News
CRP-GLDC team and the partners visit the Plant Transformation Laboratory (PTL) at Kenyatta University, in Nairobi
The CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals (CRP-GLDC) held its annual ‘Science Meeting’ in Nairobi, Kenya from 25-29 November, 2019. As part of this meeting, CRP-GLDC organised a one-day exposure visit to the Plant Transformation Laboratory (PTL)...
read moreWorkshop on gene editing held at ICRISAT
Twenty crop scientists from Asia and Africa were trained for two weeks at ICRISAT on gene-editing tools, including the increasingly popular CRISPR/Cas technology. From trait selection to validation of edited plants, specific sessions were conducted on designing...
read moreNew dual-purpose pearl millet shows promise as excellent fodder in Niger
Two varieties of dual-purpose (food and fodder) pearl millet were shown to increase weight and overall growth in sheep, according to a study conducted in Niger. These two varieties could be considered as good quality fodder for crop-livestock systems in the country....
read moreAfrican Plant Breeders Association launched in Ghana
The African Plant Breeders Association (APBA) was launched recently to bring together plant breeders from several African nations to work towards achieving food security in Africa through breeding. Dr Sagri Bambangi, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture in Ghana,...
read moreRethinking poverty eradication and food security through agriculture in Africa
Agriculture in Africa is expected to meet the dual objectives of providing food and helping people to escape poverty but, in practice, this is rarely possible on the small farms that cover the vast majority of the continent’s agricultural landscapes.
read morePutting new-age agronomy to test in Indian farms
A group of farmers in India’s Telangana state is breaking new ground in their farms with recently learnt scientific agronomic practices to improve crop productivity. The group of 36, from five villages in Warangal Rural district,
read moreNew chickpea breeding protocol promises to bring down varietal development time from 12 years to 6 years
ICRISAT’s chickpea researchers have developed a breeding protocol that holds the potential to create new varieties of chickpea in half-time.
read moreWant to ensure food security? Outsmart climate change to protect crops from pests, diseases and weeds
Climate change makes the challenge of crop protection highly formidable, said Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), even as he called for a “global plan” for “global pests” like Fall armyworm at the inaugural...
read moreConsolidated efforts to modernize crop improvement in Ghana
A Regional Coordinated Trial (RCT) is helping Cowpea Improvement Program in Ghana, thanks to Accelerated Varietal Improvement and Seed Delivery of Legumes and Cereals in Africa (AVISA) and Bayer projects in West Africa. The regional trials involve genetic materials...
read moreLaying the ground for drone-based technologies to support development of climate-ready crops
Globally, agriculture is witnessing significant technological advancement, best exemplified by the Agriculture 4.0 movement. India, one of the world’s largest food producers and consumers, has to stay abreast of the growth. Remote-sensing imaging for monitoring crop...
read moreMobile-based monitoring tool rolled out for national partners in 7 African countries
“The MLE [Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation] tool MEASURE (Monitoring and Evaluation of Agri-Science Uptake in Research & Extension) is not just for survey/data collection, but also a management, insights and reporting tool. On the platform, activity owners can...
read moreModernizing NARS crop breeding programs for improved genetic gains in 14 countries
A course designed to modernize National Agricultural Research System (NARS) breeding programs for improving genetic gains of 9 dryland cereals and grain legumes and to strengthen seed systems in 14 African and Asian countries was held recently in Arusha, Tanzania. The...
read moreSorghum flour with high shelf life hits Nigerian markets
In a first-of-its-kind enterprise in Nigeria, a large-scale flour mill has come up with processed sorghum flour with a shelf life as high as 6 months. Typically, sorghum flour has a short shelf life of less than 3 months. This innovative product is opening new...
read moreInvesting in education, research and innovation for climate-smart crops in India
To strengthen the competencies of Indian scientists in climate change-related topics and to foster a generation of high-level teachers in India, 30 scientists/assistant professors and 16 students were selected for undergoing training in European partner institutes at...
read moreNARS partners in Asia pick up advanced groundnut breeding lines with market traits for their national trials
Advanced breeding lines which included high-oleic groundnut and those with market-preferred kernel size, shape and color were selected for further trials by National Agricultural Research System (NARS) partners from Bangladesh, Myanmar, India, Laos PDR and Vietnam....
read moreLaunch of CRP-GLDC Newsletter “Gender Research in the Drylands”
On Rural Women’s Day, 15 October 2019, CRP-GLDC launches its newsletter “Gender Research in the Drylands”, celebrating the indomitable spirit, resilience and conviction of smallholder rural women. Its rich content delves into the dynamics that goes into empowering rural women.and how access and intersectionality enable that, together with capacity building.
read moreBrisk promotion of improved groundnut and sorghum varieties to take adoption to the next level
Five improved varieties of groundnut and three of sorghum with the best market traits were selected for active promotion in Tanzania after discussions with AVISA project partners and all stakeholders along the value chain. This is to build on the adoption to date of...
read moreSteering the seed revolving fund initiative to meet growing farmers’ demand for certified seed
Adoption of new varieties can never be successful until efficient seed delivery systems are in place. To increase the efficacy and impact of the existing ‘seed revolving fund initiative’ for groundnut and sorghum crops a decision to form a steering committee was taken...
read moreEquipping researchers with tools for geospatial and remote sensing data analysis
A recent capacity-building exercise conducted in Nigeria trained a multidisciplinary team of researchers in the use of remote sensing in their respective areas of work. Remote sensing technology – a rapid and efficient approach to estimate croplands…
read moreForage sorghum hybrid hailed as a landmark cultivar in India
A new sorghum hybrid developed using ICRISAT breeding material was recently given special recognition as the Outstanding Forage Hybrid 2019 for revolutionizing forage sorghum production in India. This is significant considering that currently, India – the world’s...
read more12 years of Tropical Legumes: 25 million smallholder farmers now grow improved varieties
Over a period of 12 years (2007-2019), the Tropical Legumes projects led to the development of 266 improved legume varieties and production of about 497,901 tons of certified seeds of the target legume crops. These seeds have been planted on about 5.0 million ha by...
read moreBreeding future-ready crops: selecting priority traits in breeding programs via product profiles
Developing crop varieties that meet the needs of all stakeholders, with farmers, value chain actors and end-use consumers having specific needs for attributes of breeds or varieties, is a challenging task. Defining, communicating and….
read moreFirst ever high-yielding chickpea variety developed using marker-assisted backcrossing (MABC) released in Ethiopia
In a first, the National Variety Release Committee (NVRC) of Ethiopia, announced the release of a high-yielding chickpea variety developed in collaboration with ICRISAT using marker assisted backcrossing (MABC)….
read moreTraining an army of giants for the biological control of Fall Armyworm
Scouting for natural enemies of the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) (FAW) in both Asia and Africa, and establishing mass-rearing facilities will aid the biological control program in the fight against the voracious pest. A five-day workshop, organized by...
read moreTransforming sorghum and millet cropping systems through diffusion of quality seed and best bet agronomic practices
Eight months of the year was the most farmer Seydou Yolo’s harvest would last to feed his family of two wives and fifteen children. From then on, cattle would have to be sold to feed the family for the following four months…
read moreKnowledge + passion: Women’s recipe in millet and sorghum production in Mali
Two women’s associations in Sikasso, Mali are changing the status of pearl millet and sorghum, using these crops to diversify and improve food and nutrition security. Sikasso is one of the most prosperous agricultural regions in southern Mali, where farming is...
read moreMulti-location evaluation of six pigeonpea pre-breeding lines through India’s national program
Developed at ICRISAT, these lines have been selected by the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Pigeonpea Six high-yielding pigeonpea pre-breeding lines derived from wild Cajanus species with an average yield potential ranging from 1,400- 3,000 kg/ha,...
read moreHelping groundnut retain its place in Nigeria through the Tropical Legumes Project
Alhaji Sani Usman remembers what being a groundnut farmer in Nigeria’s Kano state entailed a few decades ago – prosperity, respect and global admiration, manifest in the fabled pyramids of groundnut stacks that reached for the skies following harvest. “The groundnut...
read moreThe birth of an impatient and optimistic breed of community seed producers in Mali
Jean Goita has come a long way since his days as a grain producer in his hometown of Yorosso. Today he is a respected seed producer covering nine communes of Yorosso district in Sikasso region of Southern Mali. Goita and 10 other members of his district were trained...
read moreThe Seed of the Technology: ISTA conference generates interest in concerns of the drylands
Discussions at the recently concluded congress of the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) reflected the seed community’s focus on seed production in a changing environment, the association’s Secretary-General Dr Andreas Wais said. “The attendance we had at...
read moreBiological Control of the Fall Armyworm (FAW) in Africa and Asia
Training Workshop on Biological Control of the Fall Armyworm (FAW) in Africa and Asia: Scouting for Parasitoids, Mass Rearing of Egg Parasitoids, and Augmentative Release Techniques Organizers: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)...
read moreSeeding entrepreneurship in groundnut farmers of south India
ICRISAT and PJTSAU partner to set up Seed Business Ventures in Telangana Groundnut cultivation in Telangana, India, could soon make gigantic leaps of improvement as a recently-launched entrepreneurship initiative is set to amplify the reach of enhanced seed varieties....
read moreDecadal experiences in harnessing chickpea value chain in Ethiopia
Over 6 million households benefit through the years of the Tropical Legumes Project In early 1970s, a journey to improve Ethiopia’s chickpea production started in a bid to mitigate low productivity of landraces, poor farming practices, biotic and abiotic stresses,...
read moreFarmers in Tanzania urged to embrace drought tolerant crops
Against the backdrop of changing climatic conditions in Africa, scientists, administrators and seed enterprises have urged the farming community in Tanzania to adopt hardy crops like sorghum. “Farmers, mainly those in low rainfall areas, can embrace sorghum which is...
read moreConference on Advances in Classical Breeding and Application of Modern Breeding Tools for Food and Nutrition Security in Africa
Plant breeding provides sustainable options to increase domestic food supply and dietary diversity in Africa. Knowledge…
read moreIndia set to release its first ‘high oleic’ groundnut variety
The first trait-specific high oleic groundnut varietal trial conducted under the All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Groundnut (AICRP-G) in 2017 has paved the way for the testing and release of high oleic groundnut varieties in India. High oleic groundnuts are...
read moreNew groundnut varieties for improved resilience and market competitiveness
Sayilesi Gwizima, 59, from Mchinij district, central Malawi, grows CG 7 groundnut variety. Not unlike many farmers, Gwizima fell for the variety’s large seed size and high fat content, which makes for high returns at the market…
read moreWebinar on culture, choice and action in legume seeds systems in East and North Uganda
The CGIAR Collaborative Platform for Gender Research hosted a webinar on ‘Culture, choice and action in legume seed systems in East and North Uganda‘ on 10 May 2019. The webinar was organized in collaboration with the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and...
read moreHands-on training program on aflatoxin detection
To check for aflatoxin contamination in their products, groundnut value chain stakeholders in Bangladesh attended a hands-on training program. Participants learnt to use the ELISA kit and were informed of the dangers of aflatoxin contamination. Forty participants...
read moreRepresentatives from Eight Asian Countries Meet to Tackle Fall Armyworm
Over 100 participants from eight South and South-East Asian countries attended the “Regional Workshop on Fall Armyworm Management in Asia” organized in Hyderabad. The Fall Armyworm (FAW) is one of the most destructive crop pests and has invaded crops in India and...
read moreCRP-GLDC Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Internship
The International Center for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) invites applications for a six-month internship for the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) activities of the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals (CRP-GLDC). The...
read moreThe stories of ‘sorghum’ Agatha and ‘seed’ Mary
Why linking with the private sector is important for the AVISA project writes Jayashree Balasubramanian, Lead Communications, ICRISAT Passion can be a very tasty ingredient. It is with a large dose of this passion that Ms Agatha, an unusual food processor in Tanzania,...
read moreImprove soya bean yield
SOYA bean has a high potential for income generation particularly for smallholder farmers who can improve their yields, says International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Soybean breeder Godfree Chigeza. Mr Chigeza said the current soya bean yields of one...
read moreSeed companies in West Africa eye pearl millet hybrid with 70% higher yield potential
A newly developed pearl millet hybrid, with 70% yield-gain potential and high disease resistance, has caught the attention of private seed companies in Niger. A delegation of seed manufacturers visiting ICRISAT’s research station in Sadoré
read moreChapatis of pearl millet for a changing climate
Original post on: Crop Wild Relatives The people of rural India love their bajra chapatis. These flatbreads made of pearl millet flour are a highly nutritious staple in the diet of millions of Indians. And farmers love pearl millet because it will grow where other...
read moreDiet diversification program aims to improve health of 13,000 tribal people in South India
Energy-dense foods made from millets, sorghum and pulses are being provided to tribal communities in parts of India’s Telangana state to combat malnutrition. ICRISAT launched the diet diversification project, Giri Poshana, in collaboration with governments of India...
read moreClimate-smart technologies to build resilience in agriculture of Niger, Mali
Two projects were recently launched to adopt climate-smart agricultural technologies in Niger and Mali for increasing food security and improving rural livelihoods. The projects, ‘Climate Smart Agricultural Technologies
read moreLand restoration for GLDC crops production and food and nutrition security
The CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals Agri-food Systems (GLDC) held a session at the Beating Famine Sahel conference, which ran from 26th February to 28th February 2019, in Bamako (Mali). During this conference organised by the World...
read moreLivestock value chain strengthening essential for improving production and food security in Niger, say scientists
Can Niger claim its rightful place on the food production charts? A group of scientists working with smallholder crop-livestock farmers believe strong market linkages may be the missing ingredient. Researchers from ICRISAT, International Livestock Research Institute...
read moreBridging the knowledge gap among crop breeders in SSA and SA
A new training model has shown how NARS can move ahead in deploying new tools and technologies to accelerate genetic gains and enhance operational efficiency of breeding and pipelines. This was demonstrated at an international training course tailored to bridge the...
read moreOptima Soy Africa launched to scale up production and commercialization of industrial soybean varieties
Heralding a significant milestone for soybean research in Africa, the recent launch of the Optima Soy Africa (OSA) platform harnesses partnerships to ensure the development of market-driven soybean varieties and technologies and their dissemination. The platform is...
read moreStakeholders meet discusses solutions to unshackle Myanmar’s groundnut value chain
Why does an ageing variety command 20% of land under groundnut cultivation? How can existing seed systems be strengthened? What type of varieties do industries need? These and other key issues facing Myanmar’s groundnut farming were discussed recently at a...
read moreWomen in sorghum and millet production innovate for change, turning challenges into opportunities
Development practitioners are increasingly interested in examining the distributional impacts of technical change and innovations in agriculture. The general expectation should be that equal chance and opportunities are accorded to everyone regardless of class, caste,...
read moreHealthier and prosperous Africa: ‘AVISA’ project launched for faster agriculture gains in seven countries
Tanzanian Minister for Agriculture calls for more public-private collaboration Greater yields, higher incomes and improved livelihoods – these will be the results farmers in seven countries across Africa could get with the launch of the Accelerated Varietal...
read moreThe genetic improvement of cowpea: Develop high-yielding varieties
CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals is working on genetic improvement of the important crop cowpea to develop high-yielding varieties with resistance to diseases and pests and to increase its production and consumption, as this article from The...
read moreLentil farming and gender norms in Ethiopia
Although lentils are a critical source of income in parts of Ethiopia, not enough attention has been paid to farmers’ limited access to reliable information and improved seed varieties. Furthermore, the gender aspects of lentil production are rarely studied; gender...
read moreNow, get critical seed data in one click
A modern digital seed ‘catalog’ and seed ‘roadmap’ tool is now available for information about the quality and availability of seeds in one click. This innovative tool will ultimately enable farmers in several African countries to access seed varietal information quickly and help them plan seed production over a long period.
read moreThree new farmer-preferred sorghum varieties released in Malawi
Three new improved sorghum varieties have been released in Malawi after extensive trials. Pilira 3, Pilira 4 and Pilira 5 have been released by the Agricultural Technology Clearing Committee (ATTC), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food...
read moreImproved varieties and quality seed boost yields and profits for Myanmar farmers
The adoption of improved, high-yielding varieties of pigeonpea, groundnut and chickpea has resulted in over 40% higher grain yields and significant profitability gains for farmers in the Central Dry Zone of Myanmar. This is the key conclusion of an impact assessment...
read moreNew high-oil variant draws farmers to groundnut production in western India
On the scenic slopes of Western Ghats, fondly called ‘Sahyadris’ or the benevolent mountains in the state of Maharashtra, the groundnut is attempting a comeback. A new variant, locally referred to as ‘tees taintalis’, could herald its return. Starting in 2011, the...
read moreBoosting confidence in farm innovations – Simulating impact with systems modelling tools
Can farm earnings be estimated before doing anything on the ground? A new tool promises to do just that. Researchers from Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia (https://www.csiro.au/) demonstrated the use of Crop Livestock Enterprise...
read moreSignificant progress in pearl millet pre-breeding to develop drought- and blast-resistant varieties
Efforts to develop pearl millet with improved resistance to drought and blast disease recently got a major boost. The identification of promising introgression lines after multi-location trials, will help accelerate development of new varieties and increase pearl...
read moreJakunbe: New sorghum variety making a difference in lives of Burkina Faso farmers
Simba is a village located about 170 km east of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. On 3 October 2018, Mr Kossima Kaboré was the first producer in the village to harvest the improved sorghum variety named Jakunbe. This former gold miner rejoices on his discovery: “I sowed at...
read moreTackling barriers to women’s participation in soybean value chains
In Mozambique and Malawi, the agriculture sector offers huge potential to improve the lives of rural households, which make up a signficiant share of the local population and depend mainly on farming for their livelihoods. Estimates suggest that agriculture employs up...
read moreLegumes beckon, children of soil return to roots in Africa
It was a gamble that 30-year-old Fuseini Zaanyeya realizes was worth taking. For, quality healthcare and primary education are well within reach since he returned to agriculture under the third phase of Tropical Legumes Project. TL III aims to boost legume production...
read moreWilder and stronger: India-Myanmar pigeonpea program gets new research boost
Pre-breeding utilizes wild species with tolerance to climate change, diseases and pests Hyderabad, 25 October 2018: The largest producer of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) in the world, India could increase its production three times, provided there are varieties resistant...
read moreNigerian Agriculture Minister endorses groundnut thresher
A motorized groundnut thresher is reducing drudgery for women farmers in rural Nigeria. Introduced in 2015, over 50 threshers have already been distributed to farmer groups and cooperatives. Recently at the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) fair, Chief Audu...
read moreFocus on partnerships and innovation at CRP GLDC meetings
A renewed focus on innovation and establishing new partnerships was high on the agenda at the recent joint meeting of the Research Management Committee (RMC) and the Independent Advisory Committee (IAC) of the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Drylands...
read moreCommitted to Alleviating Malnutrition, India Declares Minimum Levels for Iron and Zinc in Pearl Millet
India leads in prioritizing nutrition in breeding The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has established minimum levels of iron and zinc to be bred into national varieties of pearl millet. The news comes during the National Year of Millets and as the...
read moreLessons from an early adopter of sorghum technologies in Kitui, Eastern Kenya
Gender Conversations from East Africa with Esther Njuguna-Mungai, Nairobi, Kenya. As a gender researcher working in dryland agricultural research, one of the outcomes we strive for is equity in improvement of farm level outcomes for men and women farmers. This is...
read moreFlagship Program 3 reviews progress, strategizes for 2019
Creating complementarities and synergies and harmonizing approaches were the key takeaways from the meeting of the GLDC’s Flagship Program 3 on Integrated farm and household management held in Nairobi, Kenya on 1-2 October. Sixteen scientists from IITA, SLU,...
read moreTraining on digital seed roadmap use enables delivery of quality seeds to smallholder farmers
Timely access to quality seeds by smallholder farmers is a major enabler for agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Farmers with the appropriate variety of seeds and related packages can reap substantial rewards in terms of improving food security and reducing...
read moreEmpowering women farmers through Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA) in Northern Ghana
A study in Northern Ghana revealed that lack of access to finance often hinders productivity in women-run farms. To correct this, several Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) have been formed in the region,
read moreFast-tracking of new chickpea varieties for Malawi’s growing export market
Researchers in Malawi are optimistic of proposing the release of three new high-yielding and stress-resistant chickpea varieties next year. The aim is to cater to the needs of farmers in the southeastern districts who are increasingly growing chickpea for its high...
read moreTalking nutrition with adolescents in tribal regions of Telangana
India’s tribal population is generally at risk of malnutrition owing to its dependence on primitive agricultural practices, poverty, illiteracy, and poor personal and environmental hygienic practices.
read more3 sorghum varieties released in Nigeria
Nigeria’s National Committee on Variety Naming, Registration and Release on 26 July 2018, approved the registration and release of two medium-maturing sorghum varieties, SAMSORG 47 as ZAUNA-INUWA, SAMSORG 48 as KAURA BORNU, and an early medium-maturing variety,...
read moreIncreasing Youth Engagement in Feed the Future
A key goal of Feed the Future is to increase youth empowerment and livelihoods, because supporting and empowering youth can help to sustainably reduce global hunger, malnutrition and poverty. With one third of the total population — about 2.3 billion people —between...
read moreA thriving community of women seed producers
By Agathe Diama, Head-Regional Information – WCA, West & Central Africa Program It started with just three women farmers who were part of a pilot from Pagou village, Burkina Faso, who were trained on improved groundnut seed production in 2015. The three women...
read moreFeeling the pulse: Towards better self-sufficiency in pulses in India
A multi-pronged approach including quality seed availability and increased profitability for farmers can help India bridge the demand-supply gap in pulses, says a team of scientists. The 12-point recommendations made in the paper, ‘Leveraging Policies for Self...
read moreMechanized: Transforming Africa’s Agriculture Value Chains
The report — Mechanized: Transforming Africa’s Agriculture Value Chains — summarizes the findings of a systematic analysis of what countries at the forefront of progress in mechanization have done right. It analyzes which policy decisions were taken and which...
read moreBolstering NARS Partners with Systems Modeling Training
The use of systems modeling tools and decision support systems can be of great advantage to farmers by helping them plan their farming activities based on weather predictions.
read moreEmpowered Women and an Enriched Community: The Groundnut Story of Northern Nigeria
Mrs Hadja Talatu Idrissa of Bunkure, near Kano, Nigeria, is the leader of a 25-women group in groundnut production and processing.
read moreLearning from Plant Protection Regulatory Data and Fall Armyworm in Africa
This post was co-authored with Esther Ngumbi. Fueled by climate change and global trade, the threat from invasive pests to countries in which the pests were not present or previously reported will continue to increase, with many sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries...
read moreGender Internship Program – CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals (GLDC)
The CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals invites applications from new Masters graduates from Eastern and Southern Africa to pursue a 6-month Gender Internship Program.
read moreGiving women their due: Case studies highlight importance of gender inclusiveness in breeding programs
While most crop and animal breeders realize the importance of considering gender differences in breeding programs, they lack actionable evidence and practical tools to help make their programs more gender-responsive. The CGIAR Gender and Breeding Initiative (GBI)...
read moreIndia gets its first biofortified sorghum
India’s first biofortified sorghum (jowar), with significantly higher iron and zinc than regular sorghum, was formally launched today.
read moreNavigating the New Feed the Future Indicators
Feed the Future (FTF) recently underwent a shift to its second phase of implementation, guided by the Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS) developed following the Global Food Security Act of 2016. With the change has come a revised common results framework and a host...
read moreDiversifying Agro-Ecosystems to Suppress Crop Pests
This post was written by Wei Zhang. Insect pests are a major cause of crop yield losses around the world and an important cause of food insecurity in developing countries. The development of effective policies to support more sustainable pest management requires a...
read moreAre Medium-Scale Farms Driving Agricultural Transformation in Africa?
For many years, we’ve been trying to understand the implications of shrinking farm sizes for millions of rural African households. Driven by population growth and growing land scarcity, most African farm households are witnessing the gradual sub-division of their...
read moreWebinar: GENNOVATE, a qualitative comparative study on gender norms and agency in agricultural and environmental innovation – Study concepts and methodology
The CGIAR Collaborative Platform for Gender Research is hosting the webinar ‘GENNOVATE, a qualitative comparative study on gender norms and agency in agricultural and environmental innovation
read moreBuilding Resilience Through Better Policies
Farmers, consumers, communities and countries face several types of shocks that can negatively affect their wellbeing and growth trajectories. These include stresses caused by weather fluctuations, natural resources depletion, pest and disease outbreaks, disasters,...
read moreUN Food Agencies commit to deeper collaboration to achieve Zero Hunger
6 June 2018, Rome - The three United Nations agencies tasked with ending hunger and boosting rural development have committed to strengthening their collaboration to help countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, with a special focus on achieving Goal 2...
read moreGender-responsive nutrition policies – a myth or a possibility?
This piece was co-authored by Elizabeth Mkandawire and Sheryl L Hendriks of the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Policy-makers tend to misunderstand the term gender. Drawing from their personal frames of reference, policymakers often incorrectly understand gender...
read moreLegumes for poverty alleviation, nutrition security and sustainable development
International conference pushes for stronger multidisciplinary research and cross-country collaborations Recommendations to improve farmers’ incomes through sustainable production and marketing of legumes, marked the 7th International Food Legume Research Conference...
read moreAfrica’s first biofortified pearl millet variety aims to combat anaemia
For millions of women and children in Africa anaemia is a significant public health concern—and diets deficient in iron are often to blame. But consuming a new variety of pearl millet called chakti—with an additional 20% of the estimated average requirement of iron
read moreISPC foresight workshop homes in on system-level prioritization of CGIAR research
The challenges of producing more food and fibre for a growing population, adopting sustainable production methods, and adapting to an ever changing climate call for innovative and new solutions that agricultural research can offer.
read moreMajor step forward in chickpea and pigeonpea research – reference genome data assembled
Breeding high nutritional varieties of chickpea and pigeonpea just got easier. With new technology, genomic processes that could have taken years, have been completed in just a few months.
read moreTaming the Wild Pigeonpea
In a room filled with men, the voice of the lone woman at the head table commanded respect. Dr. Shivali Sharma captivated the room as she excitedly presented evaluation results and shared her passion for pigeonpea pre-breeding.
read moreJoining the dots between crops, livestock and markets in West Africa – project launched
A project that aims to strengthen research in crop-livestock systems, to substantially change lives and livelihood of farmers in Western Africa, was launched earlier this month.
read morePartnering to effectively strengthen whole value chains: Key focus at the launch of a global program for grain legumes and dryland cereals
Over 150 participants from 25 countries met to identify better models for partnering as part of the launch meeting of the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals (GLDC).
read moreCGIAR Launches Program to Improve Rural Economies and Nutrition through Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals
The CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals Agri-food Systems (CRP GLDC) launched focused on increasing the productivity, profitability, resilience and marketability of critical and nutritious grain legume and cereal crops grown in Sub Saharan Africa and South Asia.
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