IITA News

Ugandan coffee farmers enjoy increased yields through CSA technologies despite COVID-19 pandemic

The IITA Uganda Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Program supports the Ugandan Government in its commitment to increasing coffee quality, volumes, and smallholder farmer livelihoods. The Institute’s activities closely align with the country’s agricultural agenda, with the IITA team collaborating with the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) to implement the Uganda Coffee Roadmap. By developing the Stepwise…

Picture of Group photograph of participants at the workshop

Ugandan Agric Ministry pioneer development of climate change mainstreaming guidelines

The Ugandan Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), with support from IITA-led Policy Action for Climate Change Adaptation (PACCA) project, and USAID Feed the Future Enabling Environment for Agriculture (USAID-EEA), organized a national level stakeholder workshop to validate the recently developed Climate Change Mainstreaming Guidelines for the Agricultural Sector in Uganda. The validation…

Picture of Tom Smith, Professor of Evolutionary Biology, UCLA, talks to visitors about bird diversity.

UC GloCal Health Fellowship selects IITA Cameroon as a new site, announces new window for funding research

The University of California Global Health Institute (UCGHI) GloCal Health Fellowship has selected IITA-Cameroon also known as the Congo Basin Institute (CBI), as one of its new training sites in Africa where supportive mentorship, research opportunities, and a collaborative research environment is provided for young and upcoming scientists.

Picture of Mala Kachalla (center) is one of the wheat scientists sponsored by the SARD-SC wheat project.

Two wheat scientists graduate with full scholarships from the SARD-SC Wheat project

In August and September 2016, two students, Mala Kachalla from Nigeria and Bruce Mutari from Zimbabwe, respectively graduated with a master’s degree after successful studies funded by the SARD-SC wheat project. The AfDB-funded SARD-SC wheat component of ICARDA runs a scholarship program to build the capacity of African researchers in various segments of the wheat sector.

Two more feathers added to IITA’s Aflasafe project’s cap

When research on Africa’s first indigenous biological control for aflatoxins began intensively in 2003, the scientists involved in its fabrication just wanted to help Africans have safer food on their table. Today, not only has Aflasafe been able to achieve this goal, it is also gaining world recognition as an eco-friendly product that effectively combats the hazardous effects of aflatoxin contamination.

Picture of Participants who took part in the Africa RISING training on farming systems research design

Twice smarter for phase 2: Africa RISING partners pore over farming systems research design

“There aren’t any “grab and go recipes” in participatory farming systems research design. It can only benefit from iterative improvements with time and we get better at it.” This was according to the participants at the end of a recent training on farming systems research design for Africa RISING scientists held 3 to 4 October…

Turn waste into wealth during and after the COVID-19 lockdown

The current COVID 19 lockdown is forcing us to look within for sufficiency. At the beginning of the pandemic, people rushed to buy and stock up on essential commodities such as food and toiletries. Stocking up on essentials is one battle won; the next frontier of survival is being frugal and getting the most out…

Picture of Participants at the workshop. Photo by Lucky O. Omoigui, IITA

Tropical Legumes III and HOPE II projects hold in-country review and planning workshop at IITA, Kano

Recently, Tropical Legumes III (TL III) and Harnessing Opportunities for Productivity Enhancement (HOPE II ) projects held a three-day, in-country review and planning workshop at IITA, Kano Station.

Tributes: Dr Bede Nwoye Okigbo and Dr Barnabas Sanyaolu Oloruntoba

IITA is privileged to have worked with two very distinguished and outstanding individuals: the late Prof Bede Nwoye Okigbo, one of the most prestigious scientists in the African continent, and Dr Barnabas Sanyaolu Oloruntoba, the father of Nigeria’s agricultural development.

Travel advisory: Tanzania bans single-use plastic bags

The Government of Tanzania has announced a strict ban on plastic bags in the country. The ban, which came into effect on 1 June, prohibits the manufacture, importation, and use of all single-use plastic bags including shopping and garbage bags. Offenders could face heavy penalties including fines and possible jail term. In an Institute-wide email,…