Developing water-efficient maize for Africa
For many smallholder farmers in Africa, maize is life. Since its introduction onto the continent several centuries ago, maize has become a staple crop in many parts of Africa. Better maize seeds coming
Drought resistant maize seeds will be ready for use in 2016, experts have said. Confined field trials on the seeds are taking place at the National Crops Resource Research Institute at Namulonge. Biotechnology wasn’t born yesterday!
On July 1, the government of Kenya announced plans to open its borders to genetically modified (GM) crops for the time. Gates reassures support for maize, cassava projects
Studies on maize and cassava cultivation projects are set to make progress, thanks to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation pledge to continue supporting them. Global warming 'has reduced maize and wheat yields'
Maize and wheat production have been 3.8% and 5.5% per cent lower, respectively, than they would have been without the temperature rises associated with climate change since the 1980s. Commentary: The bill for biotech
One of the most persistent images of African agriculture is the iconic photos of dusty, drought-stricken fields where crops are withering under the Sub-Saharan region’s blazing sun. Strict bio-safety law stalls GM maize trials
Tanzania is still lagging behind in conducting confined field trials for genetically modified maize compared with other East African countries, says a researcher. Food security: Africa probes maize dependence
For many countries in Africa, 'food security' is now often mainly defined by the availability and affordability of maize. Africa flirts with GM technology in rush for climate-ready crops
The race is on to develop new crop varieties that will help farmers in poorer countries keep up yields under pressure from the impacts of climate change. Gene from Japan for local maize
Natto, soybeans fermented with a bacteria, is a staple diet for Japanese. Natto bacterium, Bacillus subtilis, has a gene that helps plants cope with drought stress. Tanzania: Shifting towards drought resistant agriculture
Tanzania is poised for a scientific revolution to defeat one of its worst weather vagaries - drought. Two maize varieties compete to combat climate change impacts in Africa
Two new varieties of maize are grown in sub-Saharan Africa which provide hope for 300 million mouths to be fed in the whole continent. New hope to end scourge of drought
When the Bacillus subtilis bacteria is injected into an ordinary maize seed, an interesting event occurs; the leaves of the fully grown maize plant curl up in dry conditions thus losing less water to evaporation and making this mutant staple crop virtually resistant to the crippling droughts that have plagued Africa for centuries. New maize to curb hunger
Kampala — There is maize being harvested in all corners of Uganda. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, this is likely to be the biggest maize harvest in a very long time. Mock planting of first GM maize
She is no economist, and 65-year old Nduku Katunge’s rapport with hunger is anything but a projection. As she plants maize at a research site in Kiboko near Makindu, Katunge, a widowed mother of seven, is wondering whether she will eat tonight, and whether she will be able to pay this month’s rent of KSh 300. GM maize for local trials by 2010
Kenya will soon start confined field trials of drought-tolerant transgenic maize variety in a project spearheaded by Kenya Agricultural Research Institute. |
