners in improving the lives of millions of people around the world. Govaerts said, “This award reflects the strength of international scientific collaboration and the power of science to change the world.”
