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Author: rllopez

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

Written by rllopez on . Posted in Videos.

This 15-minute video provides insights into the SIMLESA multi-partner initiative being implemented in five African countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. SIMLESA most notable activity is the breeding of improved maize varieties that meet the specific agro-ecologogical needs of targeted farming systems within the five countries. SIMLESA’s integrated approach is also leading to viable solutions that address key constraints to adoption within maize-legume systems. The initiative is expected to have significant impact over a 10-year timeframe – increasing yields while conserving natural resources and the environment. SIMLESA is supported by CIMMYT, ICRISAT, ASARECA, QAAFI-UQ, Murdoch University, ARC and the Australian Government via ACIAR.

SIMLESA I Launch and Planning Meeting Eastern Africa (Kenya and Tanzania)

Written by rllopez on . Posted in Meeting reports.

56980.pdfThis report summarizes SIMLESA 2 launch and planning meeting held in Arusha, Tanzania, to launch and plan SIMLESA 2 for Kenya and Tanzania.

Representatives from the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Queensland Alliance for Agricultural and Food Innovation (QAAFI), the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), the national agricultural research systems (NARS) of Kenya and Tanzania, and CIMMYT scientists from Ethiopia, Kenya and Zimbabwe met between 14-17 October in Arusha, Tanzania, to finalize activities to meet the objectives of the second phase of CIMMYT’s Sustainable Intensification of Maize-Legume Cropping Systems for Food Security in Eastern and Southern Africa (SIMLESA) project.

The joint meeting for the Kenya and Tanzania country teams was the third and last launch and planning meeting. It was also a follow-up of two previous operational meetings held in Lilongwe, Malawi, and Hawassa, Ethiopia.

CIMMYT embarks on planning Meetings to kick-start Second Phase of SIMLESA

Written by rllopez on . Posted in News, Stories.

Participants at the Eastern (Kenya and Tanzania) SIMLESA 2 II launch and planning meeting in Arusha, Tanzania.
Participants at the Eastern (Kenya and Tanzania) SIMLESA 2 II launch and planning meeting in Arusha, Tanzania.

By Johnson Siamachira

From August to October 2014, CIMMYT held a series of SIMLESA planning and launch meetings in Malawi, Ethiopia and Tanzania.

The meetings were a follow-up to the launch of SIMLESA 2 held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in July.

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SIMLESA Phase 2: Program Planning Meeting Hawassa, Ethiopia

Written by rllopez on . Posted in Meeting reports.

This paper summarizes the planning meeting held in Hawassa, Ethiopia, from 23-25 September 20114, for CIMMYTY’s Sustainable Intensification of Maize-Legume Cropping Systems for Food Security in Eastern and Southern Africa (SIMLESA) Phase 2 program. The meeting focused on streamlining project activities to meet objectives of the second phase (SIMLESA 11).

Representatives from key stakeholders attended the meeting, such as the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Queensland Alliance for Agricultural and Food Innovation (QAAFI), the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), private seed companies and SIMLESA scientists from Ethiopia, Kenya and Zimbabwe.

These proceedings provide a summary of the meeting presentations, participant discussions and planning for program implementation; and a list of participants who took part in the meeting.

SIMLESA Workshop Proceedings Golden Peacock Hotel August 2014, Lilongwe, Malawi

Written by rllopez on . Posted in Meeting reports.

The Malawi Government is very grateful that after hosting the project Formulation workshop in September 2009, the launch of SIMLESA –Phase 1 was also here in Lilongwe in May, 2010. Now, four years after successfully implementing Phase 1, we are gathered here again to launch SIMLESA -2 and plan activities that will have to be implemented in the next four years up to 2018. Our experience has been that many projects hardly make it to the final stage. It is gratifying to see SIMLESA -1 which was approved and launched here in Lilongwe, was successfully implemented and has contributed substantial results in building capacity of farmers and staff through trainings, research equipments, vehicles for easy mobility in conducting research work and above all improving food security of our smallholder farmers in Malawi and across the region in all participating countries.

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