International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)

Context: CIMMYT is reaching out to the Indian government and private sector for funding support after the shutdown of USAID (United States Agency for International Development) funding from July 1, 2025.

International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT): Background & Legacy

• Founded by Norman Borlaug, CIMMYT led India’s Green Revolution with high-yielding wheat varieties like Lerma Rojo 64A, Sonora 63, and Sonora 64.
• These varieties helped India achieve food self-sufficiency in the 1960s and 70s.

India’s Contribution & Benefit

• India has been a major beneficiary of CIMMYT’s wheat breeding programs.
• Over 50% of wheat cultivated in India now comes from varieties released after 2019, developed through collaboration between CIMMYT and Indian institutions like the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Recent Achievements

• In 2024, Indian farmers grew wheat on around 32 million hectares, with CIMMYT-derived varieties accounting for more than 60%.
• Example: DBW 303, the “fastest wheat variety in South Asia”, achieved over 8 tonnes/hectare grain yield.

Key Collaborations

• CIMMYT and India jointly run the Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA), formed in 2011.
• CIMMYT works closely with ICAR institutions like the Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (Karnal).

Future Focus

• CIMMYT is seeking new funding sources to continue:
  • Advanced breeding programs
  • Climate-resilient crop research
  • High-yield, disease-resistant wheat development
• Emphasises the need for Indian support to ensure continuity in agricultural innovation for global food security.

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