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The Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) is a regional initiative to sustainably increase the productivity of cereal-based cropping systems, thus improving food security and farmers’ livelihoods in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal. CSISA works with public and private partners, supporting the widespread adoption of resource-conserving and climate-resilient farming technologies and practices.

The initiative led by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) is implemented jointly with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

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CSISA Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, CSISA focuses on adaptive technology testing, deployment of new crop varieties, farmer training, and facilitating output markets. Most of the country’s small-scale farmers (majority) are yet to benefit from modern agricultural technologies due to the high cost of machines and farmers’ lack of access to finance.

CSISA India

In India, CSISA activities focus on areas of the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains dominated by small farm sizes, low incomes, and comparatively low levels of agricultural mechanization, irrigation, and productivity. With resource degradation issues, declining labor availability, and climate variability, the country faces steep challenges in improving food security and rural livelihoods.

CSISA Nepal

In Nepal, CSISA works in the Terai plains and mid-hills. In these regions, where innovative applied research has long been underfunded, and research benefits have rarely reached farmers, the scope for improving farmers’ lives through agriculture is considerable. Cereal and pulse yields in these regions fall well below the regional averages, leading to a deficit in meeting long-term domestic requirements.

Key achivements

Bangladesh

India

Nepal

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