IITA, in collaboration with CGIAR Excellence in Breeding (EiB), delivered two professional workshops titled “EiB Breeding Scheme Design Training” and “West Africa Breeding Operations” for crop breeders and operations staff from IITA and national agricultural research systems (NARS) in West Africa from 21 to 25 February. The breeding scheme design training aimed to increase the skillset of plant breeders to design
With potato production in East Africa under increasing threat from the invasive and highly destructive potato cyst nematode (PCN) pest, an organic technology developed from banana plant waste material may be the ultimate rescue. Known as “wrap and plant”, the solution involves enclosing potato seed in a thick absorbent paper made from the fiber of banana plants before planting. This
The IITA Gender Science Network (GSN) has organized a webinar series to enhance gender research and its communication and impact. Integrating gender within other (research) domains is a key objective. Therefore the webinar serves as a learning and engaging platform for the IITA community to dialogue, better understand, adapt, and implement new and existing gender initiatives, methodologies, tools, and approaches in projects
The project Building Economically Sustainable Seed Systems for Cassava, Phase 2 (BASICS-II) organized a day-long National Cassava Business Summit towards developing a cassava seed system in the country. The summit was held on 17 February in Dodoma, Tanzania. The meeting aimed to catalyze public-private partnership sector-led investment in the cassava seed value chain, bringing together about 100 participants from the public and
Delegates from the Government of Madagascar, headed by Mrs Fanjaniaina Raharinomena, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture, representing His Excellency, Xarifiid Ramilison, the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, visited IITA from 23 to 28 February. Mrs Raharinomena was accompanied by the National Deputy Coordinator of Enable Youth, the Coordinator of DEFIS, the Director of the Organization of Farmers, and the
The Ukrainian flag famously represents the country’s golden wheat fields under a clear blue sky. That pastoral symbolism is taking on a much darker tone with Russia’s invasion, given the importance of both countries to global food security. Even if food is not a direct target, Russia’s devastating attacks on Ukraine will probably affect the availability of food in
The new Ukama Ustawi Initiative will help millions of vulnerable smallholders in 12 countries transition from maize-mixed systems to sustainably intensified, diversified, and de-risked agrifood systems. Partners of CGIAR’s new Regional Integrated Initiative in East and Southern Africa (ESA) held a kick-off meeting in Nairobi from March 2 to 3, 2022. Eighty-five participants attended, including national agricultural research extension programs,
For the past three years, the International Potato Center’s (CIP) SweetGAINS program in Africa has been conducting market research aimed at helping sweetpotato breeders better understand the traits and qualities that consumers want. These preferences differ by market segment. Women tend to prefer taste and cookability while male farmers think in terms of yield and storage. Building on this research,