IFAD president visits IITA-Cameroon

L-R-- IFAD President, Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze speaks to the press while Dr. Rachid Hanna (IITA Cameroon Country Representative) listens on Friday in IITA Cameroon station.

The President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze paid a courtesy visit to IITA-Cameroon on Friday as part of his itinerary visit to Cameroon.
During the visit, the IFAD president commended the efforts of the IITA and its partners in tackling the challenges to food security in that country.
Consequently, he urged the private sector and the government of Cameroon to scale up the innovations being developed by IITA.
“This is the logical thing to do,” Nwanze said.
Receiving the IFAD president who was accompanied by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Essimi Menye, and other top government officials; Dr. Rachid Hanna, IITA Country Representative commended IFAD for supporting IITA over the years.
He said that the progress being recorded in cassava with yield rising from 10 tons per hectare to between 25 and 30 tons per hectare was a result of the investments received organizations such as the IFAD.
Other areas where gains have been recorded include biocontrol of cassava pests and the control of diseases and capacity building.
The IFAD President used the opportunity to visit the IITA-Cameroon station’s farm, laboratories and also inspected the exhibition by IITA, ICRAF and the PNDRT.