CIMMYT’s Role and Challenges
India’s wheat sector continues to rely heavily on advanced breeding research led by CIMMYT, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center. Founded by Nobel laureate Norman Borlaug, CIMMYT revolutionised Indian agriculture six decades ago. Today, it faces funding challenges that could impact ongoing innovation crucial for food security and climate resilience.
Historical Impact of CIMMYT on Indian Wheat
Norman Borlaug’s semi-dwarf wheat varieties triggered India’s Green Revolution. Varieties like Kalyan Sona, Sonalika, and PBW 343 transformed wheat production. These varieties originated from CIMMYT’s genetic material and helped India achieve self-sufficiency. The legacy continues with modern varieties derived from CIMMYT germplasm covering millions of hectares.
Current Funding Crisis and Its Implications
CIMMYT’s funding has sharply declined due to the closure of USAID, its largest donor. USAID contributed $83 million in 2024, nearly 40% of CIMMYT’s total grants. The Gates Foundation is now the second-largest funder. This financial gap threatens global wheat and maize breeding programmes. CIMMYT seeks support from India and other stakeholders to sustain its research.
Collaborations and Research Infrastructure in India
CIMMYT partners closely with Indian institutions like ICAR and the Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research. The Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA), established in 2011, operates research stations in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar. CIMMYT also runs Asia’s first doubled haploid maize breeding facility in Karnataka, accelerating hybrid development.
Recent Advances in Wheat Breeding
Modern breeding focuses on increasing yield and climate resilience. Heat tolerance is critical as rising night temperatures reduce yields by 6% per degree Celsius. CIMMYT also works on biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) traits that improve nitrogen retention in soil, reducing fertiliser needs by up to 20%. India aims to introduce BNI wheat lines in national trials by 2027.
Significance for India’s Food Security
Wheat covers about 32 million hectares in India, with half the area sown to varieties released after 2019, many developed jointly with CIMMYT. Sustaining yield gains is essential amid climate challenges and growing demand. India’s increased financial involvement in CIMMYT can secure future innovations and strengthen its global agricultural leadership.
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