An Overview Of Our Solution
he CIMMYT-led project MasAgro develops farmers’ ability to adopt the product of research on maize conservation and improvement, agronomy, machinery, ICTs and postharvest solutions. MasAgro has developed 34 improved maize varieties adapted to small scale farming in Mexico. Farmers and breeders collaborate to improve native maize yield potential and its resistance to diseases. Improved seeds and conservation agriculture have helped farmers increase yields and keep them above the national average by 1.6 tons per hectare. Farmer income grew by 23% and yield increases by up to 67%. 55 local seed companies sold 1.1 million bags of improved seed in 2016, a market share of 30%. For every dollar invested participant farmers make $7. This strategy can be replicated in trainings, participatory maize improvement, or more ambitious breeding and capacity building projects.
Who is this solution impacting?
Community Type
Suburban
Rural
Additional Information
- Population Impacted:
- Continent: North America
General Information
Organization type
Nonprofit
Ecosystem (select all that apply)
Forests
Oceans/Coasts
Population impacted
Over 300,000 farmers
Challenge
Size of agricultural area
Over 1 million hectares
Production quantity
4 tons of rain-fed maize per hectare on average
People employed
185
Solution
Describe your solution
CIMMYT and Mexico’s Agriculture Department (SAGARPA) are currently implementing the MasAgro project to help address maize production, biodiversity conservation, food security and sustainable rural development challenges. MasAgro is in its sixth year of implementation developing a sustainable intensification strategy of maize production systems based on conservation agriculture, and on the development and transfer of improved, high-yielding, climate ready maize seeds to farmers’ fields. MasAgro develops small farmers’ ability to adopt the product of CIMMYT’s research on maize conservation and improvement, agronomy, farming machinery, information and communication technologies (ICTs), and postharvest storage solutions. CIMMYT has developed innovation networks or hubs between maize farmers, researchers, service providers, extension agents, authorities, local seed producers and industry representatives in 12 regions of Mexico that have specific agronomic, ecological, weather, infrastructure and market conditions relevant to maize production. Each hub is formed by research platforms, demonstration modules, extension and impact areas where improved seeds, management systems, farming machinery and ICTs are developed, tested and adapted to farmers’ needs. MasAgro offers training to extension agents, technicians and farmers who maintain an ongoing exchange of information that has been key to achieve resource conservation and use efficiency, productivity gains and income increases.
Implementation
Describe your implementation
CIMMYT and more than 150 local and international partners from the public and private sectors participate in MasAgro’s research and development (R&D) activities and contribute to its implementation in the 12 hubs mentioned before. Each year MasAgro’s research infrastructure and impact areas depend on the different type and number of participants, although SAGARPA provides core funding and CIMMYT leads on most R&D activities. CIMMYT and Mexico’s agricultural research system (INIFAP) have bred and released 30 improved varieties of white maize and four varieties of yellow maize that are adapted to small scale and rain-fed farming conditions in central, south and southeastern Mexico. CIMMYT has also offered specialized training to 55 Mexican seed companies that reproduce and commercialize the improved seed in MasAgro’s target areas. To help farmers adopt and achieve the yield potential of the improved maize varieties CIMMYT implements the sustainable intensification strategy described in the Solution section above. Only in 2016, project partners and participants set up 41 research platforms, 622 demonstration modules of sustainable farming practices and 2680 extension areas in 30 states of Mexico. MasAgro experts organized 433 field days to promote sustainable farming in the 12 hubs. 9783 farmers participated in these demonstration events. Furthermore, 5010 technicians and extension agents attended MasAgro trainings. Specialized training was offered to 22 MasAgro trainers who trained, in turn, 243 extension agents who offered advice to 10333 farmers in 19361 hectares. 20 technicians also completed a one year certification program and joined the 290 experts that CIMMYT has certified in sustainable agriculture since 2011. These technicians monitored sustainable farming practices in 638 demonstration modules and in 2718 extension areas. Information collected from the field was registered in MasAgro’s electronic logbook and added to the five-year (2011-2016) project databas
External connections
MasAgro is a bilateral collaboration project between CIMMYT and Mexico (SAGARPA) that involves over 150 partners including Mexico’s agricultural research system (INIFAP and universities), 55 local seed companies, multinational agri-food companies, dozens of farmer associations, 12 local machinery workshops and several non-governmental organizations (NGOs). INIFAP, Mexico’s agricultural universities and the local seed companies develop, test, release and commercialize improved maize varieties for small scale farming in the tropical, subtropical and temperate regions of Mexico. The multinational companies support MasAgro by rewarding farmers, researchers and opinion leaders for promoting sustainable farming (Cargill), offering training in the safe use of agrochemicals (Syngenta), and developing local supply capacities for responsible sourcing schemes (Kellogg). Farmer associations promote wider participation and offer plots to set up demonstration modules that show the advantages of conservation agriculture. Local blacksmiths produce 30 models of precision machinery following the advice and blueprints provided by MasAgro’s mechanization team. Field workers and technicians of local and international NGOs collaborate in trainings, give farmers access to new local and international markets, and advocate for environmental conservation. The state-sponsored loan agency for agriculture (FIRA) also gives priority to farmers that receive training and assistance from MasAgro.
Results
What is the environmental or ecological challenge you are targeting with your solution?
Agriculture contributes significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Conservation agriculture (CA) based on minimal soil disturbance, permanent ground cover and crop rotations reduce GHG emissions. CA improves water infiltration and moisture retention in the ground, conserves soil fertility and health, and increases farmers’ productivity and income. In Mexico’s highlands, where CIMMYT runs a field trial since 1991, CA has had a lower global warming potential (GWP) compared to conventional tillage (CT). During the last drought in the region (2009), the GWP (including soil carbon sequestration, GHG emissions, fuel use and fertilizer) of maize grown under CA was -7729 kg CO2 per hectare compared to 1327 kg CO2 per hectare of maize grown under CT. Soil water content stayed above or near wilting point during the whole dry period under CA, whereas soil water values were below wilting point for three weeks under CT. Yields were up to 4.7 tons per hectare higher under CA than under CT.
Describe the context in which you are operating
Maize production is key to Mexico’s food security, nutrition and sustainable rural development. Mexico produces 25 million tons of maize (90% white and 10% yellow) per year. White grain is used for human consumption and yellow grain for livestock feeding and industrial purposes. Mexico consumes over 35 million tons of maize (64% white and 36% yellow) per year and imports over 10 million tons of yellow maize from the U.S. Most farmers grow maize under rain-fed conditions on 6 million hectares. Their productivity remains low at an average of 2.3 tons per hectare. Farmers growing maize on 1.5 million hectares of irrigated land in Western Mexico harvest an average of 8 tons per hectare. The groundwater stress of the aquifers feeding irrigated lands ranks among the highest in the world. Mexico must increase maize yields to meet its demand for grain. However, a study published by Scientific American expects Mexico’s agricultural output to fall by 26% in 2080 as a consequence of global warming.
How did you impact natural resource use and greenhouse gas emissions?
CIMMYT conserves and improves biodiversity in communities of Oaxaca and the Yucatan Peninsula where subsistence farmers grow native maize. In 2016, MasAgro conducted 26 participatory native maize breeding trials in nine indigenous communities of Oaxaca. Local farmers, CIMMYT and INIFAP breeders collaborated to improve native maize yield potential and its resistance to prevalent diseases, such as the tar spot complex which causes yield losses of up to 90%. CIMMYT is also repatriating maize landraces at risk in the Yucatan Peninsula where farmers in search of better opportunities stop growing native varieties. CIMMYT partnered the Mérida-based Mayan World States Foundation to help farmers realize a better price for their produce in established and new markets. Top chefs in Mexico, Europe and the U.S. are buying grain from small farmers in Oaxaca and the Yucatan Peninsula including Enrique Olvera (Cosme, NYC, and Pujol, Mexico City) and Rene Redzepi (NOMA, Copenhagen).
Language(s)
Spanish
Water
CA increases infiltration, reduces evaporation and erosion by run-offs especially between the harvest and the next growing season. Soil covered by crop residues can absorb 100% of the water poured by a 60mm rainfall. Bare soils only absorb 20%. MasAgro has made heat and drought tolerant maize seeds available to farmers in tropical and subtropical lands. Improved seeds and CA have helped farmers increase yields and keep them above the national average by 1.6 tons per hectare under rain-fed condit
Food Security/Nutrition
MasAgro farmers strengthen food security by supplying local markets part of the grain that Mexico imports for livestock feeding and industry uses. SAGARPA records show that maize imports grew at an average annual rate of 6.5% between 2005 and 2014. The four MasAgro yellow maize varieties available for participant farmers meet the highest industry standards in terms of processing quality and nutritious content. MasAgro facilitates contract farming and actively promotes responsible sourcing practi
Economic/Sustainable Development
The latest data available shows that participant farmers saw their income grow by 23%, on average, and achieved yield increases of up to 67%. Average maize yields of MasAgro farmers were 20.5% higher than average yields achieved in the regions where they live. Similarly, Mexican seed companies have increased 70% their sales of improved seed since 2011. The 55 participating companies sold 1.1 million bags of improved seed in 2016, which represents a 30% share of Mexico’s improved seed market.
Climate
In addition to the heat and drought tolerant maize seed for tropical and subtropical regions, MasAgro is developing an information service that helps farmers mitigate the effects of extreme weather events. MasAgro Movil sends text messages to farmers and technicians with climate alerts and agronomic recommendations. The service had 1,540 users registered in the different hubs by the end of 2016. The information comes from meteorological stations across Mexico, technicians and partners on the fi
Sustainability
MasAgro is a 10-year R&D project for sustainable rural development in its sixth year of implementation. Genetic research, maize breeding, field trials, machinery and ICT development, training and extension activities require a reliable and continuous source of funding. Three different SAGARPA administrations have supported MasAgro given its early results and accumulated measurable impacts. More partners have joined including the state government of Guanajuato, Kellogg, Syngenta and the Mayan World States Foundation, although SAGARPA remains the main funding partner. Ultimately, MasAgro’s sustainability relies on the dozens of maize seed producers and thousands of farmers who adopt, improve and promote its sustainable intensification strate
Return on investment
MasAgro’s return on investment can be measured by the economic benefits that farmers derive from higher yields. In 2016, participant seed companies sold 1.1 million bags of improved maize seed. Nearly half of these bags (542102) were made of improved maize seed with a genetic pedigree that was entirely developed by MasAgro breeders. The improved seed sold will yield at least double the amount of grain produced in 2015. The 1.3 million tons of corn produced by MasAgro farmers will have an estimated value of $208 million dollars at a prize of $160 dollars per ton. $30 million dollars have been invested to-date in MasAgro’s breeding program. ROI is 1 to 7, i.e. benefited farmers receive $7 dollars for every dollar invested in maize breeding.
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Replication and Scale
How could we successfully replicate this solution elsewhere?
MasAgro has been acknowledged as, “the most original program so far to target the most vulnerable sector of agriculture in the world” (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation); a “Mexican experience that could be used as a model for coordinating research, development, innovation, technology transfer activities and public private partnerships in the agri-food sector” (G20 Agriculture Vice Ministers 2012 Report); and, a success story of technology development and transfer to the field (The Next Global Breadbasket Report 2014). CIMMYT has replicated MasAgro on a smaller scale in Guatemala with funding from USAID. The Buena Milpa project is focused on making traditional farming practices more sustainable and on participatory maize improvement. CIMMYT seeks funding for similar projects in Central America and the Caribbean. Modest training work is underway in Haiti. The strategy can be adapted to local needs and budget sizes. Implementation may take the form of trainings, participatory maize imp