IITA News

IITA identifies opportunities to make a difference amidst COVID-19 spread across Africa

As COVID-19 or coronavirus gets closer to home—Africa, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has announced some opportunities for the Institute to undertake some quick-win projects that would help the continent address food security and poverty alleviation goals. IITA Director-General Nteranya Sanginga announced these and health and safety measures to prevent the spread of…

IITA Forest Center trains coordinators of its conservation clubs

On 13 March, the IITA Forest Center organized a workshop for coordinators of its newly established School Conservation Clubs (SCCs) at the IITA headquarters. The purpose of the workshop themed “Training the Trainers” was to familiarize the coordinators with the modus operandi of conservation clubs and give insights into innovative ideas that could help the…

IITA trains scientists on Data Management Planning

On 13 March, the IITA Western African Hub organized a seminar for scientists across all IITA hubs. The purpose of the seminar themed “Creating a living data management plan for research reproducibility,” was to educate scientists on data management planning (DMP). Olatunbosun Obileye, the Institutional Data Manager, lectured on areas such as the meaning and…

IITA launches IYPH website

By now, we know that 2020 is the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH). Throughout the year, partners and stakeholders in agriculture shall increase awareness among the public and policymakers on the importance of healthy plants and the necessity to protect them in order to reduce hunger, malnutrition and poverty. To create more awareness, IITA…

SARO-Zambia to partner with IITA on cassava processing equipment

Senior managers from SARO Agro Industrial Ltd recently visited IITA to explore the possibility of partnering with the Institute. The team consisted of Milind Amin, senior General Manager and Calvin Salah, Agricultural Advisor-Technical. SARO is one of the global leaders in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of agriculture and processing equipment. Recently, there has been…

Nigerian Export Promotion Council pays study visit to IITA

A delegation from the Export Assistance Office, Southwest zone of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) paid a study visit to IITA Headquarters in Ibadan to explore possible ways in which the Council can further strengthen collaboration with the Institute. The visit began with a meeting to establish its purpose and highlight the various areas…

IARSAF holds the maiden edition of its journal club for 2020

On 28 February, the International Association of Research Scholars and Fellows (IARSAF) of IITA held the maiden meeting of its journal club for 2020. The purpose of the meeting was to help participants gain new knowledge in various scientific fields through research-paper review and build their communication and presentation skills. The Head Administration, IITA Western…

IITA Tanzania celebrates International Women’s Day and launches local chapter of Women’s Group

From the doctor who is often referred to as a nurse because a doctor is expected to be male, to the architect whose construction workers will not follow her instructions without checking what the “engineer” (who is expected to be a male) says, and the entrepreneur who is always asked who is the man behind…

Agribusiness: Way out for youth rural–urban migration

Research has associated the increase of rural‒urban migration amongst youth in Africa with lesser food expenditures and the incidence of poverty. The major reason for this rural‒urban youth migration is attributed to unemployment. The recent study funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), under the Enhancing Capacity to Apply Research Evidence (CARE) in…

Head of IITA’s banana breeding program receives dedicated scientist award at the International Banana Conference

The Head of IITA’s banana breeding program, Rony Swennen received the “Dedicated Scientist Award for his exemplary commitment to Banana research” during an International Conference on Banana held in Trichy, India on 22–25 February 2020. Swennen also gave the first keynote presentation of the conference on “Breeding plantain and cooking banana (Matooke and Mchare) hybrids…