IITA News

A farmer proudly displays TME419 cassava variety

Nigeria approves new names for top performing cassava varieties

The Federal Government of Nigeria on Wednesday evening approved new names for 10 improved cassava varieties, as part of efforts to brand the root crop for easy identification, cultivation and marketing of cassava stems. The branded varieties comprise 6 released varieties and 4 yet-to be-released varieties. The released varieties and their new names are as…

IITA and CIMMYT collaborate to enhance adoption of Conservation Agriculture in Southern Africa

Lilongwe, Malawi. The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) recently launched a project that aims to investigate the drivers and barriers to adoption of Conservation Agriculture (CA) in southern Africa and to develop strategies for achieving adoption and impact at scale. The project, Understanding and Enhancing…

IITA and regional grains body to work towards producing aflatoxin-free grain for health and trade

CGIAR-IITA and the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work together to tackle aflatoxin contamination of grain in the region. Achieving this will ensure that grains are safe for human and livestock consumption and meet export standards. Aflatoxin, a highly poisonous chemical produced by a naturally occurring fungus known as Aspergillus flavus, poses a severe health threat to both humans and animals. Acute…

Visit of ECOWAS Directorate of Agriculture to IITA-Abuja reignites partnership

The Director of Agriculture and Rural Development of ECOWAS, Alain S.Y. Traore, and other members of staff visited IITA–Abuja to familiarize themselves with the activities of the Institute in the Nigerian capital. The visit is the first despite both offices being in Abuja for many years. The Head of IITA-Abuja, Gbassey Tarawali, and the scientists at the station organized an interactive session for the ECOWAS delegation to showcase the different projects operating there. In his welcome remarks, Tarawali expressed delight about the visit, the…

The mobile cassava processing plant: A solution to cassava business challenges

On 25 August, the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) Cassava compact team of IITA hosted the Ogun State farmers’ group from the Abeokuta Chamber of Commerce Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (ABEOCCIMA) at the Institute’s headquarters. The group came on a tour of IITA’s facilities and the mobile cassava processing plant. The visit also aimed to explore possible partnerships with IITA in accessing agricultural technologies for…

Science of scaling: What have we learned so far?

On 25 August 2020, the CGIAR Communities of Practice on Data-Driven Agronomy and Scaling held a second webinar on the Science of Scaling, as part of its webinar series on Ingredients for Scaling. The webinar tackled the multiple questions What is the science of scaling and what have we learned so far? What critical knowledge gaps remain unfilled? What…

New disease-resistant cassava varieties introduced in Rwanda

Rwandan farmers lack improved cassava varieties resistant to the main cassava diseases; Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) and Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD). The diseases have affected cassava productivity, threatening the income and food security in the country. “There are two main diseases that attack cassava in Rwanda and the region, CMD and CBSD. The latter…

Undeterred Africa RISING adapts operations for continuity despite COVID-19-related restrictions

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues globally, the Africa RISING Program has had to make critical operational adjustments to facilitate continuity of its activities, strategies, and approaches. “This is the ‘new normal’ and we have to adapt,” noted Mohammed Ibrahim, Africa RISING Site Coordinator in Tigray, Ethiopia. The immediate effect of the pandemic reduced the implementation…

STEP plans expansion to more schools in Oyo State

From 19 to 20 August, the IITA Start Them Early Program (STEP) in Nigeria organized an implementation workshop towards the rapid expansion of STEP in six secondary schools across the six geopolitical zones in Oyo State. This is in line with the STEP-Oyo State project initiated after the inauguration of STEP in Fasola Grammar School,…

New insights to help advance cassava breeding worldwide

Researchers at IITA, along with partners from the NextGen Cassava Breeding Project, have uncovered new details about the genetic architecture of cassava, which is one of Africa’s most vital crops. The findings will make it easier for breeders to identify traits for crop breeding. The scientists carried out a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and outlined…