![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.faceofmalawi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/Dr.-Ephraim-Mukisira1.gif\" "\\"Dr.-Ephraim-Mukisira1\\"")
Agricultural researchers\nfrom five African countries and Australia
\nrecently gathered in Nairobi to review the
\nprogress of Australian Government initiative
\nto improve food security in eastern and southern
\nAfrica.
\nThe institutions involved in
\nthe programme are the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT),
\nthe Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA),
\nthe International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Australian Centre for
\nAgricultural Research (ACIAR), and the national agricultural research
\nsystems of the five target countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and
\nTanzania. The four-year Sustainable Intensification of Maize-Legume
\ncropping systems for food security in Eastern and Southern Africa (SIMLESA)\u2019 began in March
\n2010 and is expected to reach at least 100,000 farm families per country.
\n\u201cThis project is intended to contribute to increased food security by introducing improved technologies
\nfor sustainable growth in productivity of maize-legume
\nbased farming systems,\u201d said Dr. Mulugetta Mekuria, SIMLESA
\nprogram coordinator. He explained that the 3I Approach-
\nwhich stands for Integration of technologies; Innovation
\nplatforms and Impact orientationis being used in implementing the
\nprogram. Dr. Mekuria emphasized the
\nneed for concerted efforts of partners for SIMLESA to generate
\nand deliver integrated production technologies for the maize-legume based farming systems of eastern
\nand southern Africa. The SIMLESA initiative is being implemented through national
\npartnerships led by the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research
\n(EIAR), the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), the
\nMinistry of Agriculture and Food Security, Department of Agricultural
\nResearch Services (DARS) in Malawi, the Mozambique National
\nInstitute of Agronomic Research (IIAM), and the Ministry
\nof Agriculture and Food Security, Department of Research and Development
\n(DRD) in Tanzania. KARI Director Dr. Ephraim
\nMukisira applauded the initiative as one which responds to farmers\u2019
\nneeds and partnership is the only way to help solve one of the greatest
\nchallenges for the developing countries \u2013 eliminating hunger
\nand poverty in the region. \u201cAs a programme focusing on
\nmaize-legume intensification, this will contribute to economic development
\nin the region from more resilient and sustainable maize
\nbased systems,\u201d said Dr. Mukisira in his official opening address.
\nHe said that KARI scientists will be working to improve the
\nresilience and profitability of African farms, provide access to
\nbetter seeds and fertilizers to raise productivity of local maize-legume
\nfarming systems. Dr. Said Silim the director of
\nICRISAT Eastern and Southern Africa noted that ICRISAT as a
\npartner in the project brings in legume component which provides
\nprotein besides improving soil fertility by fixing atmospheric
\nnitrogen into the soil. Australian high commissioner
\nMr. Geoff Tooth reiterated the Australian government commitments
\nin contributing to international efforts to tackle the global food
\ncrisis. He says his government has developed a comprehensive approach
\nincluding emergency food assistance, increased funding for
\nrural development and investment in climate change adaptation and
\nmitigation efforts. \u201cThe Australian government
\nis particularly concerned about
\nthe impact that ongoing food insecurity and price volatility is having on the poor in developing
\ncountries,\u201d he said. About 150 agricultural graduates
\nand technicians have already been trained and field trials established
\nin eleven maize-legume farming systems in the five countries<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"