Source: CropBiotech Update

The Africa Maize Stress Project (AMS) is developing maize varieties tolerant to drought, low soil fertility, Striga weed, and endemic pests and diseases. In a recently completed review by a three-member panel from the German Corporation for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) the AMS was termed a “flagship project.” According to team leader Dr. Manfed van Eckert, the reviewers recognized qualities that could serve as a model for similar multi-faceted projects in Africa. Among these were the “excellent working relations with national partners, and the Eastern and Central African Maize and Wheat (ECAMAW) Research Network.”

AMS is supported by Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), and the Rockefeller Foundation, and works with national agricultural research systems (NARS), NGOs, and seed companies in 10 eastern and central African countries. Other partners in the project include the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Institute (CIMMYT), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and national research programs.

The GTZ team recommended that in its next phase, AMS advance current activities “investigate sustainable financing options for maize breeding programs in the region.” For more information contact Alpha Diallo at a.diallo@cgiar.org.