IITA News

South Kivu Provincial Minister of Agriculture praises IITA contribution to food security amidst COVID-19 crisis

The city of Bukavu will produce 20 tons of tilapia per week by the end of 2020. This will be done through the Tilapia Production in Cages Project implemented by IITA and partners, financially supported by the FPI (Fond de la Promotion de l’Industrie) as part of the 100 Days program of the Democratic Republic…

Leading IITA Eastern Africa hub in times of COVID-19

Excerpts from an interview with Victor Manyong, IITA-Eastern Africa Director, with Radio IITA on the COVID-19 situation in Eastern Africa and the various measures that IITA has put in place to protect staff from the viral disease as they carry out their activities. Q: What is the COVID-19 situation like in Eastern Africa? What are…

IITA saves the day in controlling aflatoxin in Tanzania for this growing season

IITA has come to the rescue in efforts to reduce aflatoxin contamination in maize and groundnut in Tanzania to enhance the country’s food safety and security during this challenging time for the agriculture sector due to the coronavirus disease outbreak. IITA, through its office in Tanzania, produced 10 tons of AflasafeTZ, the natural and safe…

Introducing West Africa’s largest insect collection

Quick facts IITA’s insect collection is based in Benin It is the most extensive insect collection in West Africa It has 366,000 insect species Museum houses both pests and beneficial insects Offers free insect identification services How do you catch all these insects? How do you know they are here? Do you go into the…

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…

GLFLive on gene banks and COVID-19

Head of IITA Germplasm Health Unit, Lava Kumar, will be participating at the next GLF Live, which will take place on 13 May. Landscape News of the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) is organizing this series of live interviews with experts examining the linkages between COVID-19 and climate change. This edition of GLF Live will focus on the relationship between COVID-19, genebanks,…

Continuing to strengthen food systems in Africa

With the global food systems facing a major challenge with the outbreak of COVID-19, it has become imperative for countries to achieve a measure of self-sufficiency in their food production. CGIAR-IITA continues to work with governments in sub-Saharan Africa to facilitate this. IITA R4D Director for Central Africa, Bernard Vanlauwe, has spoken of multiple initiatives…

Government of Zambia keen to support development of agricultural value chain

The Finance Minister of Zambia, Dr Bwalya Ng’andu, announced that the government is keen to support any initiative that targets the development of the agriculture value chain because of its substantial benefits to farmers and other players in the chain. The Minister said this during a courtesy call by IITA Director General Nteranya Sanginga, in…

STEP trains five as Oyo commissioners of agriculture and education visit IITA

The CGIAR-IITA Start Them Early Program (STEP) has trained five students of Fasola Grammar School (FGS) on the use of machines for agricultural productivity. The training took place at FGS and coincided with the visit of Oyo State commissioners for agriculture and education. The global outbreak of COVID-19 has affected school and STEP activities due…

Combating food waste due to postharvest diseases

Food waste has become a scourge with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimating that 45% (about 1.3 billion tons) of harvested fruits, vegetables, roots, and tubers are lost annually. These postharvest losses may involve a loss in quantity over time or quality losses of important nutrients, which may be due to contamination, such as…