Saturday, July 5, 2025
Google search engine
HomeSCIENCEEnhancing Collaboration and Tracking Progress in Groundnut Initiatives: Insights from Malawi, Mozambique,...

Enhancing Collaboration and Tracking Progress in Groundnut Initiatives: Insights from Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia – CIMMYT


“This partnership with CIMMYT’s Dryland Crops Program has been instrumental in revitalizing the legume research program; it has helped keep the legume program at ZARI-Msekera on the map.”  

—Gibson Mandas, Program Officer, ZARI, Zambia 

“The newly installed irrigation system and screening house are critical assets that will enhance the center’s research capacity and delivery.”  

—Geradina Mzena, Centre Director, TARI-Naliendele, Tanzania 

“This visit is important as it will highlight areas that need improvement to enhance data quality and strengthen collaboration with the program.”   

—Tonike Malema, Chitedze Research Station, Malawi 

A team of scientists from CIMMYT, accompanied by representatives from the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARES), recently concluded a regional monitoring visit to four Eastern and Southern African countries—Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Conducted between March 18 and April 2, 2025, the visit focused on ongoing infrastructural improvements and assessed the implementation and progress of regional breeding and disease screening trials supported under the Crops to End Hunger (CtEH) project of the Dryland Crops Program, with a particular emphasis on groundnuts.

The CIMMYT team was led by Happy Daudi, a groundnut breeder, and included Janet Kimunye and Amos Alakonya, both plant pathologists. They were accompanied by Justus Chintu and Lutangu Makweti, groundnut breeders representing NARES from the Department of Agricultural Research Services (DARS)-Malawi and Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI)–Msekera, respectively.

CIMMYT groundnut breeders visit groundnut trials and engage with scientists from DARS-Malawi to explore advances in groundnut research and varietal development (Photo: CIMMYT)

The primary goal of the visit was to assess the implementation of key infrastructure developments—such as irrigation systems and screening houses—and to ensure alignment with harmonized protocols for trial establishment and data collection. The team expressed great satisfaction with the quality of upgrades and commended the implementing partners for their commitment to maintaining high standards. In particular, they praised the meticulous setup and management of trials, noting that partners were consistently adhering to the agreed-upon protocols.

During a courtesy call to Gibson Mandas, Program Officer at ZARI-Msekera in Zambia, he conveyed his appreciation for the strong collaboration with CIMMYT’s Dryland Crops Program.

Scientists from CIMMYT visit groundnut trials at ZARI-Msekera, highlighting the valuable collaboration with the Dryland Crops Program in strengthening legume research efforts (Photo: CIMMYT)

In Tanzania, Geradina Mzena, Centre Director at TARI-Naliendele, expressed deep gratitude for CIMMYT’s continued investment in research and infrastructure.

Researchers and technicians across the four counties welcomed the field visit as a valuable opportunity to engage in open dialogue on key challenges, particularly those related to disease data scoring, and to identify practical solutions for improvement. As part of the visit, the CIMMYT team facilitated a hands-on training session on scoring techniques, reinforcing the importance of accuracy and consistency in data collection. They also encouraged NARES pathologists to provide continued, on-the-job mentorship to technicians to strengthen their familiarity with the scoring scale. This collaborative effort reflects a shared commitment to improving data quality and trial performance in the upcoming season. Overall, the visit played a critical role in reinforcing alignment among partners and ensuring consistent application of harmonized protocols for trial establishment and data management.

Researchers from CIMMYT and TARI in Tanzania assess groundnut trial performance in the field (Photo: CIMMYT)

Similarly, Maria Jancinta, a researcher in Mozambique, emphasized the high value of regional trials and acknowledged that the implementation of network agreements is key to strengthening the program and improving the livelihoods of groundnut farmers across Africa.

Reflecting on the visit, CIMMYT scientists highlighted the importance of in-person engagement with partners and the value of reinforcing research standards through practical support.



RELATED ARTICLES

Leave a reply

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisment -
Google search engine

Most Popular

Recent Comments