Maize Productivity to Grow in Africa
The International Maize and Wheat Improvement center (CIMMYT) and its partners launched Stress Tolerant Maize for Africa (STMA) to diminish devastating environmental effects in maize production that occur simultaneously across many regions in SSA.
“STMA will use modern breeding technologies that will confer the desired resistance to pests and diseases and tolerance to climatic stresses like drought and heat to benefit farmers within their socio-economic capabilities, that often dictate their access to important farm inputs like fertilizers and improved seed,” Tsedeke Abate, Project Leader of STMA said on Tuesday.
Under the project a new and improved varieties and hybrids with resistance and tolerance to drought, low soil fertility, heat, diseases such as Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) and pests will be developed.
Over 35 million hectares of cultivated maize in SSA is rain fed and is vulnerable to climate change thus leading to frequent drought in farmers’ fields.
http://www.newsghana.com.gh/maize-productivity-to-grow-in-africa/
HarvestPlus