Africa Dryland Crops Improvement Network

We were glad to host Dr. Rufaro Madakadze of CESSA, @AGRA_Africa, @CIMMYT Nairobi. Together, we explored how #ADCIN & the #DrylandCrops Program are building capacity across Africa—through breeding innovation, data science & training—while opening doors for future collaboration.

Most Tanzanian farmers still use saved sorghum & groundnut seeds, despite improved varieties like TARISOR2 & Naliendele 2016. Join Papias Binagwa, a @CIMMYT Adjunct Scientist, as he shares more insights. 📍: Zoom: bit.ly/4nHW7xY 🗓️: Sept 24 🕓: 4 PM EAT #DrylandCrops

Yesterday’s session on Youth as Innovators & Entrepreneurs in Africa Seed Systems shared valuable insights on the role of young people in shaping Africa’s seed sector. Catch the full recording here 👉 m.youtube.com/watch?v=qvp-iS… @CIMMYT @AGRA_Africa @SystemsSeed #AFSForum2025

Don’t miss this at #AFSForum2025. 📅 Tue, 2 Sept | 🕞 14:30–17:30 GMT 📍 Hall B, Partners Stage Dr. Kevin Pixley, @CIMMYT Dryland Crops Director, shares how youth-led seed innovations drive entrepreneurship, resilience & growth in Africa. @AGRA_Africa @SystemsSeed #ADCIN

📢 CIMMYT’s Dr. Kevin Pixley at #AFSF2025 🌱 “Youth & Seed Systems – Youth as Innovators & Entrepreneurs in Africa Seed Systems” 👉 Join us in Dakar to explore how youth-led seed innovation drives resilience & opportunity: bit.ly/3JhzMsl

The Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) is hosting a 3-day training in Zambia with support from @CIMMYT & @AGRA_Africa. The focus: scaling farmer-led innovation in maize, soybeans, cowpea & groundnuts across countries through Stage 4 testing. @reach2arathore

#NaSARRI hosted a brilliant field day in Butebere, #Uganda, where it showcased agri-innovations, empowering farmers with new techniques for better yields & resilience. Inspiring to see community learning in action. Catch a glimpse of the event in action: youtube.com/watch?v=04N0P3…

The EAGC Business Expo in Uganda brought together agro-industry players to connect with farmers & agribusinesses. @CIMMYT, through #AVISA, supported demos of sorghum, finger millet & groundnuts for NaSARRI and enabled their participation. 📽️ youtube.com/watch?v=9mrXT0…

Over 100 stakeholders joined the #DrylandCrops B2B Workshop in Dodoma 🇹🇿 to bridge seed access gaps, boost market linkages & tech adoption in #groundnut & #sorghum. Thanks to @TanzaniaTari & @CIMMYT for driving impactful partnerships in dryland agriculture!

🌱#CIMMYT’s new #bioinformatics tool reduces testing time from days to clicks! With an automated, accessible process of genetic verification, this #innovation enhances crop breeding and #SeedSystem integrity. 🔗 bit.ly/43NbpdN

🌾 Breeding better crops for #Zambia’s drylands needs sharp data skills. With #CIMMYT support, #ZARI retrained trialists to collect top-quality data—driving food security & resilience. Quality data = better harvests. Read more: bit.ly/3GthKSz

🚜 QDS ensures farmers get quality seeds that meet official standards, helping them boost yields and incomes. 🌱 CIMMYT and partners are scaling QDS to advance food security and climate resilience. 📲 Learn more: bit.ly/3Gvawxv #QDS #CIMMYT #Agriculture

In sub-Saharan Africa, 50% face food insecurity, yet only 20% access improved crops. At #ADCIN & #DrylandCrops we're bridging the gap by: building crop networks, advancing CGIAR-NARES programs & boosting capacity From 50/20 ➡️ 100% impact. 🔗hdl.handle.net/10883/35618

#ADCIN is harnessing the power of collaboration, innovation & inclusion to transform agriculture for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa We’re building a robust network to boost #DrylandCrops through shared breeding, inclusive research & timely access to quality seeds.

What does co-advancement at #ADCIN look like? It means smarter, more collaborative breeding. Together with #NARES & @CGIAR, we’re 🔹Using informatics for data-driven decisions 🔹Applying genomic tools 🔹Introducing sparse testing #DrylandCrops

Co-innovation at #ADCIN means action. With #NARES & @CGIAR , we’re building resilient crops through local plant health expertise. How? ✅47 screening sites ✅17 biotic stresses ✅3,200+ germplasm lines #DrylandCrops

At #ADCIN, #NARES are at the heart of innovation. With @CGIAR , they co-develop strategic breeding pipelines from day one. One example? 📊 BP00148 (OPV sorghum): ✅ZARI (Zambia): 2,820 lines ✅EIAR (Ethiopia): 2,820 lines ✅CIMMYT: 3,760 lines ➡️7,000+ lines, 80 populations

At #ADCIN, dryland crop improvement is driven by shared leadership & co-design. ✅ 28 breeding pipelines ✅48 development centers ✅ 2,000+ founder candidates ✅160 testing sites @CGIAR & #NARES partners are building solutions tailored to regional priorities & farmers’ needs.

#ADCIN’s co-creation model is driving impact! 🔹56 Product Design Teams 🔹892 experts 🔹92 market segments 🔹47 prioritized segments #NARES, @CGIAR & partners are co-creating farmer-focused, demand-led breeding solutions that build resilience & transform lives. #DrylandCrops

With insights from experts like Dr. Wilson Nene (TARI Naliendele), the workshop fosters knowledge exchange and accelerates action for climate-resilient, farmer-preferred groundnut varieties across Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA)

Dr. Happy Daudi from @CIMMYT shared workshop goals and updates on CIMMYT’s breeding activities. Mr. Joachim Madeni (TARI Naliendele) presented Tanzania’s research progress: F1 QA/QC, population development & national trials. #Groundnut #Breeding #DrylandCrops

The 3-day #Groundnut Mid-Year Review Workshop is underway in Dar es Salaam, 🇹🇿 bringing together researchers & stakeholders from 🇹🇿 🇺🇬 🇰🇪 🇸🇸 🇿🇲 🇲🇼 🇲🇿 to share progress and align on breeding efforts for resilient groundnut varieties. #DrylandCrops