IITA News

Researchers reveal factors responsible for Tilapia consumption preferences of low-income consumers in Egypt

Egypt is among the top aquaculture producers globally, and tilapia alone accounts for 47.7% of the country’s per capita fish supply, 55.1% of fish production, and 68.6% of total aquaculture production. The growth of tilapia production increased rapidly in the last four years, following the release of the genetically improved Nile tilapia strain to Egyptian…

FMARD – Nigeria: IITA holds critical position in Nigeria’s agricultural sector

Mr Richard-Mark Mbaram, the Technical Adviser on Knowledge Management and Communication to Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Honorable Mohammed Sabo Nanono, has highlighted IITA’s role in the nation’s agricultural sector. He spoke on this during a visit to the Institute on 18 December 2020. According to Mbaram, the visit aimed to explore opportunities…

New publication tackles how best to support smallholder farmers

Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing are delighted to announce the publication of their new title – The sustainable intensification of smallholder farming systems. This title provides a comprehensive review of recent research on effective support measures to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. It features detailed discussions on improving access to critical resources,…

Adoption of gender-responsive approaches towards research on pest and disease management

Studies have shown that adopting a gender perspective while conducting agronomic research and extension work provides more efficient approaches to managing pests and diseases at the field level. This is because women and men farmers often play different roles in agricultural production. Women possess different knowledge levels about pests and diseases and are differently involved…

IITA focuses on integrated digital tools for accelerating agricultural transformation in sub-Saharan Africa

IITA has been at the forefront of using information and communication technologies (ICTs) for research management and knowledge sharing, including extension, scaling out, e-learning, collaboration, and agricultural services enhancement. Recently, ICTs have fast emerged as frontline tools for transforming agricultural systems in sub-Saharan Africa. Governments, developmental organizations, and the donor community are increasingly depending on ICTs…

IITA’s work, fundamental for Africa’s stability and development– Belgian Ambassador

IITA’s work, fundamental to Africa’s stability and development – Belgian Ambassador

On a recent visit to IITA Ibadan, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Nigeria, His Excellency, Mr Daniel Bertrand, described the Institute’s work as fundamental for Africa’s stability and development. The Ambassador visited the headquarters for the first time to engage with and understand IITA’s research and operations better. The Belgian Embassy’s Director,…

Scaling up innovations: IITA’s commitment to African agricultural transformation

In 2017, IITA celebrated 50 years of service to Africa and its smallholder farmers in particular. Since then, the Institute has advanced even further in its mission to transform African agriculture through collaboration with farmers and farming communities, youth and women in agribusiness, and other partner-stakeholders. IITA’s 2019 Annual Report detailed this work and highlighted the delivery of…

IITA trains women on homestead gardening

Achieving food security also involves addressing nutrient deficiency. Using the space around a house, families can often raise a homestead garden to supplement the nutritional quality of home meals. Through the USAID-funded Feed-the-future Nigeria Integrated Agriculture Activity, IITA trained 300 women in homestead gardening between 7 and 10 December in northeastern Nigeria. The training covered…

Tanzania farmers winning against climate change

“Climate change has been affecting us greatly. For example, in the past, we knew when the growing seasons were. Now the rains sometimes come early and sometimes they are late. Sometimes we get a big harvest, and sometimes we get very little,” says Hassan Haji Fumu, a farmer from Mahonda village in Kaskazini B district,…

NYSC partners with IITA to create opportunities for Nigerian youth

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and IITA are partnering to open up opportunities to youth in Nigeria. The two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to that effect during a recent visit of the NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, to IITA Headquarters, Ibadan. IITA Deputy Director General, Partnerships for Delivery, Kenton…