Strengthening and enhancing seed systems is essential to ensure that farmers, the ultimate beneficiary of seeds, have access to newly released varieties and are connected to seed companies, one of the key players in the value chain. This is why CIMMYT scientists such as Dr. Cairns research on different drought-tolerant maize varieties working with seed companies and farmers. Dr. Cairns presents her research and discuss the key constraints for having profitable, productive seed systems, and we can overcome these challenges.
About the Presenter
Jill Cairns is a Senior Scientist at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) based in Harare, Zimbabwe. Her main areas of research include the potential impacts of climate change on maize production in sub-Saharan Africa and the identification of priority strategies for climate change adaptation. She is also part of a team developing abiotic stress tolerance maize germplasm for small-holder farmers in Eastern and Southern Africa.
Jill received her Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen in the UK and Africa Rice Centre (ARC), Côte d’Ivoire. She has more than fourteen years’ research experience in South East Asia, Latin America and Africa. Prior to joining CIMMYT, she worked at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines for six years. Jill has published more than 30 articles in peer-reviewed international journals.
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