Dr Made
Elita Chikwati and Brenda Ziga
Government has commended the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) for its efforts in agricultural research to boost food security and nutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa.
CIMMYT recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Held at the CIMMYT Southern African Regional Office (SARO) along Bindura Road, the celebrations were attended by research specialists from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and Kenya among other countries.
Research scientists and farmers toured the CIMMYT SARO station, the Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) Quarantine Facility in Mazowe and crop-livestock integration farm trial sites in Murehwa.
Officiating at the function, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made applauded CIMMYT for its effort in increasing agriculture productivity by coming up with different technologies aimed at boosting yields even under dry conditions.
He said CIMMYT was Zimbabwe’s all-weather friend that stood by the country even under difficult times when others abandoned it.
Dr Made said CIMMYT’s research had resulted in drought-tolerant varieties and disease-resistant crop varieties, which were essential, especially now when climate change was affecting agricultural production.
“In its half century of existence, we are aware that CIMMYT has remained an “all-weather friend of Sub-Saharan Africa in general, and of Zimbabwe in particular. Cognisant of its contributions and sustained presence even in trying times, the Government of Zimbabwe accorded CIMMYT-SARO diplomatic status,” he said.
He said the setting up of an MLN quarantine facility in Mazowe was significant as it would enable production of clean germplasm for the region.
“Just as much as we want to answer the question of climate change, we should also ensure the planting material is clean. Zimbabwe takes the risk to retain its position in research. The comfort that Zimbabwe provides is very important,” he said.
CIMMYT director-general Dr Martin Kropff said the organisation has been in Zimbabwe for the past 31 years, working with research institutions and seed houses to come up with better crop varieties.
“For the last 10 to 20 years, we have been in a big breeding programme for drought tolerant and disease resistance varieties. We have come up with technologies to improve crop breeding even under drought conditions. With the El Nino and climate change, we have come up with different sustainable technologies including conservation agriculture.
Dr Kropff said the uptake of the new technologies by local farmers has been encouraging: “Farmers are adopting the technologies. We also work with seed houses and have provided space, help farmers and service providers with equipment.”