IITA News

TETFund Engineering group seeks to partner with IITA in delivering science technology

On 26 November, delegates from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Standing Committee for Research and Development (R&D) on Engineering visited IITA headquarters. The visit was to explore technology transfer mechanisms and strategies and IITA activities that involve engineering and mechanization to ensure that research impacts society through agricultural transformation. The TETFund aims to identify…

New publication tackles the major challenges facing banana production

Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing are delighted to announce the publication of their new title – Achieving sustainable cultivation of bananas – Volume 2: Germplasm and genetic improvement. The book offers an authoritative discussion on the progress of identifying and broadening the genetic base for Musa species and reviews current conventional and molecular breeding techniques for breeding new varieties of banana. This new…

State Minister of Agriculture, Honorable Jean Chrisostome Ngabitsinze, giving a speech.

Rwandan farmers name new cassava varieties during the Cassava Week

An association of farmers in Rwanda, the Ingabo Syndicate, in collaboration with the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) and their partners, held Cassava Week 2020 from 17 to 19 November. The State Minister of Agriculture, Honorable Jean Chrisostome Ngabitsinze, officially kicked off the event at the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources….

Do not forget Plant Health in the One Health approach says IITA scientist

The One Health approach, which looks at the interconnectedness between human, animal, and environmental health, should also emphasize plant health, says IITA’s plant health pathologist for the Eastern Africa hub, George Mahuku. Speaking at a seminar at IITA-Tanzania on 3 November, Mahuku said, “There is an urgent need to recognize the interconnection between plant health…

Dr Kwesi Atta-Krah, moderating the webinar.

Private sector engagement: Way forward for African Agriculture

A webinar was organized on 5 November to connect partners and deliberate on ways to increase private sector engagement in African agriculture. The webinar, a collaborative activity of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) with Grow Africa, IITA, and Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), was moderated by Kwesi Atta-Krah, IITA Director for Country and…

Displaying the signed agreements: Cargele Masso, IITA Country Representative in Cameroon (left) and Honorable Mbairobe Gabriel, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

ENABLE Youth Cameroon back on track

The Cameroonian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER), Gabriel Mbairobe, and the IITA-Cameroon Country Representative Cargèle Masso signed an amendment to the agreement on youth vocational training in agricultural entrepreneurship and Agri-business (ENABLE Youth Cameroon) on 30 October. The event took place in the conference hall of the MINADER in Yaoundé in the presence…

Co-create the future-p01.jpg: Fair participants at the IITA stand.

Co-create the future: UI-SME collaboration and fair

On 12 November, the University of Ibadan organized a fair termed: The 2nd UI-SME Fair, tagged “Co-create the future: University of Ibadan and Small and Medium Enterprises,” which was held at the International Conference Center to bring together key stakeholders in the SME sector to provide crucial support for SME growth and sustainability. The fair…

Event announcement: 4th National Annual Conference of the Society for Underutilized Legumes

The Society for Underutilized Legumes (SUL), in conjunction with the IITA Genetic Resources Center in Ibadan, Nigeria, will hold its 4th National Annual Conference on 8–9 December. Due to the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, the event will take place via Zoom. The virtual conference will feature keynote speeches, plenary sessions, and other academic engagements….

40,000 young people in Nigeria to benefit from Young Africa Works-IITA project training program

Lagos, Nigeria, November 23, 2020 – In May this year, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) partnered with the Mastercard Foundation to start the Young Africa Works-IITA Project, an innovative approach to agribusiness training and start-up for Nigeria’s young people. This project was developed in consultation with young people, policymakers, educators, and entrepreneurs as…

Project supports teaching on Climate-smart Agriculture in agricultural training institutes in Tanzania

Tanzania Agriculture PS acknowledges and lauds IITA research work

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Tanzania, has recognized the importance of research conducted by IITA and partners to address challenges in the horticulture sector as well as the presence and work done by IITA in Tanzania in general. The PS said he was well aware of the Institute’s work in the country and termed it excellent work toward transforming the agricultural sector. The PS, Mr Gerald Kusaya, said this while…