IITA–CGIAR, in collaboration with the French Government, recently hosted a stakeholders’ workshop at the IITA Conference Center from 27 to 31 January. As the lead implementing organization for the Women in Agricultural Technical Education and Apprenticeship in Nigeria (WATEA) project, IITA organized this workshop to assess the program’s two-year achievements and equip stakeholders with the necessary tools and expertise to
In Zambia, aquaculture is being championed as a solution to pressing challenges like poverty, hunger, and undernutrition while also fostering rural economic growth. Among the various fish species Zambian farmers cultivated, tilapia is the most prevalent. However, raising tilapia requires an adequate supply of essential nutrients like proteins, amino acids, vitamins, and energy sourced from carbohydrates and fats. To achieve
In the lively markets of Niger and Nigeria, every grain of cowpea tells a story of survival and sustenance. Yet, these grains face a silent enemy: contamination from harmful chemicals used to keep insects at bay during storage. For farmers and families, the struggle to keep food safe without risking health has long been an uphill battle. But an innovative
On 21 January, IITA officially assumed leadership of the Soy Agronomy Center of Excellence, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to advancing soybean production in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa. The transition was formalized during a visit by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) team to IITA headquarters, where they ceremoniously handed over the baton of leadership to the institute. The USSEC delegation was warmly
Vegetable farmers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are building their capacity in the production of organic fertilizer under the IITA BSF for Bio Circular Economy and Environmental Sustainability (IITA-BBEST) Project, in partnership with the National Institute for Agronomic Study and Research (INERA). A practical training workshop for 50 people, including 24 men and 26 women was organized on
IITA–CGIAR, a member of the African Orphan Crops Consortium (AOCC) in partnership with the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) and the Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI) at UC Berkeley, has officially launched the third cohort of its renowned African Plant Breeding Academy (AfPBA) CRISPR training program in Nairobi, Kenya. The program equips African molecular scientists with cutting-edge knowledge, skills, and tools to revolutionize agriculture across the continent.
Tanzania is building sustainable cassava-seed systems for high-quality seed through cassava seed entrepreneurs. However, women are often shut out of such business opportunities due to their lack of land, capital, and social norms that limit their mobility and literacy. A project designed to consider women’s needs has overcome some barriers by modifying the selection requirements for cassava seed entrepreneurs (CSEs)
West Africa’s ecosystems are transforming, reshaping its vast savannas into forest islands or arable lands. This change, mainly driven by human activity, has profound implications for soil health and ecosystem sustainability. Researchers from Institut de L’Environnement Et de Recherches Agricoles, Burkina Faso; Crop Research Institute (CSIR), Ghana; Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana; Imperial College of Science and Technology, London; Wageningen