IITA News

Three Liberian journals feature IITA’s work on cassava

Three Liberian journals recently reported how a series of training using IITA’s improved cassava varieties has empowered and is now helping farmers fight poverty and malnutrition in the country.

DDG-Corporate Services visits IITA-SARAH

Deputy Director General for Corporate Services, Hilde Koper-Limbourg, was at the IITA Southern Africa Research and Administration Hub (IITA-SARAH) at Kabangwe, Lusaka Province, Zambia 14 to 17 March as part of her familiarization and monitoring tour of the regional Hubs.

Picture of DG Sanginga meeting with DPA Dzucula (extreme left) while Chikoye and Boahen look on.

IITA-Mozambique hosts DG Sanginga

On 21 to 22 March, IITA-Mozambique hosted IITA Director General Nteranya Sanginga, for a two-day visit to oversee preparations for the upcoming Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting, the official inauguration of the new IITA-Mozambique facilities in Nampula, and the local celebration of IITA’s 50th anniversary slated to be held there on 8-12 May.

Picture of IITA’s Manyong (middle) hosts guests at the exhibition booth.

IITA technologies receive a lot of attention at the Nairobi Innovation Week

IITA was among the hundred plus organizations that showcased their work at the 3rd Nairobi Innovation Week, an annual signature event organized by the University of Nairobi and other key stakeholders to celebrate and recognize innovations that are relevant to Kenyan society.

Picture of Mala Kachalla (center) is one of the wheat scientists sponsored by the SARD-SC wheat project.

Two wheat scientists graduate with full scholarships from the SARD-SC Wheat project

In August and September 2016, two students, Mala Kachalla from Nigeria and Bruce Mutari from Zimbabwe, respectively graduated with a master’s degree after successful studies funded by the SARD-SC wheat project. The AfDB-funded SARD-SC wheat component of ICARDA runs a scholarship program to build the capacity of African researchers in various segments of the wheat sector.

FMS refurbishes cassava processing centers and trains machine fabricators in DR Congo to reinforce its cassava value chain

IITA’s cassava processing center in Kalambo, DR Congo, now wears an improved look, thanks to the intervention by members of the IITA Facility Management Services (FMS).

Two more feathers added to IITA’s Aflasafe project’s cap

When research on Africa’s first indigenous biological control for aflatoxins began intensively in 2003, the scientists involved in its fabrication just wanted to help Africans have safer food on their table. Today, not only has Aflasafe been able to achieve this goal, it is also gaining world recognition as an eco-friendly product that effectively combats the hazardous effects of aflatoxin contamination.

Picture of Group photo of NextGen cassava participants attending the annual meeting in Ibadan

NextGen scientists “shoot for the moon” in cassava research

On 14-16 March, more than 80 international cassava experts met at the Next Generation Cassava Breeding (NextGen Cassava) annual meeting to report on and assess the outcomes of a five-year effort to improve cassava breeding as well as outline the next steps for a second phase of the project.

Picture of Tanzanian farmer holds drought tolerant maize cobs. Photo credit: F. Sipalla/CIMMYT.

Exploring farmers’ willingness to pay for drought tolerance in maize in Zimbabwe

Adoption of new technologies depends significantly on whether potential users are willing to pay a premium for the associated benefits. A new study explores farmers’ willingness to pay for drought tolerance (DT) in maize, a crop playing a leading role in the food security in southern Africa.

Picture of IITA representatives at the 17th annual congress of the AFSTA in Senegal.

‘GoSeed’ to join the African Seed Trade Association

Africa still remains a minor player in the global seed trade, accounting for less than 2%. In recognition of the important role quality seeds could play in feeding Africa’s teeming population statistically projected to exceed 2 billion by 2050, GoSeed—the arm of IITA’s Business Incubation Platform (BIP) responsible for the production, marketing, distribution, and sale of quality certified seeds to farmers―has registered its interest in becoming a member of the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA).