IITA News

Picture of happy farmers at the field day in Mokwa, Niger State.

Farmers’ field day and donation of 200 hectares of land at Mokwa

IITA’s Maize Improvement Program (MIP) with support from Robert Asiedu, the IITA West Africa Regional Hub Director, organized a farmers’ field day on 29 October to demonstrate maize technologies for combating Striga hermonthica prevalent on the fields of smallholder maize farmers in Mokwa, Niger State and its environs. The day also marked the official inauguration and…

Picture of IITA speakers Hemant and Vaishali Nitturkar with participants, including high school students

IITA scientist and spouse counsel young innovators in Nigeria

The 2016 edition of the annual Nigeria Innovation Summit (NIS), themed “Innovation: A Key Driver of Economic Growth and Sustainable Development”, was held on 3 and 4 November at Sheraton Lagos Hotel, Ikeja. NIS is an initiative led by Emerging Media & Advertising Services, New York, and Emerging Media Nigeria. It partners with the world’s…

Picture of The senators on a tour of the IITA facilities

Nigerian senators extol IITA’s “impressive” role in Africa

In the wake of the launching of IITA’s 50th anniversary celebration, seven Nigerian lawmakers constituting the country’s Senate Committee on Agriculture visited IITA this week, praising IITA’s efforts in undertaking agricultural research that “continues to show impressive results”. They have also indicated an interest in using the Institute’s technologies to develop the agricultural blueprint of…

AVEC-BF provides best options for cowpea farmers in Burkina Faso

A series of farmers’ participatory varietal selection (FPVS) for cowpea in Burkina Faso conducted by the IITA AVEC-BF project, has resulted in the identification of best choice varieties for the country. The trials, which have been in progress since 2010, have assisted over 3,500 farmers to identify and grow best-fit cowpea options for their specific regions….

Good news for bakers!

Bakers in Liberia now join their counterparts in Nigeria in producing bromate-free bread using high quality cassava flour (HQCF) in combination with wheat flour and cassava enzymes. This healthier alternative is being promoted by IITA as an option for bakers who have had to contend with low grade wheat flour with low gluten content widespread…

Picture of Cassava Breeder Peter Kulakow making a presentation during one of the sessions.

Cassava mechanization workshop at IITA-Ibadan

The need to improve the production process of cassava farming systems in Africa through improved methods brought together key stakeholders from several countries last week to IITA- Ibadan. The two-day workshop, which took place following a mechanization workshop organized by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) in Abeokuta, was aimed at integrating important elements that…

IITA scientist’s intervention enables struggling MSc student to finalize studies

Elias Oyesigye was struggling to finish his studies on time. That was until the collaboration of an IITA scientist with the University professors and the Mozambique’s Ministry of Agriculture that saw him smoothly finalize his research and successfully defend his thesis with high marks. Elias is a Ugandan national on a scholarship through the INTRA-ACP…

Picture of Dr Brigitte Uwimana explaining to Members of Parliament where and how banana seeds used in breeding are extracted.

IITA holds Science day to kick off silver and golden jubilee celebrations in Uganda

On 27 October, IITA Uganda marked its 25th year of supporting smallholder farmers growing banana, cassava, maize, coffee, cowpea, cocoa, soybean, and yams to increase their agricultural production; and hosted family and friends of the Institute at a one-day “Science Day” to celebrate the feat. The event which promoted IITA’s research activities had the theme…

Picture of IITA’s goals include ensuring food security for smallholder farmers.

IITA cited for its efforts in improving food and nutrition security; wins Al-Sumait Prize for Food Security

IITA has been recognized with the 2016 Al-Sumait Prize for Food Security for its sustained efforts in undertaking groundbreaking research and development that continues to positively affect the lives of millions on the African continent. IITA shares the prize with sister center, International Potato Center (CIP), which was cited for its work on orange-fleshed sweet…

Picture of Veronica (right) assessing cassava in the field of one of the farmers involved in the study.

Smart farming of cassava with focus on integrated soil fertility management increases yield by 60% in Tanzania

Preliminary results from an ongoing study by IITA in Tanzania have shown an increase of nearly 60% in cassava yield which translates to a 30% increase in income for farmers. The study “Integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) for productive and sustainable cassava production systems in Tanzania” is being conducted in the major cassava-growing areas of…