IITA News

Norwegian Ambassador Vegar Brynildsen and the Mayor of Mafeya looking at different varieties produced by Farmers through the CSAT project in the region of Koulikoro.

IITA-CSAT scaling activity flourishes; welcomes Norwegian Ambassador to Mali

The IITA-Climate Smart Agricultural Technologies (CSAT) project continues to advance with activities in Mali and Niger. CSAT Mali and CSAT Niger are working to scale climate-smart technologies in Sahelian regions and provide farmers with options for better adaptation to climate change. Also, the project is funding research to develop additional opportunities for better adaptation in increased…

Vice-Chancellor of Uni of Abuja visits IITA Abuja Station

A 5-member delegation from the University of Abuja led by the Vice-Chancellor Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah visited IITA Abuja Station on 14 September. The objective of the visit was to explore the possibility of reviving a 2009 MoU between the University and IITA. Head of IITA-Abuja, Gbassey Tarawali, and the IITA Yam Seed Systems Specialist and former University of Abuja…

Picture of African Development Bank President Dr Akinwumi Adesina giving his opening remarks.

African youth are capable of revitalizing agro-allied industries

The president of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, has reiterated his support for Africa’s youth, saying that if given the chance to participate effectively in agro-allied industries, they will rejuvenate the agriculture sector, create wealth, and become gainfully employed. Adesina gave the opening talk at the African Economic Conference (AEC) held in Abuja on…

Improving cocoa productivity through integrated soil fertility management

Cocoa plantations in West Africa are sometimes not as productive as expected, yielding low income for farmers. To compensate and improve their livelihoods, some farmers have expanded their farms into forests.

Picture of IITA representatives at the 17th annual congress of the AFSTA in Senegal.

‘GoSeed’ to join the African Seed Trade Association

Africa still remains a minor player in the global seed trade, accounting for less than 2%. In recognition of the important role quality seeds could play in feeding Africa’s teeming population statistically projected to exceed 2 billion by 2050, GoSeed—the arm of IITA’s Business Incubation Platform (BIP) responsible for the production, marketing, distribution, and sale of quality certified seeds to farmers―has registered its interest in becoming a member of the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA).

Picture of Daniel Adekunle (in green cap) of Maize Breeding explaining about IITA’s work on maize to participants

IITA Abuja staff attend Chinese training on improved agricultural technique

Six staff members from the IITA Abuja station joined other participants in Abuja for an “Overseas training course on agricultural techniques for Nigeria.”

Picture of Charlotte Sanginga (left) with Her Excellency, Minister Chantal Safou.

IITA Women’s Group meets with DR Congo Minister of Gender, Child and Family

IITA Women’s Group representative Charlotte Sanginga, accompanied by Valérie Tembo, President of IITA Women’s Group Kinshasa Station and member Michèle Kimpwene Sanginga, paid a courtesy visit to Her Excellency, Minister Chantal Safou and members of her cabinet in the ministerial office, Kinshasa on 5 February.

Picture of Sougrynoma Zainatou Sore, Head of IITA Capacity Development Office, giving a presentation on IITA’s activities from inception to date.

Ivorian delegates visit IITA; acquire knowledge for ENABLE Youth implementation

As a sequel to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between IITA and the Government of Côte d’Ivoire to replicate the ENABLE (Empowering Novel Agri-Business-Led Employment) Youth program in the country, 10 delegates from the Ivorian government visited IITA Headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria on 27–31 August

Picture of the participants pose with the Station OIC Chris Okafor (center, wearing a cap) after the workshop.

CCPC operators in South Kivu, DR Congo, meet to chart action for steady progress

For two days, 9—10 May, managers of eight community cassava processing centers (CCPCs) in Kavumu, Katana, Mulamba, Bunyakiri 1, Bunyakiri 2, Kamanyola, and Luvungi as well as technicians in charge of production met at IITA Kalambo to take stock, exchange experiences, share knowledge, and articulate strategies on the way forward.

IFAD-CARE sponsored study focuses on Agribusiness to tackle unemployment in rural Africa

Policymakers in Africa have been called upon to adopt sustainable ways to address the rate of employment among youth across the continent. In a study carried out by Esther Lombe Kwaambwa, under the IFAD-sponsored CARE project being implemented by IITA, youth unemployment, currently estimated at 23%, is projected to double with Africa’s youth population expected…