With implementation led by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the programme aims to double the productivity of maize farms, making those farms more resilient to climate change and reducing the amount of land used for growing the crop.
6 July 2011: The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) has announced a programme aimed at doubling the productivity of maize farms while making them more resilient to climate change.
The US$170 million programme aims to reach 40 million smallholder farm families by 2020 and 175 million by 2030, with implementation led by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). At the launch, CGIAR stressed the vulnerability of smallholder farmers, highlighting the programme’s objectives to double the productivity of maize farms, making those farms more resilient to climate change and reducing the amount of land used for growing the crop. CIMMYT and IITA are members of the CGIAR. [CGIAR Press Release]