Sustainable Intensification of Maize-Legume Systems for Food Security in Eastern and Southern Africa (SIMLESA)

Through participatory research and development with farmers, extension agencies, non-governmental organizations, universities, and agribusinesses along the value chain, the program aims to improve maize and legume productivity by 30% and to reduce the expected downside yield risk by 30% on approximately 500,000 farms within ten years. The focal countries of program research are Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Australia.

Australia could benefit from the drought tolerant and disease resistant maize germplasm developed by CIMMYT for Africa. Africa could, in turn, benefit from advanced GxE analysis techniques applied by Australian breeders that could also initiate more systematic germplasm exchange between CIMMYT and Australia.