News Overview

Irrigation as a service (IaaS) is a transformational approach that reduces irrigation access barriers by offering flexible, low‑cost access to equipment and water.

At sunrise in a market garden in Goudomp, Ndeye carefully waters her vegetable beds. Just a few years ago, the cracked soil produced very little. Today, rows of tomatoes and okra leaves tell a different story. Like thousands of farmers across the regions of Sedhiou and Tambacounda, Ndeye is among the beneficiaries of the AVENIR project. Implemented by MEDA with scientific support from the Alliance of Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and funded by Global Affairs Canada, the project shows how climate-smart agriculture can help transform local food systems.

Anchovy, locally known as dagaa, sits at the heart of Zanzibar’s fisheries, diets and livelihoods. These small fish are rich in essential micronutrients and widely consumed across the archipelago, making them a vital source of affordable nutrition, particularly for low-income households. At the same time, dagaa is increasingly important for trade, supplying regional markets beyond Zanzibar and contributing to regional food systems and economic growth. This dual role raises a critical question: can efforts to improve fish processing and expand markets boost incomes without reducing equitable access to this nutritious food for the communities who depend on it most?

In Moyale, on the Ethiopia-Kenya border, localized climate forecasts help pastoralists make timely decisions on livestock, water, and crops amid drought and erratic rain.

A high-level delegation from IITA Kenya paid a courtesy visit to the newly appointed Director General of the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Dr Patrick Ketiem, at KALRO Headquarters, as part of efforts to reaffirm institutional collaboration and discuss new areas of strategic partnership.

A two-member delegation from India’s National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) visited the IITA–CGIAR headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria, from 12 to 13 March 2026. During the visit, both teams held intensive technical discussions on aflatoxin mitigation and advanced preparations for a joint initiative to create an India-specific Aflasafe product.

IITA–CGIAR has formalized its presence in Madagascar following the signing of a Host Country Agreement (HCA) with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MINAE) on 27 February 2026 in the capital city. The agreement grants IITA legal status in the country and sets the stage for long-term, science-driven agricultural investment.

Pastoralism is a large, adaptive economic system sustaining billions, yet it remains undervalued due to informal markets and measurement gaps, limiting investment despite strong evidence of its productivity, resilience, and economic potential.