COVID-19 Archives - Page 2 of 3

IITA Cameroon lends a helping hand to farmers’ coop at the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic

Cameroon, like other countries in the world, is at the moment grappling with the effect of the coronavirus, having recorded over 6,000 cases so far. Despite the ravaging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, IITA-Cameroon has collaborated with the Technical Center for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) to give a helping hand to members of some…

Development partners meet to address Africa’s food security amid COVID-19

In 2018, over 200 million people in Africa were undernourished due to food shortages. The advent of coronavirus has added another dimension to this issue. An examination of these problems led to the World Bank and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) convening a virtual conference to put together a response plan to address…

COVID19 – Work in shifts, researchers advise yam seed producers and farmers

To reduce the spread of COVID-19, governments all over the world have instituted specific measures such as physical distancing and staying at home. Unfortunately, for farmers, time is of the essence since the rainy season is here and it will soon end, – whether we are facing a pandemic or not. For farmers, the rains…

DG Nteranya Sanginga at a virtual town hall meeting, explaining IITA’s funding shortfalls due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Combating COVID-19-induced shortfalls: IITA reveals strategy to strengthen financial health and secure research goals

To manage potential funding shortfalls due to the global COVID-19 crisis, IITA Director General Nteranya Sanginga has outlined options through which the Institute can strengthen ongoing research and ensure sustainable planning as well as strategic resource mobilization. After strenuous consultations with different stakeholders, including staff and donors, Sanginga communicated the decisions during a virtual town hall meeting…

COVID-19 highlights the importance of farmers’ associations

Uganda is one of the few countries that has not reported any deaths from COVID-19. However, there are movement restrictions and stay-at-home orders in place. What do this pandemic and subsequent control measures mean for banana farmers in the country? We talked to Brigitte Uwimana, a molecular banana breeder based at IITA Uganda. Below are…

Fighting together: IITA stations respond with innovations

With the outbreak of COVID-19, CGIAR-IITA has placed a particular focus on working with governments in sub-Saharan Africa to strengthen their food systems to combat and win against the scourge of this pandemic. Aside from this holistic response from the Institute, IITA stations in different localities have come up with various innovative solutions geared towards helping their…

BoT commends IITA’s leadership in agricultural research under Sanginga

The IITA Board of Trustees (BoT) has lauded the Institute’s leadership and proven record of accomplishment in agricultural research during the spring board meeting, which took place recently. During the virtual meeting, BoT Chair Dr Amos Namanga Ngongi stated that the Institute, under the leadership of Director General Nteranya Sanginga, has achieved excellent results in…

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…