Our latest impressions and news

Topic: Food Security

Economic impact

Written by rllopez on .

In the Loop

Updates from SIMLESA

-The Sustainable Intensification of Maize-Legume cropping Systems for Food Security in Eastern and Southern Africa(www.simlesa.cimmyt.org)
ABOUT SIMLESA:

  • SIMLESA has been running for 9 years.
  •  It is funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
  • Implemented in seven countries in Eastern and southern Africa under the coordination of CIMMYT together with more than 10 national and international institutions.
  • SIMLESA brings together farmers, scientists, government officials, extension experts and agribusinesses in an international Africa-Australia collaboration to promote sustainable intensification based on conservation agriculture.

Did you know?

SIMLESA has led to reduction of production costs and increased productivity and dietary diversity in farm households and communities. This economic change is thanks to the introduction and use of Conservation Agriculture(CA) based sustainable intensification technology options like maize and legumes inter-cropping.


  • Watch this video in which SIMLESA farmers from the Western region of Kenya are celebrating increased productivity and enormous maize and beans yield gains after adopting the CA-based technologies.
  • Read this article to learn how the Uganda’s National Agricultural Research Organization has recommended the adoption and mainstreaming of Conservation Agriculture for increased productivity for small holder farmers
  • In this article SIMLESA scientists are recommending the adoption of conservation agriculture for sustainable intensification technologies to help farmers increase maize and legume yields in Tanzania.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Written by rllopez on .

In the Loop

Updates from SIMLESA

-The Sustainable Intensification of Maize-Legume cropping Systems for Food Security in Eastern and Southern Africa(www.simlesa.cimmyt.org)
ABOUT SIMLESA:

  • SIMLESA has been running for 9 years.
  •  It is funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
  • Implemented in seven countries in Eastern and southern Africa under the coordination of CIMMYT together with more than 10 national and international institutions.
  • SIMLESA brings together farmers, scientists, government officials, extension experts and agribusinesses in an international Africa-Australia collaboration to promote sustainable intensification based on conservation agriculture.

Did you know?

SIMLESA places environmental concerns as key to its agricultural development interventions because sustainable farming practices are critical to long-term profitability. The program continues to promote conservation agriculture and maize-legume intensification to respond to declining soil fertility and sustainably increase the productivity and profitability of current farming systems.


  • Read this article which discusses how SIMLESA encouraged the adoption of a set of practices to build soil health and adaption to climate variability and change.
  • Read this ACIAR report about the adoption of SIMLESA’s sustainable intensification practices is paying off in countries with variable climates.
  • In this article agricultural experts call out for the intensive efforts in scaling out of water and soil conservation practices and drought-tolerant seeds.

Farmers in Western Kenya showcase their harvest.

Written by rllopez on .

Here the Liganwa Farmers’ Group are showcasing their crops of maize that have been grown using a new approach that has seen some farmers more than triple their yields even though they’re spending less time in the field.

Insights into multi-partner initiative.

Written by rllopez on .

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 improves food security in Africa.

Written by rllopez on .

The Australian-funded SIMLESA research program underway in 11 African countries is helping farmers grow drought-tolerant and improved varieties of maize and legumes using conservation agriculture techniques.

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