IITA News

BEST Cassava project marks excellent progress as it aims to finish strong

Over 1,000 acres of land in major cassava growing areas of Tanzania have been planted with new, improved cassava varieties. Nearly all the seeds of improved cassava varieties produced during the 2021 planting season have been sold. These were among the highlights reported by the Building an Economically Sustainable Seed System for Cassava in Tanzania (BEST Cassava) project….

Reinforcing Team Capacity in the African Union Project: Field data collection training workshop

Twenty field technicians from the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) and IITA participated in a one-day capacity building workshop at the IITA headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria. The training aimed to provide them with the necessary tools for data collection in field trials established in various locations under the project: “Enhancing nutritional quality of plantain food…

A life-changing experience with I-Youth – Series 2

The Innovative Youth in Agriculture (I-Youth) project recently completed its first year of operations in three states across Nigeria—Kaduna, Kano, and Lagos. Beneficiaries of the project are already speaking out about their experiences and I-Youth’s impact in general. The project runs a “life-changing experience with I-Youth” series; the second part focuses on Samsudeen Kabir Balarabe….

ENABLE Youth Cameroon agripreneurs win awards during IITA’s strong showing at SIALY 2021

Agriculture is an economic powerhouse in Cameroon, engaging more than 50% of the nation’s economically active population. IITA has been working in the country for several decades, promoting best practices and introducing technologies to improve productivity in the sector and increase the income of smallholder farmers, in particular. From 5 to 11 July, IITA participated…

Research centers call for innovation and stronger partnerships to scale up Africa’s food systems

Science, research, and innovation are essential to accelerate the transformation to healthier, more sustainable, more equitable, and more resilient food systems. What scientific innovations are needed and how they can inform related policies were among the issues discussed at the recent Science Days, a virtual conference organized by the Scientific Group as a prelude to…

IITA and partner Touton Ltd. consult coffee farmers on diversification strategies

The IITA Uganda Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Team conducted focus group discussions with more than 150 smallholder coffee, vanilla, and cocoa farmers in Kasese district, western Uganda, last May. The activity is part of a collaboration between the Sustainable Food Lab, USAID, Touton, and IITA that brings together the private sector, agricultural researchers, and smallholder farmers to improve smallholder farmer…

Mechanical legume planter reduces drudgery for female farmers in Mozambique

Mechanization has been recognized as an essential factor in agriculture development efforts to save on labor and time in many farming operations for smallholder farmers. In Mozambique, IITA conducted a study on a hand push manual seeder (HPMS), also known as the Legume Hand Push Manual Planter (LHPMP), to be used by farmers, particularly female…

IITA Forest Center prepares trainers for Olokemeji School Conservation Clubs

As the Olokemeji reforestation project swings into full gear, the IITA Forest Center held its first training for School Conservation Club (SCC) leaders held in Ibadan on 15 and 16 July. This partially fulfills the project’s mandates to bring children on board as critical conveners of biodiversity conservation efforts for sustainable succession. The two-day instructor-led…

Hope for Tanzanian banana farmers with the official release of new “matooke” hybrids

Tanzania has officially released four new, improved hybrids of the important staple cooking banana, “matooke”. This is a first for matooke bananas in Tanzania. These hybrids are resistant to important pests and diseases ravaging the current varieties that millions of farmers across the country are growing and, as such, herald an exciting era for banana…

New crop-livestock technologies to mitigate conflict between crop and livestock farmers in DRC

More than 20 farmers from Katogota and Kamanyola in the Ruzizi plain of South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), took part in a participatory evaluation of intercropping trials of maize and Brachiaria grass. IITA organized this activity on 14 July as part of the Integrated Project for Agricultural Growth in the Great Lakes…