IITA News

YIIFSWA-II exhibits at Annual NASC Seed Fair and Farmers Day

The National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) held its annual Seed Fair and Farmers Day on 17 October, at their headquarters in Sheda, Abuja. The theme of this year’s event was “Making quality seeds available, accessible and affordable to Nigerian farmers.” The new Federal Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono indicated that there…

Picture of Setis flask with a forest of yam plantlets of an improved variety.

YIIFSWA to plant 80,000 vine cuttings for seed yam production at IITA and more…

The YIIFSWA project will be winding up in a couple of months; the project has intensified high quality seed yam production efforts. In October the project will start planting 80,000 yam rooted vine cuttings on 2 ha of land at IITA-Ibadan. During an interview on current activities, Norbert Maroya YIIFSWA Project Leader, gave reasons for…

Picture of YIIFSWA Technical Advisory Committee

YIIFSWA Technical Advisory Committee holds meeting

The YIIFSWA Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) also met on 19 February after the review and planning workshop, to discuss the progress made and advise YIIFSWA project team on project directions. Present at the meeting were Alexandre Dansi, Hiroko Takagi-Watanabe, Janice Olawoye, Tony Sikpa, Cephas Dormediameo, Lydia Susu, Regina Sagoe, Tola Adepomola, A.O. Salako, Lauren Good,…

YIIFSWA scientist honored by research community

Morufat Balogun, Tissue Culture Specialist with IITA’s Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa (YIIFSWA) project has won the 2016 edition of the International Institute for Training, Research and Economic Development (IITRED) prize. The award recognizes her study on Absorbent kenaf materials and method of making and using same; development of high yield…

YIIFSWA organizes workshops to share experiences among yam farmers after exchange visits

The goal of the Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa (YIIFSWA) project is to work towards its 10-year vision of doubling the incomes from yam for three million smallholder farming families who depend on the crop in West Africa, and contribute to food security for producers and consumers. In the next…

YIIFSWA II hands over project outputs to GoSeed for post-project sustainability

The Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa Phase II (YIIFSWA II) project has handed over some project outputs to IITA GoSeed to ensure the post-project sustainability of the technologies. In a short ceremony on 14 July, the project turned over 42 plant form temporary immersion bioreactors (TIS) and 40 plantlets, as…

Picture of Growing yam using aeroponics in the greenhouse.

YIIFSWA II commended for “great start!”

The 2nd annual progress review and planning meeting of the Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa phase two (YIIFSWA-II) project was held 5-8 March at IITA Headquarters in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Picture of Yam tuber produced from a one-node vine from the Aeroponics

YIIFSWA holds annual progress review and work planning

The Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa (YIIFSWA) project held its 5th annual progress review and planning meeting, 15-18 February at the Conference Center, IITA-Ibadan, Nigeria. The 4-day meeting highlighted the progress review of the project’s two main components (1) Governance, Leadership and Partnership; and (2) Seed Systems. Each implementing partner…

Norbert Maroya (left) explaining project field trials to new TAC members as well as IITA YIIFSWA project team.

YIIFSWA has two new Technical Advisory Committee members in Nigeria

The Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa (YIIFSWA) project welcomed two new members: Prof E.A. Salako from the University of Abuja and Chief Tola Adepomola, Chair of the Root and Tuber Crops Subcommittee of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, who was represented by Rev. J.O. Adeleye to its Technical Advisory…

Picture of yam farmers selling bad quality yam roots

YIIFSWA facilitates a second farmer exchange visit to Illushi seed yam market

The foremost constraint of yam farmers is the unavailability and affordability of quality seed tubers. To promote seed yam production and commercialization in Ghana and Nigeria, the Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa (YIIFSWA) project facilitated its second farmer exchange visit to illushi seed yam market in Edo state on 14…