CGIAR-IITA Archives

STEP plans expansion to more schools in Oyo State

From 19 to 20 August, the IITA Start Them Early Program (STEP) in Nigeria organized an implementation workshop towards the rapid expansion of STEP in six secondary schools across the six geopolitical zones in Oyo State. This is in line with the STEP-Oyo State project initiated after the inauguration of STEP in Fasola Grammar School,…

Female youth agripreneurs in the field, gathering data on pearl millet.

ICT adoption can increase crop productivity among young farmers in Tanzania!

Studies have shown that the involvement of Africa’s youth in rural development and agriculture will not only boost food security on the continent but also strategically provide solutions to the prevailing problem of unemployment plaguing African societies. However, youth participation in these areas in most African countries is very low. Many factors are responsible for…

Mbongo Daud Batson explaining the qualities of the new matooke varieties, called NARITA, during the Nane Nane at Mbeya-Uyole.

Tanzania spotlights its first-ever matooke hybrids at the 2020 national farmers’ exhibition “Nane Nane”

The East Africa Highland cooking banana, matooke, is a hugely popular food in Tanzania. With the impending release of the first-ever high-yielding hybrids of matooke on the horizon, researchers took the opportunity to exhibit them at this year’s annual agricultural show “Nane Nane” in Tanzania. The new hybrids created much excitement among the attending farming…

YIIFSWA-II Project Leader Norbert Maroya showing the feeding system and the established roots and tubers of yam plants in the aeroponic system.

Influential yam producer visits YIIFSWA-II for mass propagation of seed yam

The Chief Executive Officer of Napetsa Farms, Joseph Adewale Fosudo, has been growing yam for decades in Epe, Lagos, and in northern Nigeria. The yam producer, considered a top commercial farmer, visited CGIAR-IITA on 4 August to learn about using single-vine seedlings from high ratio propagation technologies (HRPTs) for seed yam tuber production. “I came…

Network makes headway in strengthening gender research at IITA

The gender science network at CGIAR-IITA is making significant progress in its efforts to enhance gender research at the Institute. The network, which comprises IITA social and biophysical scientists, youth program technical experts, and staff from other units, has finalized its working strategy that articulates how it will operate in 2020 and beyond to help…

Youth agripreneurs on a field during land preparation

Youth involvement crucial to successful agriculture intervention programs

A study was carried out to evaluate the impact of the N-power Agro program on youth employment and income generation in some parts of rural Nigeria. Adewale Ogunmodede did this research under the IITA-implemented Enhancing Capacity to Apply Research Evidence (CARE) in Policy for Youth Engagement in Agribusiness and Rural Economic Activities in Africa project,…

Digital extension tools thrill dignitaries at annual national farmers’ exhibition in Tanzania

The digital extension tools and other technologies developed by CGIAR-IITA received wide attention in an exhibition at the recently concluded National Farmers’ Exhibition in Tanzania. IITA and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector showcased innovative technologies at the annual exhibition, which took place in Simiyu region, northern Tanzania, on 1-8 August. The theme of this…

DG Nteranya Sanginga making his remarks during the commissioning

African seed system gets a boost with purchase of 18-ton trucks to ease quality seed delivery to farmers

On 7 August, IITA GoSeed, in Ibadan and Umudike Seeds based at the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umuahia, jointly commissioned two brand new 18-ton trucks to ease logistical challenges in moving cassava seed. IITA Director General Nteranya Sanginga presided over the ceremony at the Agricultural Transformation building of the CGIAR-IITA headquarters in Ibadan,…

PDAU trains IITA partners on effective management and administration of grants

Years of dealing with IITA’s project partners show that many of them have faced challenges in managing and understanding the rules that guide grant administration, especially as they relate to sub-agreements signed with the Institute. These gaps have affected project reporting, resulting in delayed fund disbursements to their institutions and from IITA donors. As part…

IITA collaborates with Ogun State government on agriculture

As part of measures to foster partnerships in agricultural transformation with governments in Nigeria, CGIAR-IITA signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government of Ogun State. With agriculture being a vital source of income in southwest Nigeria and the country as a whole, IITA is exploring partnerships that will out-scale the available agricultural innovations…