IITA News

Gates provides open research platform

As an institute implementing various projects with funds from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Gates), IITA will comply with the recent directives from the Gates requiring all institutions and projects that it funds to make discoveries from such research efforts immediately available without charge to others needing such information on its newly developed Gates Open Research repository.

YIIFSWA-II hosts yam field day for farmers

During the YIIFSWA-II field day held at IITA in Ibadan on 2 May, yam farmers from Oyo and Osun States in need of high quality seed yam tubers witnessed and appreciated the vine cuttings-to-tuber technology that could potentially boost seed yam production of improved varieties for commercial distribution in the coming years.

Picture of David De Koeyer in the greenhouse at IBRC

MAFF Japan calls for more attention to basic research in root and tuber crops

The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery (MAFF) has provided funds to roll into action a second phase of its collaborative MAFF-IITA yam project, as part of efforts to ensure that the productivity and utilization of food yam in Africa would increase.

Picture of IITA scientists at the factory

Harvesters from Japan soon to be deployed to Nigeria

Good news for yam farmers—there is now a new technology that can take off the stress of harvesting yam manually, and IITA scientists have begun discussions to accelerate mechanization in yam research using “Made in Japan” technologies.

Picture of researchers discussing in the field during the M&E exercise.

SARD-SC Maize conducts monitoring and evaluation in Zambia

The SARD-SC Maize component carried out its annual monitoring and evaluation exercise for the year in Zambia from 4 to 11 April.

Picture of DDG-Special Duties (7th from left), with HQ/Hub finance/procurement staff, and training facilitators.

Oracle training in IITA

In a continuous effort to improve financial and management processes across the Institute, the IT Unit at IITA successfully organized the first Oracle access training on 24-28 April in Ibadan.

Group photograph of meeting participants in Abuja.

Partnerships for perpetuity: N2Africa consolidates PPPs as plans for exit strategy progresses

Among agricultural researchers, there exists a growing consensus that developing excellent technologies for farmers to grow their enterprises is no longer enough. What needs to be done for such technologies to remain effective and sustainable beyond the life of any intervention program?

Picture of Chief Ogbeh chatting with the agripreneurs

Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture urges youth to prop agriculture

Chief Audu Ogbeh, Nigeria’s Honorable Minister of Agriculture (HMA), has urged the IITA Youth Agripreneurs in the IITA-Onne station to produce large volumes of improved suckers, pledging government’s commitment to procure the inputs.

Picture of Debo Akande, Aflasafe AgResults Pilot Manager addressing implementers in Ibadan.

AgResults holds 4th annual implementer induction and training at IITA

Aflatoxin contamination is a menace affecting over 4.5 billion people in developing countries. This is why the AgResults aflasafe™ pilot project is working through its private-sector experts known as implementers to facilitate access for farmers to Aflasafe—Africa’s first biocontrol product for aflatoxins.

Picture of DDG Kenton Dashiell welcoming and addressing the youth delegates

Nigeria Youth Parliament visit IITA

On 20 April, Rt. Hon Ayodele Obe, the newly elected Speaker of the Nigerian youth parliament (NYP) led youth delegates from Ondo, Katsina, Imo, Oyo, Kwara, Lagos, and Ogun states to IITA-Ibadan to kick-start collaboration with the IITA Youth Agripreneurs (IYA).