Nigeria Archives - Page 4 of 17

IITA conducts farmers’ Green Field Day in northeast Nigeria

IITA, through the Feed the Future Integrated Agriculture Activity funded by USAID, is contributing to the economic recovery in northeast Nigeria in the wake of the devastation caused by the ongoing insurgency in the region. The Activity supports vulnerable populations disenfranchised by the conflict and reengages them in basic farming activities. To this end, 62,666…

Study lifts the lid on plantain consumer preferences, adds fresh insights for breeding programs

Over the years, breeders have developed and distributed high-yielding, disease-resistant plantain varieties, but adoption rates have been limited. To understand why, scientists from CGIAR–IITA have published the results of a new study revealing end-user (consumer) perspectives about desirable qualities/characteristics of the plantain fruit and its derivative food products. The research, carried out within the RTBfoods…

Dr Kwesi Attah-Krah, IITA Director of Advocacy and Country Alignment.

Agriculture stakeholders discuss possible solutions to food insecurity and trade challenges in Nigeria

On 29 September, the National Action Committee on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) held a virtual workshop on Agriculture and Agribusiness. The workshop brought together notable professionals in the agricultural sector to discuss sustainable solutions to the challenges of food security and trade in Nigeria and Africa. AfCFTA was created to expand intra-African…

IITA strengthens relations with the Nigerian Immigration Service

On a recent visit to CGIAR-IITA, the Zonal Coordinator of Zone ‘F’ of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG) Dora Amahian, highlighted possible areas of collaboration with the Institute, including crop production on agency land. ACG Amahian led a 9-person team on the courtesy visit to strengthen institutional relations between the two organizations….

IITA DDG-P4D, Dr Kenton Dashiell spoke extensively about opportunities in Nigerian agriculture sector.

Hundreds of sustainable and profitable agribusiness opportunities available in Nigeria – IITA DDG

CGIAR-IITA Deputy Director General, Partnerships for Delivery, Kenton Dashiell, has encouraged Nigerians to take up sustainable and profitable opportunities in the country’s agriculture sector. He made this appeal during his keynote address at the National Conference on Agricultural Innovations for Food Security in the Post COVID-19 Era. In his presentation, Dashiell highlighted multiple technologies and…

STEP impact goes beyond secondary schools to communities

The Start Them Early Program (STEP) of IITA is making more impact than was envisioned at the beginning of the program. STEP, which was initially meant to change the negative mindset of secondary school students about agriculture, has also begun to positively impact parents and the communities where these secondary schools are located. The STEP…

A farmer proudly displays TME419 cassava variety

Nigeria approves new names for top performing cassava varieties

The Federal Government of Nigeria on Wednesday evening approved new names for 10 improved cassava varieties, as part of efforts to brand the root crop for easy identification, cultivation and marketing of cassava stems. The branded varieties comprise 6 released varieties and 4 yet-to be-released varieties. The released varieties and their new names are as…

IITA and regional grains body to work towards producing aflatoxin-free grain for health and trade

CGIAR-IITA and the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work together to tackle aflatoxin contamination of grain in the region. Achieving this will ensure that grains are safe for human and livestock consumption and meet export standards. Aflatoxin, a highly poisonous chemical produced by a naturally occurring fungus known as Aspergillus flavus, poses a severe health threat to both humans and animals. Acute…

Visit of ECOWAS Directorate of Agriculture to IITA-Abuja reignites partnership

The Director of Agriculture and Rural Development of ECOWAS, Alain S.Y. Traore, and other members of staff visited IITA–Abuja to familiarize themselves with the activities of the Institute in the Nigerian capital. The visit is the first despite both offices being in Abuja for many years. The Head of IITA-Abuja, Gbassey Tarawali, and the scientists at the station organized an interactive session for the ECOWAS delegation to showcase the different projects operating there. In his welcome remarks, Tarawali expressed delight about the visit, the…

The mobile cassava processing plant: A solution to cassava business challenges

On 25 August, the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) Cassava compact team of IITA hosted the Ogun State farmers’ group from the Abeokuta Chamber of Commerce Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (ABEOCCIMA) at the Institute’s headquarters. The group came on a tour of IITA’s facilities and the mobile cassava processing plant. The visit also aimed to explore possible partnerships with IITA in accessing agricultural technologies for…