maize crp annual report 2013and crp functions. for example, maize initiated exciting work to reduce...

annual report 2013 MAIZE CRP

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Contents Message from the Program Manager

AffordableandEffectiveCropStorageSolutionsforSmallholderFarmers

Community-LevelSeedProductioninNepal

PartnersLeadingtheFightAgainstMLN

MorewithLess:SustainableFarmingStrategiesinEasternandSouthernAfrica

Makingthe‘Right’FertilizerDecision

FarmMechanizationandConservationAgricultureforSustainableIntensification

PartnersDeliverDrought-TolerantMaizeforAfrica

TrajectoriesandTrade-OffsforIntensificationofCereal-BasedSystems

ChallengingOurBuilt-InGenderBias

IntegratedStrigaManagement

MaximizingMaizeinMexico

FinancialHighlights

Acronyms

ContactsandCredits

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CGIAR is a global partnership that unites 15 research organizations dedicated to a food secure future. CGIAR research is reducing rural poverty, increasing food security, improving human health and nutrition and ensuring more sustainable management of natural resources. This effort is carried out in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations, national and regional research institutes, civil society organizations, academia and the private sector.

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Message from the Program Manager

witnessedthestrengtheningofmanynewandexistingpartnercollaborations.Iwillnamebutafew.Buildingontherapidresponse

ofMAIZEandtheKenyaAgriculturalResearchInstitute(KARI)in2012totheoutbreakofthedeadlymaizelethalnecroticvirus(MLN)ineasternAfrica,thispartnershipbothexpandedandintensifiedin2013.InadditiontoCIMMYTandKARIworkinghand-in-handtocombatthismenace,theAssociationforStrengtheningAgriculturalResearchinEasternandCentralAfrica(ASARECA),theInternationalInstituteofTropicalAgriculture(IITA),theInternationalCentreofInsectPhysiologyandEcology(ICIPE)andtheFederalUniversityofTechnology-Nigeria(FUT-Nigeria)joinedthefightagainstMLN.OnemajormilestoneinthisfightagainstMLNwastheestablishmentofacentralizedMLNscreeningfacilityatNaivasha,Kenya.

IncollaborationwiththeUniversityofHohenheim,theexpansionofdoubledhaploid(DH)breedingtechnologytoSub-SaharanAfrica(SSA)culminatedintheopeningofamaizeDHfacilityatKiboko,Kenya–thefirstDHbreedingfacilityinAfricaforthebenefitofbothnationalagricultural

researchsystems(NARS)andsmall-tomedium-sizedseedcompanies.

FundedthroughaMAIZEcompetitivegrant,collaborationbetweentheMAIZEandLivestockandFishCRPscontinuedtoflourishintheareaofdual-purposemaize.ThisworkbuildsonpromisingbilaterallyfundedcollaborativeworkbetweentheInternationalLivestockResearchInstitute(ILRI)andCIMMYTsincemid-2000.MaizeproductionisrapidlyincreasinginIndia,largelyduetothegrowingpoultryindustry,andisreplacingcropssuchasrice,sorghum,legumesandwheatinsomeareas.Dual-purposemaizeisneededtomeetboththepoultryindustrydemandforgrainandthedemandforgoodqualitystovertofeedcattle.

OurworkontheassessmentofdriversofchangeandsystemsmodelingforbettertargetingofprojectinterventionsfurtherexpandedwiththefarmingsystemsEcologyGroupofWageningenUniversity.

Intheareaofsustainableintensificationofmaize-basedfarmingsystems,2013wasanotherexcitingyearforMAIZE.Over1.1millionfarmersbenefiteddirectlyfromCIMMYTandIITAresearchoutputsgeneratedthroughourworkonsustainableintensificationofmaize-basedsystems.InMexico,the

expansionofthe“TakeItToTheFarmer”componentoftheMasAgroprojectreachedover200,000farmersdirectlyandincreasedtheprofitabilityofMexico’smaize-basedfarmingsystemsbyUS$105million.InAfrica,expansionoftheintegratedcontrolofStriga(witchweed)acrossareasinEastandWestAfricareachedatotalof65,000farmers,enhancingproductivityandfoodsecurity.

Intheareaofstress-resilientandnutritiousmaize,asmanyas3millionfarmersbenefitedfromatotalof63newmaizevarietiesreleasedinpartnershipwithcommercialseedcompaniesacrosstargetcountriesinSSA,SouthAsiaandLatinAmerica.Someofthecountriesbenefitingfromthemultiplereleaseofnewmaizevarieties,include:Bolivia,Colombia,Ethiopia,Malawi,Mexico,UgandaandZambia.InAfricaalone,over17,000tonsofnewdrought-tolerantmaizeseedwasproducedin13Africancountries(Angola,Benin,Ethiopia,Ghana,Kenya,Malawi,Mali,Mozambique,Nigeria,Tanzania,Uganda,ZambiaandZimbabwe)byanetworkinvolvingmorethan100small-andmedium-scaleseedproducersandcompanies.

Intheareaofintegratedpost-harvestmanagement,theuseofhermetic,low-costgrainstorageinmetalsiloscontinuestoexpandacrosseasternandsouthernAfrica.Atotalof247metalsilosweresoldtofarmers,schoolsandcollegesinoneofthefivepilotingdistrictsalone.Thesegrainsilosarehavingalargeimpactonthewelfareandfoodsecurityoffarmhouseholds.InKenya,savingsofUS$135annuallyarerealizedperhouseholdthroughreducedgrainloss,lessinsecticideuseandbysellingsurplusmaizeathigherpricesfivemonthsaftertheharvestglut.

ThenumberofMAIZEprojectswithgenderintegrationincreasedfromfourin2012to10in2013,reflectingtheprioritytointegrategenderinallareasofMAIZEresearchandCRPfunctions.Forexample,MAIZEinitiatedexcitingworktoreducedrudgery,increaseproductivityandwomen’sempowermentthroughsmall-scalemechanizationforsustainableintensificationinSSA,alignedwithsimilareffortsinSouthAsia.In2013,wewitnessedcompletionoftheMAIZEGenderAuditandmajorprogressongendermainstreaming.MAIZEalsoco-initiatedtheconceptualizationanddesignoftheglobal,comparative,qualitativestudyongendernormsandagencyinrelationtoagriculturalandnaturalresourcemanagementinnovation –ajointcross-CRPstudyundertheCGIARGenderandAgriculturalResearchNetwork.Resourceswerecommittedin2013toundertakeaminimumof10casestudies,withasimilaramountprovisionallyallocatedfor2014.

DaveWatson

MAIZE’s power lies in the strength of its partners. This annual report is a means to share their exciting and important work, but also to show how they combine for greater impact in key strategic areas.

2013

CGIARRESEARCHPROGRAMONMAIZE

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Globally, around one-third of the food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted. In developed countries, much of that loss is the result of consumers throwing away millions of tons of edible food each year. But in the developing world, farmers suffer heavy post-harvest losses estimated at 20 to 30 percent due to inadequate storage techniques.

In eastern and southern Africa, maize provides food and income to more than 300 million smallholder farmers. After harvest, farmers typically remove maize grains from the cobs by hand, dry them in the sun and then store them in sacks kept in their home, in a shed or a traditional store. A considerable proportion of the crop may have already been lost in the field due to pests and diseases. But once in storage, it is still vulnerable, particularly to insect pests such as the larger grain borer (Prostephanus truncatus) and maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais). Some farmers are able to apply pesticides, such as actellic dust, to their stored grain but these are expensive and need to be reapplied every few months to be effective.

Pest-Proof StorageTointroduceaffordableandeffectivecropstoragesolutionsforsmallholderfarmers,CIMMYTlaunchedtheEffectiveGrainStorageProject(EGSP)withfundingfromtheSwissAgencyforDevelopmentandCooperation(SDC)in2008.LedbyTadeleTefera,andworkingwithlocalpartners,theEGSPprojectisdevelopinghermetic(airtight)technologiessuchasmetalsilosandsupergrainbags.

TheEGSPprojectdrawsontheexperiencesofthePOSTCOSECHA*program,whichsawthewideadoptionofmetalsilosinCentralAmerica,traininglocalAfricanartisanstoconstructmetalgrainsilosfrom0.5mmthickgalvanizedmetalsheet.Thesesmallcylindricaldrums,withastorage

capacityof90kilograms(kg)to1.8tons,havesolderedseams,makingthemairtightandimpervioustopestssuchasweevils,largergrainborersandrats.

FirstpilotedinKenyaandMalawi,thesilos’effectivenesshasbeentestedalongsidetraditionalandalternativemodernstoragemethods.JoseContreras,aninstructorinsilo-makingfromElSalvador,wasinvitedtotrain41KenyanandMalawianartisansinaseriesofworkshops.

* ThePOST-HARVEST,orPOSTCOSECHAinSpanish,wasaprogramdevelopedbySDCinthe1980sinHondurasandscaledupacrossCentralAmerica.Theprogramendedin2003,butitspost-harveststrategycontinuestoflourishtoday.

A simple test using a glass bottle tells farmers if the grain is dry enough to store safely.

TrainingmaterialsandsiloinformationweretranslatedandadjustedtotheAfricancontext,andtwoAfricanpartnerorganizationsalreadyworkingincropstoragewereidentified–CatholicReliefServicesinKenyaandWorldVisionInternationalinMalawi.

Farmershavealsobeentrainedonhowtopreparegrainforstoragethenuseacandletodepleteoxygenwithinthesealeddrum.Asimpletestusingaglassbottletellsfarmersifthegrainisdryenoughtostoresafely.

Building on SuccessBy2011,150silosofvarioussizeshadbeenconstructedinKenyaandMalawi.Manyofthesewereboughtbysmallholderfarmers,andotherswereorderedbyschoolsandurbancommunities.

Notonlydothesilosliberatefarmersfromtheriskoflosingtheirharvest,theyalsohelpthemtogainsomecontroloverthemarket.RoseOwanda,apoultryfarmerfromHomaBay –oneoftheKenyanprojectsites–boughtsixsilos,eachcapableofstoring2.7tonsofgrain.“Iintendtobuy


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grainsfromthemarketduringtimesofglut,”shesaid.“ThiswillnotonlyensurethatIbuygrainatthelowestprices;Iamassuredofenoughgraintofeedthebirdsthroughouttheyear.”

Whileinmanyplacesmencontrolstoredgrain,womenfarmershavealsobenefited.GladysNthiga,afarmerineasternKenya’sEmbuCountywhohasstruggledtocopewithstoragepests,boughttwosiloswithacapacityof450kgeach.“Despitetreatingmygrainswithpesticides,Iwasstilllosingnearlyhalfatonofmaizeeveryyear,”saidNthiga,whoseannualmaizeharvestaverages1.8tons.“IfwhatIhavebeentoldaboutthetechnologyistrue,thenmyproblemwiththesepestsisover,”sheadded.

AsecondphaseofEGSPwaslaunchedin2012,focusedonbuildingcapacityforimprovedtechnologydevelopment,testing,promotion,dissemination,policyandgender.Bymid-July2013,atotalof230metalsiloshadbeensoldtofarmersinHomaBaydistrictalone.Afurther47hadbeenboughtbylocalinstitutions,mostlyschoolsandcolleges.

Thisscaling-upoftheprojectwasachievedduetoanawarenesscampaign,includingdemonstrations,videosandinvolvementofthelocalmedia,withmuchofthisworkcarriedoutbynationalpartners.Scientists,incollaboration

Gender StudyInlinewithSDC’scommitmenttogenderequality,EGSPseekstobenefitmen,womenandyoungfarmers.Inordertoachievethis,genderspecialistVongaiKandiwaiscurrentlycarryingoutagenderanalysisstudyinallEGSPcountriesthatwillleadtoanevidence-basedstrategyforgender-responsivepost-harvestresearchandtechnologydissemination.

Whiletheeconomicbenefitsofimprovedtechnologiesareencouraging,theEGSPteamaimsalsotofosterothersocialoutcomessuchasgenderequalityinimprovedpost-harvesttechnologyaccessandadoption.

Questions to be Answered:• Wholosesandwhobenefitsfromimproved

technologies?

• Dothetechnologiesmeetthecomplexstorageneedsandpreferencesofmen,womenandtheyouth?

• Howdothetechnologiesreduceorexacerbatedrudgeryinpost-harvestmanagement?

• Inwhatwaysdotechnologieschangeindividual’saccesstoandcontroloverothergrain?

Food spoilage and waste account for annual losses of US $330 billion in developing countries.

MAIZEANNUALREPORT2013

withnationalpartners,areconductingon-stationandon-farmtrialsthattesttheeffectivenessoftheimprovedgrainstoragetechnologiesacrossdifferentenvironments,includinginZambiaandZimbabwe.

Sustaining an IndustryDespitethesuccesses,however,highinitialcostsforthesilosareasignificantchallengetowidespreadadoption.Costsvary,butinKenya,asilocapableofholding1.8tonsofgrain(themostpopularsize)costsUS$336.Whilethesiloswilllastforover10years(makingthemmuchcheaperinthelongrunthanconventionalstoragetechnologies),theinitialoutlayisprohibitiveformanyfarmersunlesstheycanobtainaffordablecredit.

AccordingtoCIMMYTeconomistHugoDeGroote,metalsilosstoringlessthanatonarenotcost-effective.Astheaverageamountofmaizestoredperfamilyis500kg,hearguesthatfarmerswhogrowlessgrainshouldbeencouragedtoconsiderotherformsofhermeticstorage,suchasthesupergrainbag,whichiscapableofholding90kgofgrainandismuchcheaperthanametalsilo.Onthedownside,thebagscanbeperforatedbythelargergrainboreranddonotofferprotectionagainstrats.

Toprovideinitialcapital,DeGrooterecommendsthatcreditfacilitiesandcollectiveaction(e.g.loanassociations)shouldbeconsidered.Onecommercialbankhasalreadyshowninterest.Significantscalingup,DeGrootebelieves,willdependontheinvolvementoftheprivatesector,aswellasgovernment.

Meanwhile,CIMMYTpolicyeconomist,JonesGovereh,hascalledongovernmentstoincludegalvanizedmetalsheetsusedforsiloconstructionunderthetaxexemptionsinplaceforotheragriculturalimports.

Ultimately,thegoalofEGSPistoestablishawell-functioning,sustainablesiloproductionindustry.ToaddressthechallengeofachievingfoodsecurityforAfrica’sexpandingpopulation,reducingthesignificantlossofgraintostoragepestsisacost-effectivestrategythatdeservesmuchgreaterrecognitionthanitcurrentlyreceives.

Artisan Benjamin Njue from Embue, Kenya teaches other artisans how to make metal silos.

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Changing Mentalities:The Hill Maize Research ProjectCapableofbeinggrownonslopingfields,withoutneedforterracingorirrigation,maizeisavitalcroponthemid-hillsofNepal,particularlyamongpoorerfamiliesanddisadvantagedgroups.Maizeaccountsfor20percentofcalorieintakeinthecountry,andistypicallygrownonsmallfields(averagelandholdinginthehillsishalfahectare)byfamilieswhospend75percentoftheirincomeonfood.Harshclimate,poorinfrastructureandmarketaccessandworseningshortagesoflaborarejustsomeofthechallengestheyface,withcropyieldsalsoconstrainedbyqualityseedsupplyproblems.Inrecentyears,however,workbytheHillMaizeResearchProject(HMRP)ishelpingtoaddresstheseconstraintsandhavingapositiveimpactonfarmproductivity.

Since1999,theprojecthasbeenworkingwithnationalresearchandextensionpartners,non-governmentalorganizations,privateseedcompaniesandfarmerstodevelop,testanddisseminatehigh-yieldingmaizevarieties,supportseedproductionandmarketing,andtestandpromoteresource-conservingfarmingpractices.“Todate,we’vereachednearly50,000householdsin20hilldistricts,”saysGuillermoOrtiz-Ferrara,CIMMYTcerealsbreederandHMRPleader,“and226community-basedseedproductiongroupsparticipatedintheproject.”ResultsofthatworkhaveincludedthedevelopmentandreleasebytheNationalSeedBoardofsevenhigh-yielding,disease-anddrought-tolerantmaizevarieties,includingonequalityproteinmaizetype,‘PoshiloMakai1’developedbytheNationalMaizeResearchProgramoftheNepalAgriculturalResearchCouncil.

HMRPhasalsointroducedanumberoffarmingsystemsandtechnologiestoreducewomen’sdrudgery,suchasgradingandseedshellingmachines,powertillersandintercroppingofmaizewithginger,tomatoesandsoybeans.“Becausewetargetwomenanddisadvantagedgroups,morefarmershaveadoptedimprovedvarietiesandpractices,andbenefitted,”saidOrtiz-Ferrara.

The GESI ApproachThroughitsGenderEquityandSocialInclusion(GESI)approach,theprojecttargetsfarmfamiliessufferingfromcaste-,gender-andethnicity-baseddiscriminationsandhavefoodself-sufficiencyforlessthansixmonths.Thus,women,DalitsandJanajatisarethemainbeneficiariesoftheproject.

Womenanddisadvantagedgroupsparticipatecloselyinallactivities,suchasresearchanddevelopment,community-basedseedproduction(CBSP)andtechnicaltraining.InDailekh,womenwithHIV/AIDSwereinvitedtotakepartin

intercroppingtrials;forthesewomen,increasingtheoutputfromtheirfieldsisessentialtotheirfuture.ManaSaraSijapatifromRakamvillage,whois30andwasinvolvedinthetrials,commented:“Ourmainresourceisland.Wemustincreaseourproductionfromthislandtohavefoodsecurityinourhouseholdsduringtheentireyear.”

Innegotiationswithseedcompanies,theprojecthasadvocatedgivingthefirstpriorityforcontractstowomen’sgroupsandgroupswithasignificantnumberofmembersfromdisadvantagedgroups.ThepositivebenefitsofthisapproachwereconfirmedinFebruary2013,throughagenderauditoftheCRPprojectsconductedbytheDutchRoyalTropicalInstitute(KIT)andcommissionedbyMAIZE.


Gender audit of the project by the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT).

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Theauditfoundpositiveevidenceforbotharedistributionofagriculturaltechnologies,resourcesandbenefitsinfavorofwomen,andgreaterrecognitionofwomenasfarmersandlocalleadersintheprojectareas.WomenCBSPgroupmembersspokeofhavinggreateraccesstoresourcessuchasimprovedmaizeseeds,information(throughvariousindividualandgrouptrainings)andextensionservices.

Somealsoreportedincreasedyieldandincome,leadingtogreaterfinancialindependenceanddecision-makingpowerinthehousehold.Womenalsoreportedfeelingempoweredbytheirnewcapacitiesandknowledge,whichtheyhadbeenabletosharewiththeirhusbandsandtherebygaingreaterrecognition.

Pre-Sowing Seed ContractsAtthe2013annualmeetingoftheGlobalMaizeProgram,heldinNepal,CBSPcoordinatorsfrom10hilldistrictsstatedtheirinterestin‘graduating’fromcommunitygroupstohavingformalstatusasseedcompanies.However,marketingandtransportremainkeyconstraints.Priorto2012,CBSPgroupswerenotencouragedtoconsidermarketdemandandsupply,resultinginsurplusseedinsomeareasanddeficitsinothers.Therefore,the2013projectphaseinitiatedpre-sowingseedcontractsforimprovedmaizevarieties,assistingandguidingCBSPgroupsandseedbuyers(seedcompanies,agrovetsandcommunityseedbankcooperatives)tosignformalagreements.

“Income doubled by selling maize seed and membership in the cooperative; women farmers are not only able to send their children to school but also feel more safe in their family and society. HMRP has brought new hope to the lives of women farmers.” –Mrs.NanuMayaGhatani

ChairofJanaChetanaWomen’sCBSPCooperativeFulbari-8,Kavre


Becauseestablishedseedcompaniesgenerallydonotmarketseedinhillareas,HMRPhassupportedseedproductionandsaleby226CBSPgroups,mostofwhosemembersarewomen.In2013thosegroupsproduced

over1,000tonsofhigh-quality,improvedmaizeseed,whichwassubsequentlymarketedacrossthehillsofthecountry.Startingin2000withjustsevengroups,theCBSPshavebecomeasuccessfulmodelinNepal,contributingtothe

increasedadoptionofimprovedmaizevarietiesandtechnologiesandhelpingtoensuretheavailabilityofseedinremoteareas,ontimeandatlowerprices.

Community-Based Seed Production

Beyondthehousehold,membersofwomen-onlyCBSPgroups,inparticular,reportedhavinggreaterbargainingpowerwithseed-traders.Somewomen’sgroupssuccessfullydemandedspecificservices(suchastraininginvegetableproduction),fromthedistrictagricultureofficeandfinancialsupportfortheirseedstoragefromthedistrictdevelopmentcommittee.Therearealsoexamplesofwomen’sgroupmembersbeinginvitedtojoindecision-makingfora,suchastheDistrictSeedCoordinationCommittee(DSSC),inrecognitionoftheirachievements.

“The Hill Maize Research Project has completely changed our mentality, from seeing maize only as a food crop to viewing it as something we can sell.”

–Mr.GundaBahadurThamiChair,Sindhu-TukiSeedProducers’Cooperative

Sindupalchowk

OnFebruary5,2013,theTillottamaAgricultureCooperative –oneoftheCBSPgroups–signedapre-sowingseedcontractfor2tonsofimprovedmaizeseed,withalocalfarmingproductsretailer,BhandariAgrovet.ThiscontractisbelievedtobethefirstinthehistoryofimprovedmaizeseedproductioninNepal.Followingthis,theproject,incoordinationwiththeDistrictAgricultureDevelopmentOfficesandtheSeedEntrepreneurs’AssociationofNepal,facilitatedthesigningofcontractsamountingto207tonsofimprovedmaizeseedbetween52otherCBSPgroupsand25privatebuyersintheprojectarea.

According to USDA Production, Supply and Distribution by Market Year statistics (bit.ly/1rlvWvS),maizeproductioninNepalincreasedby400,000tons,or20percent,from2004to2013.RecentresearchshowsthatHMRPincreasednationalmaizeproductivityby37percentsince2010(www.usaid.gov/nepal/fact-sheets/hill-maize-research-program-hmrp).Charttakenfrom“ImprovingMaizeFoodSecurityintheHillsofNepalThroughParticipatoryVarietySelectionandCommunityBasedSeedProduction,”11thAsianMaizeConference,Bejing,China,Nov.7-11,2011.

*InpartnershipwithNMRP,DoA,NGOs,PS,FarmersSource:MoAC2009/10

2,500,000

2,000,000

1,500,000

1,000,000

500,000

0 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Area, ha Production, Mt

Area and Production

2210 2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

1,4211,625 1,681

1,8001,906

Yield (kg/ha)HMRP *22.7%

Maize Yield Increase (1985-2010)

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Leading the Fight Against Maize Lethal NecrosisOver3.6milliontonsofmaizearerequiredannuallytofeedKenya.Withmorethan2millionhectares(ha)ofKenya’slandundersmall-andlarge-scalemaizecultivation,amajorityofKenyansdependonmaizeasanincome-generatingcrop.

Firstidentifiedinfarmers’fieldsineasternAfricain2011,MLNresultsfromthecombinedinfectionoftwoplantvirusesandcancausenearly100percentcroploss.ItisnowdevastatingfieldsinKenya,Rwanda,TanzaniaandUganda.InKenyaalone,thegovernmenthasestimatedthat18,500haofmaizefieldswereaffectedbythediseasein2013,impactinghundredsofthousandsofsmallholderfarmers.CIMMYTGlobalMaizeProgramDirector,B.M.Prasanna,statedthattheresultis“themaizeseedindustryineasternAfricaisundersignificantpressuretoquicklyreplacetheexistingMLN-vulnerablecommercialvarietieswithresistantproductsandreachtheaffectedandvulnerablecommunities.”

CIMMYTisleadingcollaborativeresearcheffortstocontrolthedeadlydiseaseandresearchwithKARI.MostcommercialmaizevarietiesgrownineasternAfricaarehighlyvulnerabletothedisease.Testsin2012-2013foundthat117of119varietiesartificiallyexposedtoMLNweresusceptible.However,theyalsoidentifiedsomepromisinginbredlinesandpre-commercialhybridswithresistancetoMLN.TheprioritynowisforthesetobefurtherdevelopedintovarietiesthatcanbemultipliedandcommercializedbytheeastAfricanseedindustry.

MLN Facility OpensInSeptember2013,theCIMMYT-KARIpartnershipopenedadedicatedMLNscreeningfacilityinNaivasha,inordertosupporttheidentificationofmaizelinesandbreedingmaterialswithresistancetoMLN.Thefacility,whichwasestablishedaspartofaCIMMYT-ledprojectfundedbytheBill&MelindaGatesFoundationandtheSyngentaFoundationforSustainableAgriculture,willenablescientiststoscreenmaizegermplasmundercontrolledandreliableconditions.MaizevirologistsfromCIMMYT,KARI,IITAandinstitutionsintheUSAwillworktooptimizediseasescreeningproceduresandcharacterizationofmaizevirusescausingMLNineasternAfrica.

ThenewfacilitywillhelptoensureacontinuousflowofMLN-resistantbreedingmaterialandvarieties,andwillservenotonlyCIMMYTandKARI,butothernationalagriculturalresearchinstitutionsineasternAfrica,andsmall-tomedium-sizedseedcompanies.ItwillalsoserveasahubfortrainingyoungAfricanresearchersandstudentsontechnologiestotackleMLN.

Already,thefacilityhasbegunofferingMLNphenotypingservicestobothpublicandprivatesectorinstitutionsinthe

region.AnumberofimprovedvarietieswithreasonablelevelsoftolerancetoMLNhavebeenreleasedinKenya,andmanymoreresistantvarietiesarecurrentlyundergoingnationalperformancestrials.

Progress Through PartnershipDuringthe2012-1013croppingseason,aCIMMYT-KARIteamevaluatedabroadrangeofmaizegermplasmforresistancetothedisease.“Weevaluatedover2,000CIMMYTinbredlinesandover2,000experimentalhybrids,”

Will and UnityMaize-freeseasonswereadoptedbyfarmingcommunitiesnearKARI’sKibokoCropsResearchStation,beginninginApril2014.Atameetingattendedbymorethan100peopleinearlyOctober2013,thefarmersagreedtoharvesttheirmaizecropbythelastdayofFebruary.Addressingthosepresent,includingtheMakueniCountyadministration,localcommunityleaders,countryagriculturalstaff,KibokofarmersandCIMMYTandKARIscientists,districtagriculturalextensionofficerMichaelKitenjecalledforwillingnessandunityamongfarmersandotherstakeholderstoadheretothemaize-freewindow.Heurgedthemtospreadthemessagetootherswhodidnotattendthemeeting:“Incaseyoumeetresistance,useyourpersuasiveskillstomakethemunderstandtheneedforacommunityapproachtocontrollingMLNinKiboko,”hesaid.

Artificial inoculation with the viruses that cause MLN at Naivasha, Kenya.


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explainedCIMMYTpathologistGeorgeMahuku.“Wearealsoevaluatingover3,000inbredlinesandhybridsfromseedcompaniesandnationalagricultureresearchinstitutesattheMLNscreeningsiteinNaivasha,”headded.Keentoturnachallengeintoanopportunity,theteamislookingforwardtothemarketingofMLN-resistantvarietiesoncetheresearchiscomplete.

Fourtrialswereconductedunderartificialinoculationandnaturaldiseasepressure,atNarokandNaivasha.Whileover95percentofcommercialmaizevarietiesreleasedinKenyawerefoundtobesusceptibletoMLN,somepromisingpre-commercialhybridswereidentified,togetherwithsomeCIMMYTbreedinglinesthatshowedeitherhigh

ormoderateresistancetothedisease.TheMLN-resistantlinesarenowbeingusedasbreedingsourcestoimproveMLNresistanceinfuturegermplasm,aswellastoconvertcurrentlysusceptiblebutwidelyusedCIMMYTmaizelinesintoresistantversions.

BroadcollaborationisneededifMLNistobecontrolled.Tothisend,CIMMYTandKARIorganizedaregionalworkshopfor70scientists,seedcompanybreedersandmanagers,agriculturalministryrepresentativesandregulatoryauthoritiesfromKenya,Tanzania,UgandaandtheUSAinFebruary2013.Severalimportantactionswereidentified,includingsurveillance,preventingmovementofseedsfromdisease-proneareasandtheuseofmaize-freeseasonstoreducethepopulationofinsectvectors.

Raising Awareness is KeyInJuneandJuly2013,CIMMYTandKARIorganizedan‘IdentificationandmanagementofMLN’workshopfor80scientists,techniciansandskilledfieldstaff,bothfromtheirownstaffandfromNARSpartnersinRwanda,Tanzania,UgandaandZimbabwe.Theylearnedaboutfield-basedMLNdiagnosis,severityscoringforscreeningtrialsandMLNmanagement.“Itisimportantthatallthepeopleontheground,particularlythetechnicianswhointeractdailywiththeplantsandsuperviseresearchactivitiesatthestations,understandthedisease,areabletosystematicallyscoutforit,andhavetheabilitytodistinguishitfromsimilarsymptomaticdiseasesandconditionslikenutrientdeficiency,”saidPrasanna.

Later,inNovember2013,participantsataSeedTradeAssociationofKenya(STAK)congress–includingseedsectorrepresentativesfromBurundi,India,Kenya,Malawi,Rwanda,SouthAfrica,SouthSudanandZimbabwe–touredthenewMLNscreeningfacilityinNaivasha,and wereinvitedtosubmitseedtothefacilityforscreening.

“WewilluselessonslearnedonthistriptostrengthensurveillanceofthediseaseinSouthSudan,”saidCirinoOketayot,headoftheresearchunitinSouthSudan’sagriculturalministry.Speakingatthecongress,MahukuurgedseedcompaniestorecognizeMLNsymptomsandnotifyscientistsshouldtheybespotted.

Lookingforward,stepstotacklethediseaseincludecontinuingthesearchfornewandbettersourcesofMLNresistance,andrapidproductionanddisseminationofthemostpromisingresistantmaterial.Changesneedtobemadeincurrentmaizebreeding‘pipelines’inordertoremoveMLN-susceptiblemaizetypes.Maizebreedingpopulationsneedtobeaggressivelyscreened,andadvancedtestingofMLN-resistantmaterialsisrequired.“BesidesaccelerateddevelopmentanddeliveryofeliteMLN-resistantproductstofarmers,ouraimisalsotobuildthecapacityofregionalinstitutionstodeveloprobustbreedingpipelinestoincorporateMLN-resistantgermplasm,andensurethatfarmershaveaccesstosuchproductsattheearliestopportunity,”saidPrasanna.

TheNaivashaMLNscreeningfacilitywillbeaidedbyasecondfacility,alsoestablishedin2013.Thestate-of-the-artmaizeDHfacilityatKARI’sKibokoresearchstationwillenablebreederstodevelopparentallinesofmaizehybridsinjusttwotothreecropseasons,comparedtoseventoeightseasonswithconventionalbreeding.WhileDHtechnologyisusedroutinelybymultinationalcompanies,thenewCIMMYT-KARIfacilitywillmakethetechnologyavailabletopublicsector

maizebreedingprograms,aswellassmall-tomedium-sizedAfricanseedcompanies.

EstablishmentofthenewfacilityfollowsthedevelopmentandreleaseofthefirsttropicallyadaptedDHinducer,jointlydevelopedbyCIMMYTandtheUniversityofHohenheim.ThedevelopmentoftheseinducersrepresentstheremovalofanimportantbottlenecktotheeffectiveintegrationofDHtechnologyindevelopingworld

maizebreeding.Inthelastquarterof2013,thenewfacilitylauncheditsDHproductionservicetopublic(NARS)andprivate(small-tomedium-sizedseedcompanies)intheregion.2013alsosawthediscoveryofkeygenomicregionsandpromisinggroupsofgenesthatconferresistancetoMLN.Tosavetime,validationandlarge-scalemarkerapplicationforMLNresistanceisnowsimultaneouslytakingplacein22widelyusedandhighimpact,Africa-adaptedCIMMYTmaizelines.

“Besides accelerated development and delivery of elite MLN-resistant products to farmers, our aim is also to build the capacity of regional institutions to develop robust breeding pipelines to incorporate MLN-resistant germplasm, and ensure that farmers have access to such products at the earliest opportunity.”

–B.M.Prasanna

MLN technician Janet Kimunye and maize pathologist George Mahuku examine plants for infection.


Doubled Haploid Facility: Cutting Breeding Times by Half

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Getting ‘More with Less’ AcrosseasternandsouthernAfrica,good-qualityarablelandandwaterarerunningout.This,combinedwithclimatechange,whichcouldleaveanother50millionhungryby2050,requiresintensifyingfoodproduction–getting‘morewithless.’Butithastobesustainable,withmoreprudentuseofinputs,lowergreenhousegasemissionsandwithpositivegrowthinnaturalcapitalandresilience.Smallholderfarmersareimportanttoagricultureindevelopingcountriesandsowillberesponsibleformuchofthistask,butiftheyaretomeettheseambitioustargets,improvingtheiraccesstomodernfarminginformationandtechnologywillbevital.Indeed,trulysustainableintensificationwillrequiremorethanjustinputsandtechnology.AccordingtoSirGordonConway,acontributortothe2013MontpellierReport,sustainableintensificationshouldnowbethebasisforallinvestmentsinfarming,bothbigandsmall.

Tofindinnovative,sustainablefarmingstrategiesthataddressthechallengeofgetting‘morewithless,’andtakeabroaderapproachtosystemintensification(includingconservationagricultureelements,soilfertility,pestmanagementanddiversification),MAIZEisworkingthroughacompetitivegrantwithDavidMariote,maizebreederattheAgriculturalResearchInstituteofMozambique(IIAM)onpromotingconservationagriculturetechnologiesincereal-legumebasedsystemsinMozambique,andalsowiththeAustralianCentreforInternationalAgriculturalResearch(ACIAR)-funded*SustainableIntensificationofMaize-LegumeSystemsforFoodSecurityinEasternandSouthernAfrica(SIMLESA)project,partneringwithnationalagriculturalresearchinstitutesfromEthiopia,Kenya,Malawi,MozambiqueandTanzania.Asimilarinitiative,SIMLEZA,isfundedbyUSAIDandhasbeenoperationalintheeasternprovinceofZambia,incollaborationwiththenationalprogramandIITA.

* AdditionalpartnersincludetheAssociationforStrengtheningAgriculturalResearchinEastandCentralAfrica(ASARECA),theInternationalCenterforResearchfortheSemi-AridTropics(ICRISAT),theAgriculturalResearchCouncilofSouthAfrica(ARCRSA),theDepartmentofEmployment,EconomicDevelopmentandInnovation,Queensland,andMurdochUniversityinWesternAustralia.

Adoption of TechnologiesInthesesixSSAcountries,maizeisthemainstapleandlegumesareanimportantsourceofproteinfortheruralpoor.Legumesarewidelyusedasanintercropand/orrotationcropinmaizesystems,andarealsoasignificantsourceofincomeforwomen.Inaddition,theintensificationandstabilizationofrain-fedmaize-legumecroppingsystemsoffersconsiderablepromiseforboostingproductivity,improvingfood,feedandnutritionsecurityandhelpingreversethedeclineinsoilfertility.

Throughparticipatoryresearchwithfarmers,extensionagencies,non-governmentalorganizations,universitiesandagribusiness,theinitiativeaimstoimprovemaizeandlegumeproductivityby30percentandtoreducetheexpectedyieldriskby30percentonapproximately650,000ruralhouseholdswithin10years.

SIMLESA focuses on five countries in Africa – Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania (with spillovers anticipated in neighboring countries).


N

S

WE

Target and spillover countries

SpilloverTarget

Botswana

South Sudan

Ethiopia

Kenya

AngolaZambia

Tanzania

Malawi

Mozambique

Zimbabwe

RwandaBurundi

Uganda

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Buttoreachthisambitiousgoal,amorerapidadoptionoftechnologiesamongfarmingcommunitiesisessential.“Therearesomanydifferenttechnologiesbombardingfarmers.Therealworkthereforeliesindealingwiththepsychological,social,culturalandenvironmentalfactorsofthefarmerthatwilldeterminetheadoptabilityandadoptionofintroducedtechnologies,”saidDerekByerlee,co-chairoftheSIMLESASteeringCommittee,duringtheproject’sannualregionalplanningandreviewmeeting,whichtookplaceinMozambiqueinearly2013.

InKenya,localinnovationplatformswhichhaveemergedfromtheprojecthavebeguntohavethedesiredimpactonfarmerpractices.InOctober2013,scientistsfromCIMMYT,KARI,SIMLESAandICRISATvisitedfarmersinwesternKenyawhoaremembersoftheBoroandBungomaSouthfarmerinnovationplatforms.Duringthevisit,farmersdescribedhowtheyhadadoptedconservationagricultureandintercropping,andswitchedtousingherbicidestocontrolweeds.FarmerFerdinandMakhanureportedhowhismaizeharvesthadrisenfrom10to15bags.“IattributethisyieldincreasetoutilizingtherichinformationIgotduringinnovationplatformmeetings,”hesaid.

Duringthevisit,SIMLESAprojectleaderMulugettaMekuriaspokewiththefarmersaboutnewmaizevarieties,including

drought-tolerantonesdevelopedincollaborationwithCIMMYTandreleasedbyKARI.Heobservedthat,attheendoftheday,farmersareeconomistsandwillbalancebetweenrisksandpossiblebenefits.“Werealizefarmersprefertousethevarietiestheyknowandhaveusedformanyyears,”Mekuriasaid.“However,wehavefarm-levelevidencethatthenewvarietiesgrownundersustainableintensificationpracticescontributetoincreasedyield,decreasedroughtrisks,reduceproductioncostsandimprovesoilfertilityovertime.”

‘A Steady Flight Path’Agreatdealofprogressoccurredin2013.“SIMLESAhasattaineda‘steadyflightpath’andisontracktodeliversignificantimpacts,”Byerleestated.InTanzania,SIMLESAsignedamemorandumofunderstandingwiththreepartnersforproductionandscalingoutoftwonewlyreleasedmaizevarieties,bredbyalocalseedcompany.ThenumberofinnovationplatformsalsoincreasedinTanzania,inordertopromotetheadoptionofsustainablecroppingsystemsandimprovedcropvarieties.

InMozambique,representativesofthepublicextensionservicesanddevelopmentagencieshavedevisedactionplanstoimplementgender-sensitiveapproachesintheirwork,withspecifictargetsforthe2013-2014croppingseason.Thiswasoneoutcomeofatwo-daygender-mainstreamingworkshopinAugust,whichrevealedawidespreadpoorunderstandingofgenderconcepts,including,forinstance,theinequalityinhowfarmersareselectedtotakepartindemonstrationtrials.The

workshopintroducedarangeoftoolsforintegratinggenderinextensionactivitiesinordertoreachvulnerablegroups.

LookingaheadtoaPhaseIIforSIMLESAin2014,InacioMaposse,directorgeneralofIIAMsaid,“Wewanttoaddanotherdimensiontotheproject,andperhapsadifferentphilosophy,onethatwillleadustogreatersuccess.”Butwhatmightthissuccesslooklike?“Forme,”hecontinued,“successmeanstogetfarmerssmilingsustainably–smilingbecausetheyarebetteroff.Forthistohappen,wehavetodesignPhaseIIwithheartandwisdom.”ACIAR’sJohnDixonagreed:“Whereresourcesarelimited,sustainableintensificationistheonlyoptiontofeedtheextratwobillionpeopleby2050.”

“New varieties grown under sustainable intensification practices contribute to increased yield, decreased drought risks, reduced production costs and improved soil fertility over time.” –MulugettaMekuria

SIMLESAprojectleader


A demonstration plot in Malawi shows conservation agriculture practices.

Farmers participating in pigeonpea variety selection at Nsingisi village, Tanzania.

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Nutrient Expert®

InSouthAsia,90percentofsmallholderfarmersusingfertilizerdonotachieveoptimumcropyieldsduetoalackofaccesstosoiltestingservices.Inresponsetothisinformationgap,theInternationalPlantNutritionInstitute(IPNI)SouthAsiaProgramdevelopedtheNutrientExpert® decisionsupporttoolsinpartnershipwithMAIZEtoprovidelocation-specificfertilizerrecommendationsforfarmersgrowingmaizeandwheat.

ThedecisionsupporttoolreceivedtheawardforBestInnovationattheBiharInnovationForum,whichrecognizesinnovationstoimproverurallivelihoodsinIndia.NutrientExpert®istheproductofclosecollaborationwithkeypartnerssuchasnationalagriculturalresearchandextensionsystems(NARES),seedandfertilizerindustries,NGOs,farmers’andwomen’sself-helpclubsinIndia.

“TheadvantageofdevelopingtheNutrientExpert®inaparticipatorymodewasthatthepartnerswereon-board

undertheCGIARresearchprogramonClimateChange,AgricultureandFoodSecurity(CCAFS)inIndia.OtherIPNIprogramsinChina,SSAandNorthAfricaarealsoadaptingthetoolstotheirlocalsituations.

AstudyfundedbyaMAIZECompetitiveGrantInitiative(CGI)in2012and2013contributedanunderstandingofthetypesoffarmsystemsinuseineasternIndiaandthepositiveimpactofNutrientExpert®recommendations.Newmaterialsandtrainingstospreadawarenessofthetoolswerealsocommissioned.

“Onceweknewtheresourceclassesoffarmersthroughthetypologysurvey,itwaseasierforustodecidethetargetyields,”saidMajumdar.“FarmerswouldultimatelybethebeneficiariesiftheworkfundedbyMAIZEcouldstarttheprocessofmakingfertilizerrecommendationsmoreflexibleaswellasscience-andresource-driven.”

Researchers have found that crops make use of fertilizers applied according to Nutrient Expert® recommendations more efficiently than fertilizers applied according to farmers’ normal practices.


Nutrient Expert® for hybrid maize helps to:• Developanoptimalplantingdensityforyourlocation

• Evaluatecurrentnutrientmanagementpractices

• Determineameaningfulyieldgoalbasedonattainableyield

• Estimatefertilizernitrogen,phosphorusandpotassium (NPK)ratesrequiredfortheselectedyieldgoal

• TranslatefertilizerNPKratesintofertilizersources

• Developanapplicationstrategyforfertilizers(rightrate, rightsource,rightlocation,righttime),andcomparetheexpectedoractualbenefitofcurrentandimprovedpractices.

Fertilizer recommendations are generated by providing inputs to the computer program.

fromdayoneandultimately‘owned’theinnovation,”saidDr.KaushikMajumdar,DirectorofIPNISouthAsia.

Bycanvassingthe450researchersandextensionworkersinEastIndiawhoreceivedtraininginthecomputer-basedtools,IPNIestimatesthattheirpotentialoutreachwasover60,000farmers.TheaimistoembedtheNutrientExpert® approachinuniversityandstateagriculturedepartmentextensionsystemsevenfurtherandreachmorecerealfarmersthroughmultiplechannels.

No ‘One Size Fits All’ SolutionDr. Majumdar believes that farmers’ perceptions of fertilizerusewillimproveasaresultofbetteradvice.“Aresource-drivenfertilizerrecommendationstrategywouldbemoreacceptabletofarmersinsteadof‘onesizefitsall’recommendations.”

TheNutrientExpert®toolisalsooneoftheimportantflagshipinterventionsfortheClimateSmartVillages(CSVs)

AversionofNutrientExpert®forSSAhasnowbeendevelopedandvalidated,inpartnershipwithMAIZE.NutrientExpert®integratesdatafrommulti-locationnutrientomissiontrialstodeterminefarmspecificfertilizerrequirements,andtakesaccountofthemostimportantfactorsaffectingnutrientmanagementrecommendations,includingsitecharacteristics,climate,inputprices,andcropproduceprices.ResearchershavefoundthatcropsmakeuseoffertilizersappliedaccordingtoNutrientExpert® recommendationsmoreefficientlythanfertilizersappliedaccordingtofarmers’normalpractices.

TheNutrientExpert®toolhasalsobeendevelopedforChina,andisunderdevelopmentinNorthAfricabytherespectiveIPNIPrograms.

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Whilesmallholdersinmostdevelopingcountriesareincreasinglyusingmechanizedequipmentfortaskssuchaslandpreparation,weedingandthreshing,inAfricathenumberoftractorsanddraftanimalsisstagnatingorevenindecline.Asaresult,back-breakingphysicallaborcontinuestobeamarkedfeatureofAfricanagriculture,withmuchofthisdrudgeryfallingtowomenandchildren.Female-headedhouseholdshaveparticularchallenges,astheyoftendon’townorarenotpermittedtousedraftanimalsandareamongthelasttoaccesslandpreparationservices,withsevereimpactsontheiryield.

DrawingonatechnologythathastransformedBangladeshiagriculture,theFarmMechanizationandConservationAgricultureforSustainableIntensification(FACASI)projectisinvestigatingthepotentialoftwo-wheeledtractorsforsmallholderfarminginEthiopia,Kenya,TanzaniaandZimbabwe*.Whilenotpowerfulenoughtoplow,thetractorscanbeusedfordirectseeding–whichrequiresfarlessenergy–andarethuswell-suitedtoconservationagriculturesystems.Inaddition,theyarelightweight,easytooperateandmaintainandrelativelyinexpensive.

Moreimportantthantestingandadaptingmachinery,however,istheneedtodevelopcommercialmodelstoprovidefarmerswithaccesstotwo-wheeledtractors.InspiredbyBangladesh,whereonlyoneoutofevery30tractorusersactuallyownsamachine,theprojectwillstimulatethedevelopmentoftractor-hiringservicesbasedonlocalentrepreneurs.

Agribusinesseswillbeencouragedtoinvesttimeandresourcesinpromotingthemachines,trainingfarmersintheiruseanddevelopingadequatecreditfacilitiesinordertobuyandmaintainthem.

FACASIwillalsocreatejobsforaround360ruralserviceproviders,forexampleinfuelsupplyandtractorrepairs.ActivitiesinEthiopiaandZimbabwearescheduledtobegininFebruary2014.

* FACASIisledbyCIMMYTwithmultiplepartnersandfundedbytheAustralianCentreforInternationalAgriculturalResearch(ACIAR).


Demonstrations of how easy it is to operate a two-wheel tractor.

Is the Two-Wheeled Tractor the Mechanization Africa Needs?

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Finally,aMAIZEcompetitivegrantwillbuildonthe2013testsbyinvolvingKITtoinvestigategenderrelationsandmechanization,startinginKenyaandTanzaniain2014.Socialscientistswillexplorethepotentialconsequencesofadoptionfromagenderperspective,includingconsequencesformarginalgroups.“ThisstudyiskeyforFACASI,”saysBaudron,“andhopefullywillhelpusunderstandbetterhowmuchofthegender-gapisexplainedbydifferencesinaccesstofarmpower.”Agenderspecialistwillalsojointheteamin2014,toassessthelikelydemandforsmallmechanizationamongmenandwomen.

Testing and Adaptation:OperatingsinceMarch2013inKenyaandTanzania,theprojecthasbeenchieflyinvolvedinmappingthetasksthatarecharacterizedbylowlaborproductivityanddrudgery,inordertounderstandfarmers’needsandtoidentifytechnologiesinuseregionallyandgloballythatcouldmeettheirlikelydemand.SomemachineshavealreadybeenimportedfortestingandadaptationinAfricanconditions,includingalight,single-rowseederdesignedbyJohnMorrison,aconsultantfromtheUniversityofTennessee.InSeptember2013,theseederwas‘pre-tested’inNjoro,Kenya,bywomen,FACASIscientistsandMorrison,andfoundtoworkwell.FullfieldtestingofthisandothermachinestookplacelaterintheyearinKenyaandTanzania.

According to CIMMYT agronomist Frédéric Baudron, more than 35,000 farmers will benefit from the project, with conservation agriculture farmers expected to increase incomes by 50 percent.

FACASI is investigating the potential of two-wheeled tractors for smallholder farming.


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Sowing Drought-Tolerant Maize in Africa ThevastmajorityofmaizeproducedinSSAisrainfed,makingithighlyvulnerabletodrought.Currentestimatessuggestthat25percentofmaizeproductioninAfricaisthreatenedbyfrequentdrought,and40percentaffectedbyoccasionaldrought.Butwithrisingtemperaturesandmoreseveredroughtsasaresultofclimatechange,thatsituationisworsening.

Thedrought-tolerantvarietiesbredthroughtheDrought-TolerantMaizeforAfrica(DTMA)projectprovideatleastpartoftheanswer.Capableofoutperformingmanyexistingvarietiesundergoodrainfallconditionsaswellasdrought,severalalsohaveresistancetomajordiseasessuchasmaizestreakvirusandgrayleafspot.Butbreedingagoodvarietyisnoguaranteeofadoption,andsignificantchallengestocommercializationexist,includingproductionofbreederandfoundationseed,achievinghighseedquality,effectivebrandingandpackagingandadequatepromotionofnewvarietiesbyseedcompaniesthroughdemonstrations.

In2013DTMAstrengtheneditsconnectionswithseedproducersbyestablishingajointworkinggroupwiththeProgramforAfrica’sSeedSystems(PASS),aninitiativeoftheAllianceforaGreenRevolutioninAfrica(AGRA).PASSalreadyworkswithseedcompaniesandagro-dealers,helpingtoensurethattheystockenoughseedandhavegooddistributionnetworkstoreachfarmersacrossthecontinent.Manyfacechallengesinseedproduction,suchasinadequateirrigationfacilitiesandlackofpersonneltomanagethecroplines.

DTMAThegoalistoreachover30millionfarmersbytheendof2016.• 2007-2013:140 new maize varieties released,

including81hybridsand59openpollinatedvarieties,with20-30percentgreateryieldthantraditionalvarieties

• Adopted by 110 African seed companies for productionandsaletofarmers

• 2013:20,000 tons of drought-tolerant maize seedproducedin13Africancountries

• 1 million hectares of land plantedwithdrought-tolerantvarietiesby3millionhouseholds

A Tanzanian farmer stands in front of her maize plot, where she grows DTMA variety TAN250.

Partners to Scale UpTheworkofnationalpartners,suchastheNARS,isalsovitalinscalinguptheuseofdrought-tolerantmaize.SupportingthosepartnersthroughcapacitybuildingisthereforeacentralfeatureoftheDTMAproject.Inthe2012-13croppingseason,DTMAtrainedmaizebreedersandtechnicians,rehabilitatedseedstoragefacilitiesandsupportedresearchinstitutestoreleasevarieties,producebreederseedandbeginhybridseedproductioninplaceswhereprivateseedcompaniesarenotoperating.

Onepartner,KARI,isheavilyinvolvedindroughtscreeningactivitiesandisalsoconductinghouseholdsurveysacrossthecountry,incollaborationwithDTMA,togatherevidence-basedresearchfindingsforpolicyadvocacy.In2013,inpartnershipwithCIMMYT,KARIopenedtwoimportantnewresearchfacilitiestospeedupmaizebreedingandscreeningforresistancetoMLN.Thesefacilitieswillbeavaluableresourceforthosedevelopingnewdrought-tolerantvarietiesforpartners,includingNARSandsmall-tomedium-sizedseedcompanies.

Movingforward,DTMAprojectleaderTsedekeAbatesaidthattheprojectwillcontinuetoworktowardsanumberofkeyobjectives:mainstreamingdrought-tolerantvarieties;enhancingseedsystempartnershipsincollaborationwithAGRA-PASS;buildingthecapacityofNARStoproducebreederseed;mainstreaminggenderwithintheproject;andsupportingfurthersocio-economicresearchtoprovideevidenceforpolicymakers.


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Understanding Past and Present to Create a Better FutureAgriculturalresearchhasdevelopedcountlessnewtechnologiestosupportmoreintensivefarming,butadoptionratesonthepromiseofimprovementaloneareoftendisappointing.Farminghouseholdsmakedecisionsbasedonamorecomplexsetoffactors,suchascash

cropsandfoodproduction,varyingratesofreturnoninvestmentorlaborandbalancinghigherproductivitywithminimumriskoflosingcropsorinvestments.

TheTrajectoriesandTrade-OffsforIntensificationofCereal-BasedSystems(ATTIC)project,acollaborationbetweenMAIZEandWageningenUniversityintheNetherlands,isstudyinghowandwhyfarmingsystemsinEthiopia,MexicoandNepalhavechangedovertimetoshowhowresearchintonewtechnologies,practicesandpoliciescanhaveagreaterimpactinthefuture.Akeydimensionoftheprojectistostudytheinteractionsbetweenfarmingsystemsandthelandscape,withfarmsbothcontributingtoandbenefitingfromthefeaturesofthelandscapeandtheservicesitprovides,includingwaterflows,soilsandbiodiversity.

FundedinpartthroughtheMAIZECompetitiveGrantInitiative,ATTICresearchisbeingcarriedoutthroughthreePhDprojects.Thethreestudiesareusingsimilarresearchprocessesinverydifferentlocations;allinvolvefield-basedstudiesandlinkparticipatoryresearch,fieldmeasurements

andexperimentsandsystemsmodelsatdifferentscales.OperationalfundsareprovidedbythreeotherMAIZEkeypartnerprojects–CCAFS,CSISAandSIMLESA.

Competitivegrantsawardedin2012and2013willalsofundtrainingoflocalstaff(CIMMYTandcloseregionalpartners)inuseofthesystemsanalysistoolsdevelopedduringthestudyperiod.ThefirsttrainingprogramwillbegininZambiainMarch2014.

Case StudiesInEthiopia,YoditKebedeisstudyingthesocialandecologicalprocessesthathaveshapedthelandscapeinordertounderstandsomeoftheecosystemservicesthatagricultureisproviding,particularlypestcontrol.Byanalyzingthefrequencyofmaizefieldsandhowthisaffectstheincidenceofthemaizestemborer,Kebedeaimstofindouthowfarmerscanreducepestpressureevenwhentheycannotaffordtobuypesticides.Herworkisalsoassessingpush-pulloptionsforpestmanagementinconservationagriculturesystems,andinformingthedesignofnew,diversecroppingsystemsthathaveapestcontroladvantage.

InNepal,VictoriaAlomia’sPhDthesisexaminesalternativeformsofcrop-livestockintegration,throughintensificationofmaizeandwheatproductioninassociationwithfoddercrops,inordertodiversifydietsandincomes.Studyingresourcemanagementanddecision-makinginzonespronetoclimatechangerisks,andwheremigrationishighandlaborisscarce,herresearchcombinessystemmodels,fieldexperimentsandparticipatoryresearch,andfocusesparticularlyonnutrientcycling.

LeendertvanWolfswinkelisworkinginthecentralhighlandsofMexico,whereheisstudyinghowthelandscapehasevolvedinresponsetochangesinlanduse,migrationandurbanization.Heisparticularlyfocusedonhydrologicalserviceslinkedtoagriculture,suchasincreasedrechargeofgroundwateraquifersandreductionofdownstreamfloodrisk.

Hisworkaimstoquantifythewaterregulationservicesprovidedbyagriculture(particularlymaizefarming,butalsowheatandoats),incomparisontootherlandusessuchasurbanareasorforests.


Heisalsocomparinghowdifferentcroppingsystems –conventional,conservationagriculture,fruit-maizeagroforestryandmaize-legumeintercropping–performindeliveringtheseservicesatthemicro-watershedlevel.

“Effectsatfield-scalemaybedifferentfromeffectsatthewatershedscale,”saysvanWolfswinkel.“Iworktobridgethegapbetweenthesescales,lookingatsuchquestionsas:ifthiscroppingsystemisbeneficial,whichlocationonthelandscapewouldbethemostfavorable?Andifthelocationofdifferentlandusesandcroppingsystemswithinawatershedmatters,whichexternaldrivershaveinfluencedtheconfigurationsofdifferentlandscapeswithinthecentralMexicanhighlands?”

“Rural communities shape their landscapes in response to resource-use priorities, but also due to demographic changes throughout

their history. The resulting landscape patterns and organization have a strong influence on the functioning of the agro-ecosystem.”–PabloTitonell

ProfessorofFarmingSystemsWageningenUnivesity

A pig roots among maize ears on a farm in the Dalit community of Belhara village, Dhankuta district, in the mid-hills of Nepal.

(Above): Leendert van Wolfswinkel (right) is working in the central highlands of Mexico.

(Left): Farmers in Ethiopia plow in a maize-livestock system.


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In order to understand gender-based dimensions and differences in MAIZE and to leverage this knowledge so that interventions can better address gender-specific needs, MAIZE undertook a gender audit of its activities in 2013.CarriedoutbyresearchersfromKIT(aDutchknowledgeinstitute),theauditcomprisedsurveys,documentationanalysis,focusgroupdiscussionsandmorethan100individualinterviewsinvolvingavarietyoforganizationsandprogrampartners(includingwomenandmenfarmers).TheGenderAuditwasbasedaroundfourkeyquestions:howisgendercurrentlyaddressedandhowcanthisbestrengthened;thecapacityofprojectteamstoconductgender-awareresearch;howdifferentprogramfunctionsaffectgenderintegration;andhowtheCRP’sapproachtogenderisinfluencedbyitsunderstandingofwhatcountsas‘knowledge.’

Gender Realities in MAIZE ProjectsTheGenderAuditfoundthatMAIZEprojects’effortstointegrategenderconcernsweretoalargedegreeinformedbytheindividualunderstandingsofstaffmembers,ratherthanaCRP-wideapproach;thissometimeslimitedthescopeofgenderintegrationinspecificresearch.However,wefoundseveralexamplesofpositiveresultsfrompersonalinitiativestointegrategenderconcerns.Forinstance,inBangladesh,KITmettwohubmanagerscommittedtopromotinggenderequality,whohadcontextualunderstandingsofhowgenderrelationsoperateinagricultureandinthewidersociety.Theywerealsoabletogobeyondthebio-physicalunderstandingoftheirdisciplineandgainanappreciationofthesocialanalysisneededtointegrategenderintheworkofMAIZE.

Forexample,theKhulnahubinvestsinwomenfarmersasastrategy.Therationaleisthatwomenaremoreinvolvedthanmeninbothagricultureandinthemaintenanceofagriculturalhouseholds.Still,women’srolesinagriculturearenotinvestedinandoftenremaininvisibletoagriculturalscientistsbecausetheytendtolookatthecropratherthanthepeopleandsocietalrelationsthroughwhichthecropisproduced.Also,themigrationofmeniscausinglaborshortagesandwomenaresteppingintofillthegapbymanagingandprovidingon-fieldlabor.Investmentinwomenisthusseenasstrategictopreparingforthefuture,meetingprojectobjectivesandhighlightingtheimportanceoftheirroles.

Theprojectdoesthisthroughacombinationofinitiatives.Ontheonehand,newtechnologiesarebeingprovidedfortaskscommonlyperformedbywomensuchaskitchengardens.Ontheotherhand,notonlyarewomen’srolesbeingsupportedandgenderedconstraintstopoverty

addressed,womenarealsobeingsupportedtobeleadersofthenewtechnologiesformaize.Wherepossible,technologiesareintroducedthroughwomen’sgroupsformedforthepurposeofgrowingmaize.Whilewomenmaynotowntheland,theycanownthetechnology.

The Benefits of OwnershipInterviewswithwomenparticipantsinNepalrevealthatHMRPhasaneffectontheredistributionofbenefitsbyallowingwomengreateraccesstoagriculturalinputs.Somewomenidentifyresultsintermsofgreatercontroloverbothinputsandtheresultingbenefitsaccruedfromtheuseoftheseresources,suchasincome.AsoneHMRPcommunity-basedseedproductiongroupleadersaid:“Womenhavebecomeindependent”bydependinglessontheirhusbandsformoney.Thiscantranslateintoagreatersenseofdignityandself-value,asamemberfromanothergroupsaidthat,ifnotfortheCBSPgroup,“thatwouldbelikethe19thcentury…Wehavecomefar.”

Receivingtrainingcancontributetotherecognitionofwomenasbothknowledgebearersandbrokers.Encouragementfromhusbandstoparticipateinthetrainingispartofthisrecognition.WomentrainedbyHMRPfoundthattheywereabletoconveywhattheylearnedtotheirhusbands,whothenaffordedthemmorerecognition.Withinternalandexternalrecognitioncomesincreasedself-confidence.OnememberofaCBSPgroupsays:“Before,wewereshy.Wecouldnotevenintroduceourselves.Nowwecananswerbacktoourhusbands–evenwithaloudvoice.”

Gender and ‘Knowledge’TheAuditfoundthattheintegrationofgenderintoMAIZEactivitiesisaffectedbythewayknowledgeisconstructedandrealityisunderstoodandapproachedinthedifferentdisciplines.Oneexampleisthebeliefthatgender-sensitiveresearchmerelyinvolvescountingthenumberofmenandwomenparticipatinginprojectactivities.Anotherexamplecanbefoundinthetendencytoclassifyhouseholdsasasimplebinary–male-orfemale-headed.Thisrisksreinforcingtheunderstandingthatmaleheadsarethenormandfemaletheanomaly,withtheassociatedideathatmenarethefarmersandthereforethe‘knowers,’whilewomenandwomen’sknowledgearerelegatedtothesphereofthehousehold.Theseunderstandingsareoftenbasedonassumptionsratherthanempiricalevidence.

“The gender audit is a stock-taking exercise. In other words, it is not an evaluation but rather a constructive, reflective and interactive exercise for the CRP to identify how gender issues are addressed in its programming and processes and how to strengthen this further. The Gender Audit process in itself helped build awareness of gender in the CRP and with collaborators. It very much fostered openness and curiosity which has subsequently led to more demand from scientists. And that in itself is an important move forward.”

–LoneBadstueMAIZEGenderSpecialist

Challenging Our Built-In Gender BiasbyKatrineDanielsenandFranzF.Wong,GenderAdvisorswiththeRoyalTropicalInstitute

Thereisaneedtostrengthentheintegrationofresearchmethodsofboththesocialandthebio-physicalsciencesintheCRPandtodevelopalternativepathsinagriculturalresearchfordevelopment(AR4D)toadvancewomen’srightsandgenderequality.

Thisisnottosaythatinter-disciplinaryworkisstraightforward,andtherearenoeasyanswerswhenitcomestogettingteamstoworkbothcollaborativelyandefficiently.However,wehaveencounteredsomegoodexamplesofattemptstoformulateintegratedresearchquestionsthroughouttheMAIZEprojectsvisited.Wheretherearelinkagesbetweendifferentdisciplinesand/orinterdisciplinarywork,itseemstohappenwhentheworkingenvironmentisconducivetocollaboration,withindividualstakingtheinitiativethemselves.

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Amazing Maize: International Crop Research Benefits SSAResearchonmaizeimprovementbyinternationalagriculturalresearchcentersandpartnersinSSAisincreasingharvestsintheregionandenhancingfarmers’lives.

InNigeria,farmerssaythatimprovedvarietiesareaddressingconstraintssuchastheparasiticweedStriga,drought,poorsoilfertilityandpestsanddiseasesthatlimitproductivity,reduceyieldandmakefarmingunattractive.ForfarmerHajiyaHafsatuRiruwaitheencounterwithimprovedmaizetechnologieslastyearbroughtaprofoundchangetoherlife.

“Ihavebeenfarmingforthepast30yearsbutthisismybestyearsofar,”shesaid.Mrs.RiruwaiisoneamongthousandsoffarmersbenefitingfromtheimprovedfarmingpracticesbeingpromotedbytheIntegratedStrigaManagementinAfrica(ISMA)projectinthemaize-producingbelt.Asaseedproducerusingimprovedvarietiesandbettermanagementtechnologies,sheharvested1.3tonsofmaizefrom0.25haincontrastto0.2tonsfromthesamepieceoflandusinglocalvarieties.“Manyfarmersnowcometomyhousetobuymymaizeseedsbecauseoftheirperformance,”shesaid.

MilkaWilson,anotherfarmer,hasasimilarstory.“Withthenewvarietiesandnewknowledgeonmaizecultivation,Iwasabletogetabumperharvest.Otherfarmersarenowbuyingseedsfromme.”IncomefromsalesishelpingMrs.Wilsontosendherchildrentoschool,somethingshehadnotbeenabletodobefore.“Before,mykidscouldnotgotoschool,”shesaid.“MythanksgotoISMAanditspartners.”

InwesternKenya,GeorgeMartinMitende,aleadfarmerinBondavillageinMigoriCounty,alsogetsmoremaizebyusingacombinationofnew,improvedfarmpractices.In2011,hedonatedpartofhislandwhichwasbadlyaffectedbyStrigatotheISMAprojecttosetupademonstrationfieldtrial.

Since2011,Strigahadbeendramaticallyreducedonthispieceofland.Heharvested360kgofmaizefromone-tenthofahectareinthelasttwogrowingseasons.Inthepast,

heusuallyharvested90kgor180kgfromthewholefarm.“MyfavoriteStrigacontroltechnologyisintercroppingDesmodiumwithWS303–anImazapyrherbicide-resistantmaizevarietybeingmarketedbytheWesternSeedCompany.Iwillextendthistechnologytomywholefarm,”hesaid.

Desmodiumisalegumethatisalsofedtolivestock.ItisintercroppedwithmaizetosuppressthegrowthofStriga as partofthepush-pullmanagementtechnologydevelopedbyICIPEandpartners.ISMA,launchedin2011,iscapitalizingonexistingtechnologiesdevelopedbyIITAand

CIMMYTandotherpartnerstoincreasetheproductivityofmaizewithparticularfocusonaddressingStriga–amajorconstrainttoproductioninSSA.

Combined ManagementISMAseekstoimprovethelivelihoodsofover15millionsmallholderfarmersinnorthernNigeriaand10millioninwesternKenyabypromotinganddeployingavarietyoftechnologiesthatreducetheweed’semergence,improvesoilfertilityandincreasecropyields.

InKenya,ISMAworkswithnationalpartners,extensionworkers,policymakers,community-basedseedproducers

A farmer in Kenya counting his losses due to Striga infestation of his maize fields.

34 35

andfarmers.ExtensivedemonstrationtrialsinvolvingdifferentmanagementoptionshaveshownthatbothImazapyr-resistantmaize(IR-maize)andStriga-resistanthybridsreducedStrigaemergencebymorethan60percentandincreasedyieldsbyupto70percentcomparedwithcommercialhybrids.DemonstrationtrialsshowedthatintercroppingthelegumesDesmodiumandgroundnutswithIR-maizeandStriga-resistanthybridsisthebestmanagementoption,increasinggrainyieldandsignificantlyreducingStrigaemergence.FarmerswhointercroppedmaizewithDesmodium(push-pulltechnology)achievedreductionsof60-100percentininfestationandthree-foldincreasesingrainyields.


TheprojecthadalsoengagedcompaniesinKenyatoproduce370tonsofseedsoftheIR-maizehybridsandopen-pollinatedvarieties(OPV).Over256tonsweredirectlydistributedthroughagro-dealers,providingover72,000farmerswithIRmaizewithinthreeyears.Inaddition,community-basedproducersandselectedcompaniesproduced4tonsofDesmodiumseeds.Over111,000farmersnowhaveaccesstonewStriga management technologiesinKenyathroughfielddays,agriculturalshowsandseedsales.Amongthese,24,183farmershaveadoptedthepush-pulltechnology.

InNigeria,theprojectestablishedbroad-basedpartnershipstotestanddelivertechnologiestosmallholderfarmersinBauchiandKanostates.ThesetechnologiesincludedtheuseofStriga-resistantOPVandStriga-resistantandherbicide-resistantmaizehybrids.Alsorecommendedweretherotationofmaizewithsoybeansor Striga-resistantcowpeasandbiocontroloftheweedwithafungus(Fusarium oxysporumf.sp.strigae)thatisspecifictoStriga.Researchers,seedcompanies,NGOs,CBSPs,stateextensionservices,dealersinagro-chemicalsandpolicy-makerscametogetherandcreatedinnovationplatformstohelpscaleoutprojectoutputsanddelivertechnologiestocontrolStrigainfarmers’fields.Inthreeyears,theprojecthasdirectlyreached264,370farmers.Over1,285tonsofseedsofStriga-resistantmaizeand346tonsofseedsofStriga-resistantcowpeashavebeenproducedbycompaniesandcommunity-basedproducersanddisseminatedtofarmersinnorthernNigeria.

Maize(maincrop)

Repellentcrop(Desmodium):•Attractsnaturalenemies•Repelsstemborers

Trapcrop(Napiergrass):•Attractsstemborers

The push-pull technology is an innovation from ICIPE. It is a pest management approach that uses repellent intercrops in combination with an attractive trap plant. Pests are repelled from the food crop while being simultaneously attracted to the trap crop. It is mostly used to control stem borers and Striga.

Farmers read a Striga management handbook.

36 37

Maximizing Maize in MexicoWhileMexicoisthefourth-largestproducerofmaizeintheworld,yieldsarelowandverylittleseedplantedbyMexicanmaizefarmersisproducedbydomesticseedcompanies.Respondingtotheseissues,theMexicangovernmentandCIMMYTlaunchedMasAgro*in2010,whichisincreasingtheproductionofseasonalmaizevarietiesinMexicobydevelopingmorerobustandproductiveseeds,andbypromotingsustainableagriculturalpractices.

Acentralcomponentoftheprojecthasbeenthecreationofaninternationalconsortiumfortheimprovementofmaize(IMIC),inordertoincreasemaizeproductivityand

strengthenthecompetitivenessofthemaizeseedsector,bothinMexicoandmorewidelyintheLatinAmericanregion.Nowinitsthirdyearofoperation,theconsortium–whichincludestheregionalmaizeseedindustry,publicsectorresearchersandCIMMYT–deliverselitegermplasm,softwaretoolsandmolecularbreedingtechnologiestosmall-andmedium-sizedbreedingprogramsinMexico.Intime,thesamesupportwillbeextendedmorewidelyintheregion.

Results in 2013TheMasAgrobreedingprogramdelivered6.6tonsofbasicseedto19small-tomedium-sizedcompaniesandtoMexicanresearchinstitutionsin2013.CompaniesthatparticipateinMasAgro’snetworkhavereceived8tonsofseedof16maizehybridsadaptedtoMexico’srainfedgrowingregions.

* TheSustainableModernizationofTraditionalAgriculture(MasAgro)projectpromotestheworkofMexicangrowersthroughthesupportoforganizationsdedicatedtoimproveagricultureinMexico.

MAIZEANNUALREPORT2013 CGIARRESEARCHPROGRAMONMAIZE

• To have the technology and genetic materials needed to raise average rainfed maize production in Mexico from 2.2 to 3.7 tons per hectare over a 10-year period.

• To increase the use of high-yielding, improved maize seed in Mexico over an area of between 1.5 and 3 million hectares.

• To raise Mexico’s production of rainfed maize between 5 and 9 million tons in 10 years.

• To promote the development of the maize seed industry in Mexico.

• To strengthen food security in Mexico and in the rest of the world.

Asaresult,thecompanieswillbeabletomultiplyandtocommercializeenoughhybridseedtosow1millionhectaresin2014(one-eighthofthetotallandusedtogrowmaizeinMexico).Thesehybridshavethepotentialtoyield60percentmorethanMexicanfarmers’averageyield.

Inareasservedbylocalseedcompaniesandwithhigherproductivitypotential,MasAgrowillhelpincreasetheuseofimprovedseedbyalmost50percent.Althoughitnormallytakesfiveyearstodeveloponeortwocommercialhybridsfrommorethan10,000crossesperyear,MasAgrobenefitedfromtheadvancedhybridsthatCIMMYTbegantodevelopin2011.Asaresult,smallholderfarmerswillhaveaccesstomaizehybridsspecificallyadaptedtotheirfields.

IMICalsodistributed27.7tonsofpre-commercialseedof16maizehybridsto18companiesandtwopublicresearchcentersin2013.Insum,MasAgrohasdistributed31tonsofpre-commercialseedtothecompaniesthatparticipateinitsgermplasmevaluationandexchangenetworks.Toassistthedistributionofseedfortrialsinthenetworks,IMICdevelopedanonlineseedrequestandmanagementsystemin2013.

Identifying Priority ZonesBreedersandmanagersofparticipatingseedcompaniesalsoreceivedtraininginseedimprovementandmultiplicationtechniques,managementandmarketingpractices.MasAgroofferedfourworkshopsonthesesubjects,includingseedcertificationtrainingfor22techniciansofMexico’sSeedInspectionandCertificationService,andaworkshoponDHtechnologyforseedimprovementfortechniciansfrom19companies.Inthreeyears,MasAgrohasoffered23workshopstoIMICpartners.

Finally,theMasAgrosocioeconomicsteamconcludedfivestudiesthatappliedsurveystoseedproducersandtogrowerstoidentifypriorityinterventionzones,andtoestimatethepotentialgrowthofimprovedseedmarketsinMexico.Thefindingsshowthat740,000hectaresinsoutheastMexicoand372,000hectaresintheHighValleyshavethehighestproductivitypotential.Bothzonescombinehighyieldgapswithhighpotentialuseofimprovedseed.SeedcompaniesinMasAgronetworkscouldseetheirsalesdoubleby2018ifthesemarketsreachtheirfullpotential.AnotherfindingfromastudyconductedbyINIFAPconfirmedthat54,68andover90percentofsmallholderfarmersinthestatesofMexico,OaxacaandVeracruz,respectively,wanttousehybridseeds.ThestudiesalsoclassifiedcurrentmaizeproductivityinthedifferentregionsofMexico.EvidenceshowedthatthemostproductivemaizegrowingzoneiswesternMexico,followedbyBajío,theHighValleys,southeast,northeastandthelandlockednorthernstates.

Seed company representatives active in the MasAgro project select competitive maize hybrids.

International Maize Improvement Consortium for Latin America (IMIC)

Objectives:

38 39

AcronymsACIAR AustralianCentreforInternationalAgriculturalResearchAfDB AfricanDevelopmentBankGroupAGRA AllianceforaGreenRevolutioninAfricaASARECA AssociationforStrengtheningAgriculturalResearchinEastandCentral

AfricaATTIC TrajectoriesandTrade-OffsforIntensificationofCereal-BasedSystemsBMGF Bill&MelindaGatesFoundationCBSP Community-basedseedproductionCCAFS CGIARResearchProgramonClimateChange,AgricultureandFoodSecurityCIMMYT InternationalMaizeandWheatImprovementCenterDTMA Drought-TolerantMaizeforAfricaprojectEGSP EffectiveGrainStorageProjectGRiSP GlobalRice&SciencePartnershipha hectareHMRP HillMaizeResearchProjectICIPE InternationalCentreofInsectPhysiologyandEcologyICRISAT InternationalCenterforResearchfortheSemi-AridTropicsIFAD InternationalFundforAgriculturalDevelopmentIIAM AgriculturalResearchInstituteofMozambiqueIITA InternationalInstituteofTropicalAgricultureIMIC InternationalMaizeImprovementConsortiumforLatinAmericaINIFAP InstitutoNacionaldeInvestigacionesForestalesAgrícolasyPecuariasIPNI InternationalPlantNutritionInstituteISMA IntegratedStrigaManagementinAfricaprojectKARI KenyaAgriculturalResearchInstitutekg kilogramKIT RoyalTropicalInstituteMasAgro SustainableModernizationofTraditionalAgricultureprojectMLN MaizelethalnecrosisOPV open-pollinatedvarietyPASS ProgramforAfrica’sSeedSystemsSAGARPA SecretariatofAgriculture,Livestock,RuralDevelopment,FisheriesandFood

inMexicoSDC SwissAgencyforDevelopmentandCooperationSFSA SyngentaFoundationforSustainableAgricultureSIMLESA SustainableIntensificationofMaize-LegumeSystemsforFoodSecurityin

EasternandSouthernAfricaSIMLEZA SustainableIntensificationofMaize-LegumeSystemsfortheEastern

ProvinceofZambiaUSAID UnitedStatesAgencyforInternationalDevelopment

2013 Budget/Expenditure per Theme (US$ millions)

SI 1 Socio-economics SI 2 Systems intensificationSI 3 Smallholder precision agriculture SI 4 Stress-tolerant maize SI 5 Doubling maize productivitySI 6 Integrated post-harvest managementSI 7 Nutritious maize SI 8 Seeds of Discovery SI 9 New tools and methods for NARS and SMEs

SI 1

SI 2

SI 3

SI 4

SI 5

SI 6

SI 7

SI 8

SI 9

Gender Strategies

CRP Mgmt

W1 & 2 W3 Bilateral Total Funding

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

Budgeted

Spent

Total Budget

Total Expenditure

2013 Funding Sources (Top10Donors)

2013 Budget/Expenditure per Funding Source (US$millions)

MAIZE 2013 Financial Highlights

BMGF25%

CGIAR Fund22%

SAGARPA22%

USAID5%

SDC4%

ACIAR4%

AFDB3%

SFSA3%

CIMMYT3%

IFAD3%

Others (< 1K)6%

MAIZE Editorial Team:DaveWatsonScottMall

Writers:GenevièveRenard,SamStorr,WRENmedia

Contributors:TsedekeAbate,LoneBadstue,FrédéricBaudron,KatrineDanielsen,HugoDeGroote,KCDilli,NirmalGadal,BrunoGérard,AndreaGros,MikeListman,KathyLopez,KaushikMajumdar,MulugetaMekuria,GuillermoOrtiz-Ferrara,B.M.Prasanna,ArturoSilva,FlorenceSipalla,TeferaTadele,PabloTitonell,LeendertvanWolfswinkel,FranzWong

Graphic Design and Layout:MiguelMelladoClydeR.BeaverIII

Infographics:FilippoMantione/LaiMomowww.laimomo.it

Photo Credits (top-bottom/left-right):Frontcover:X.Fonseca/CIMMYT;p.2:IPNI;p.4:W.Ojanji/CIMMYT;p.5:CIMMYT;p.7:A.Wamalwa/CIMMYT;p.8:D.Mowbray/CIMMYT;pp.9-11:M.Listman/CIMMYT;pp.12-14G.Mahuku/CIMMYT;p.15:F.Sipalla/CIMMYT;p.16:T.Samson/CIMMYT;p.17:SIMLESA;p.18:T.Samson/CIMMYT;p.19:ICRISAT;p.20:IPNI;p.22:L.Ogutu/ACIAR;p.23:F.Baudron/CIMMYT,L.Ogutu/ACIAR;p.24L.Ogutu/ACIAR;pp.25-26:A.Wangalachi/CIMMYT;p.27:S.MacMillan/ILRI;p.28:M.Listman/CIMMYT;p.29:WageningenUR,L.vanWolfswinkel,M.Herrero;p.20:KIT;p.32:H.Rose(titleadded;license:http://bit.ly/1ryPA8o);p.33:IITA;p.34:ICIPE,AATF;p.35:X.Fonseca/CIMMYT;p.36:X.Zhang.

Articles appearing in this publication may be freely quoted and reproduced provided the source is acknowledged. No use of this publication may be made for resale or other commercial purposes. Available online at: www.maize.org.

Email Inquiries:[email protected]

International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)Apdo.Postal6-641

MexicoD.F.,Mexico06600Tel:+52(55)58042004Email:[email protected]

www.cimmyt.org

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)IITA-NigeriaIbadan,PMB5320,IbadanOyoState,NigeriaTel:+23427517472Email:[email protected]

www.iita.org

©InternationalMaizeandWheatImprovementCenter(CIMMYT)andInternationalInstituteforTropicalAgriculture(IITA)2014.Allrightsreserved.CGIARResearchProgramonMAIZE2014.AnnualReport2013.Mexico,D.F.:CIMMYT-IITA.

maize crp annual report 2013and crp functions. for example, maize initiated exciting work to reduce...

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