Author: rllopez

The multimedia presentation highlights the major activities of the SIMLESA policy forum co organized by CIMMYT and the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) in Entebbe, Uganda (27–28 October, 2015). The forum’s theme was Mobilizing policy action to scale-up best agricultural practices and was attended by representatives of ministers of agriculture from Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda and Tanzania. Fifty people participated, including representatives from researchers from CIMMYT, national agricultural research systems (NARS), the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (SIMLESA’s funder), international and regional non-governmental organizations, farmer associations, and private companies. The ministers pledged to support sustainable agricultural intensification to maximize benefits. The ministers concurred that enhancing access to a wide range of aspects such as markets, extension services, and inputs, were fundamental policy issues that must be urgently addressed for farmers to get more benefits from agriculture. High on the agenda was determining the policies that would shape an African agricultural market projected to be worth billions of dollars.

This four-minute overview video describes in brief, the activities of the Sustainable Intensification of Maize-Legume Cropping Systems for Food Security in Eastern and Southern Africa (SIMLESA) project. The SIMLESA project’s approach to smallholder farming is transforming maize-legume crop production in Eastern and Southern Africa. The project is helping smallholder, maize-based farmers double or quadruple their yields and income through good agricultural practices.