IITA News

IITA and partners organize 3-day International Symposium on Agriculture and Health in DRC

IITA, in collaboration with the International Center for Advanced Research and Training (ICART) and the University of Michigan (UM), organized a 3-day symposium on Agriculture and Health, on 17–19 August in Bukavu, South Kivu Province, DR Congo. Against the background of a post-conflict environment in Eastern DRC, the symposium focused on food security and nutrition,…

IITA Cameroon hosts training on managing fall armyworm

IITA-Cameroon hosted an international training of trainers’ workshop on Fall armyworm management at its campus in Yaoundé, on 2–7 October. The workshop was co-organized by IITA-Cameroon and FAO’s subregional office in Central Africa. The fall armyworm (FAW), an invasive insect species originating from tropical and subtropical Americas, is spreading rapidly in sub-Saharan African where it…

Picture of the Permanent Secretary (left) and his team members briefing the IITA delegation.

IITA delegation calls on Tanzania’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture

A team from IITA Tanzania recently visited the new Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Secretary and Livestock (MALF) at the Ministry’s offices in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Picture of Maize seed health workshop participants in a discussion.

Stakeholders reveal significance of seed testing

Control measures against pests and diseases dominated discussions at a recent workshop in IITA, Ibadan, held 27-28 September, where stakeholders explored opportunities to interact, exchange ideas, and impart knowledge about major pests and pathogens of maize, risks to maize seed health, and seed-borne pathogens.

Picture of corpers attentively listening to the motivational speakers.

How do we attract and retain youth in agriculture?

Batch B 2016 Youth Corps members in IITA organized a seminar on 20 September titled “Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture” at IITA in Ibadan. The seminar was attended by corpers and members of youth Agripreneur groups, and dignitaries from different organizations.

Picture of Some light moments during the annual meeting and conference of food nutritionists.

IITA scientist highlights nutrition and health at conference

Research activities conducted under the Agriculture for nutrition and health (A4NH) research program in Nigeria were highlighted at the 47th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), held 19–23 September, at the International Conference Center (ICC), University of Ibadan (UI).

Picture of team from SPDC having a taste of Plantain Wine

SPDC and IYA explore areas of collaboration

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria and the IITA Youth Agripreneurs are discussing the development of a model that will incubate young farmers.

Picture of an extension agent talks to farmers during one of the self-organized field days in Babati District. Photo credit: Job Kihara/CIAT.

Africa RISING success story: Empowering agricultural extension agents to deliver improved farming technologies

Why aren’t agricultural innovations and technologies that could improve livelihoods not quickly adopted by smallholder farmers? Various arguments have been made to explain the problem on a technology-by-technology basis, but few assess the role played by agricultural extension.

Picture of CIALCA has a legacy of improving banana production in the Central Africa region by improving access to clean planting material, and by advancing banana pest and disease control.

CIALCA 2017–2020 science agenda to boost entrepreneurial farming in Central Africa!

The Belgian Directorate-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (DGD) will fund the research program on partnership, capacity building and research of the Consortium for Improving Agriculture-based Livelihoods in Central Africa (CIALCA) toward entrepreneurial farming in Central Africa.

Picture of Dr Nzola Mahungu, IITA DRC Country Representative, explaining the workshop objectives.

IITA conducts CBSD Project Planning Workshop

IITA organized a planning workshop for the 2017–2018 financial year for the project ‘‘Action to control the Cassava Brown Streak in the Democratic Republic of Congo’, 29–30 August, in Kisangani, Province of Tshopo’’.