June 1, 2015
Source: CIMMYT Blog
by Johnson Siamachira
On 6 May, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the government of Malawi jointly launched five projects on food security, fisheries and the environment at a ceremony in Machinga District. The projects will be implemented in 13 Malawian districts over five years and are worth US $141 million.
These complementary projects are designed to strengthen resilience to climate change, increase production and improve nutrition in the targeted communities. The projects also connect with other USAID–Malawi activities in those areas.
Dr. Peter Setimela, CIMMYT-SARO Scientist, explains to officials CIMMYT’s work on drought tolerant maize varieties. Photos: Joseph Scott/IITA
Attending this event were more than 1,000 people representing farmer associations, USAID, local communities, non-governmental organizations, research institutions, Malawi government departments, seed companies and the CGIAR.
Officiating the launch were Ms. Virginia Palmer, United States Ambassador to Malawi; Dr. Allan Chiyembekeza, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Water Development; and Mr. Bright Msaka, Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining.
One of the projects, the Feed the Future Malawi Improved Seed Systems and Technologies project worth US $21 million, is being implemented by a consortium of agricultural research centers led by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to increase the supply and distribution of quality seed of maize, groundnut, pigeonpea, soybean and sweet potato, and develop an aflatoxin control product in seven target districts in South-Central Malawi. Other members of this consortium are CIMMYT, the International Potato Center (CIP), and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
Feed the Future is the U.S government’s global hunger and food security initiative. Ambassador Palmer’s speech focused on integrating development programs to enhance community resilience and produce better outcomes. “We think this strong focus on co-location, coordination and collaboration will allow us to advance sustainable livelihood opportunities at a greater scale–and with greater impact–than would otherwise be possible.”
US Ambassador to Malawi Virginia Palmer and CIMMYT-SARO’s Dr. Peter Setimela with the Feed the Future Malawi Improved Seed Systems and Technologies project certificate of launch.
Dr. Peter Setimela, seed systems specialist at the CIMMYT–Southern Africa Regional Office (SARO), observed: “To popularize drought-tolerant maize varieties, CIMMYT will support pre-basic and basic seed production, field days and demonstration plots for smallholder farmers. We will support capacity building of both private-sector seed companies and government seed inspectors to improve quality and seed marketing in Malawi.”
Malawi relies heavily on agriculture for economic growth, with 80 percent of the country’s population engaged full-time in this activity. Over the next three years, CIMMYT hopes to reach 50,000 households with drought-tolerant maize varieties. Full story