CIMMYT Empowers Farmers Across Zambia, Malawi To Adopt Drought Tolerant Crops
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre, known by its Spanish acronym, CIMMYT, says it has empowered farmers across Zambia and Malawi to adapt to drought, ensuring nutritional security and improved livelihoods by strengthening seed systems and applying global best practices.
In a statement availed to Money FM News, Organization Director General, Dr. Bram Govaerts, said the current climate crisis highlights the urgency of scaling up resilient agricultural practices, stating that empowering farmers to adopt drought tolerant crops and sustainable methods is essential to securing food systems and ensuring communities can weather the challenges ahead.
He noted that the adoption of innovations, including conservation agriculture and resilient legume systems, is increasing farmers’ resilience and buffering against future shocks.
Dr. Govaerts revealed that CIMMYT has also expanded access to early-warning systems and climate advisories through the GROWSMART campaign, which has reached over 1 million farmers in Zambia and Malawi.
“As Southern Africa faces unprecedented drought conditions, CIMMYT continues to lead efforts in reducing the devastating impact of extreme weather. Through its role as a partnership convener, CIMMYT has brought together climate change advisories and climate-smart agriculture to empower farmers, who are demonstrating incredible resilience by continuing to produce food for their families and communities. The current climate crisis highlights the urgency of scaling resilient agricultural practices.”
“At CIMMYT, we believe that empowering farmers to adopt drought tolerant crops and sustainable methods is essential to securing food systems and ensuring communities can weather the challenges ahead,” Dr. Govaerts stated.
Dr. Govaerts further disclosed that the Organization, has also strengthened private sector and civil society partnerships to significantly expand the production of climate-resilient legumes, which were harvested early to provide nutritious food.
“In combination with maize hybrids like SC 555 and Ntondo (MH35), these legume systems have improved the food security of over 700,000 smallholder farmers.”
“These hybrids, combined with legume systems such as groundnut and pigeon pea, are designed to thrive under extreme weather conditions, improving soil health and ensuring profitable, nutritionally secure cropping systems. In Zambia, the SC 555 maize hybrid has shown exceptional resilience during the 2023-2024 season,” he noted.
He said through a network of digital champions and voice-activated advisories accessible via simple mobile phones, the organization has provided critical, real-time information.
“This has enabled farmers to plan more effectively, reducing crop losses and optimizing planting schedules in response to changing weather patterns,” Dr. Govaerts added.
He further stated that the organization has prioritized gender-sensitive training programs and access to financing for women farmers, who comprise 78% of Zambia’s agricultural workforce.
“CIMMYT’s Southern Africa Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative (AID-I) as part of the USAID Feed the Future investments, has played a key role in providing smallholder farmers access to drought-tolerant maize hybrids like SC 555 in Zambia and Ntondo (MH35) in Malawi.”
