An information guide for CIMMYT trainees

Abstract

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) was established in its present form in 1966. It is an autonomous, non-profit, scientific and educational institution incorporated under Mexican law and governed by an international board of directors presently made up of distinguished citizens of nine countries. The Center is an outgrowth of 20 years of successful collaboration between the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture and the Rockefeller Foundation in the improvement of basic food crops of Mexico. These two cooperating agencies initially established the Center in 1963, for the purpose of extending around the world some of the outstanding varieties of Wheat and maize and improved production technology. By early 1966, the demand for this type of material and for direct techniCal assistance had grown to a point where it seemed propitious to expand operations and technical staff and to seek additional sources of financial support. The Center was, therefore, restructured to permit the receipt of funds from all agencies interested in advancing its goals and to allow for expansion of its world-wide activities in an attempt to close the steadily widening food gap. It now operates as an independent international institution with the Government, of Mexico providing the home base and participating as an important sponsor. Through its Ministry of Agriculture it is providing land, water and various facilities for cooperative research in the local agricultural research and educational institutions. The Government of Mexico is also extending special facilities of a fiscal nature which will provide CIMMYT with the necessary freedom of operation as a world-wide international institution of public service. Major financial support for sal8ries and general local operations of the Center is being provided by the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations in the form of annual grants. In January 1969, the United States Agency for International Development made a substantial grant in support of the basic operations of the Center in Mexico and has become an important fourth Sponsor.