(Above): Farmers harvest maize in the state of Chiapas, Mexico.
More than 0.5 million Mexican farmers have adopted research products for maize and wheat conservation, improvement, sustainable production, and commercialization over the past 8 years. They are at the forefront of sustainable farming in Mexico thanks to MasAgro, a successful partnership between the Mexican government and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT).
To help increase farmers' yields sustainably, CIMMYT has bred 64 maize hybrids adapted to the tropical, subtropical and temperate regions of Mexico. Together with the Mexican agricultural research system (INIFAP), CIMMYT has also developed 15 high-yielding wheat varieties adapted to the main growing areas located in central and northwestern Mexico.
In 2018, 62 small and medium-sized local companies receiving training from CIMMYT sold 1 million bags of improved maize seed. Since 2011, their combined sales have increased by 55 percent. The new MasAgro maize hybrids and wheat varieties grown under sustainable intensification have helped farmers increase their productivity and income above the national average.
The latest data show that maize farmers who participated in the project achieved average yields and income that were 54 and 61 percent higher, respectively, than those obtained by other farmers in Mexico. Similarly, the productivity and income of participant wheat farmers were above the national average by 10 and 14 percent, respectively. In sum, the farmers who took part in MasAgro grew maize, wheat and related crops on more than 1.2 million hectares across Mexico in 2018.
CIMMYT also coordinated training for field technicians of one of Mexico’s Agriculture Department primary programs, which further expanded MasAgro’s outreach and impact. Over 34,000 farmers from 16 states of Mexico participated in 2,074 workshops and 1,941 field events in 2018. CIMMYT estimates that these activities had beneficial spillovers in adjacent farms covering a total area of 390,000 hectares.
CIMMYT is also working with the private sector to promote sustainable farming in Mexico with local, responsible-sourcing projects. More than 3,300 farmers growing maize and wheat on more than 32,000 hectares in 5 states have been identified as project beneficiaries. Together, these farmers will supply more than 400,000 tons of grain produced locally and sustainably to leading food processing companies over the next three-to-five years.
Credits:
See CIMMYT Annual Report 2018 for full credits.