Experts meet in Abuja to tackle Striga

Maize farm devastated by Striga

Researchers and partners working under the Integrated Striga Management in Africa (ISMA) project will converge on Hotel De Bently, Abuja, 21-23 May 2014 to review milestones reached and discuss strategies for moving forward in the battle against parasitic weed Striga. This weed attacks cereals and legumes and losses are in the neighborhood of $8bn, endangering the livelihoods of millions of farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.
The work planning meeting will evaluate the successes, challenges and opportunities of the ISMA project, identify gaps and plan how to implement the decisions so as to successfully scale out the Striga management technologies to rural farmers in the next coming year.  Over 70 participants are expected at this gathering and will include scientists from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), CIMMYT, icipe, and other research institutes, project leaders from across Africa and beyond, partners in the public and private sectors, as well as farmers of cereal and legume crops.
ISMA Project Manager, Dr Mel Oluoch said the meeting would promote stronger linkages between project partners.

For media enquiries, contact: Ada Umeokoro, a.umeokor@cgiar.org; Kathy Lopez, k.lopez@cgiar.org; or Godwin Atser, g.atser@cgiar.org

 

IITA receives USD 5 million to support policy action for agricultural intensification in Uganda

One of the current challenges facing many African countries is how to increase agriculture production to meet the needs of the rapidly increasing population and for economic development as the sector is one of the major contributors to their Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Intensifying agriculture production through the use of modern farming methods and technologies is one of the ways to overcome this challenge. However, in addition to having the relevant technologies, a conducive policy environment is very important.

From left: IITA's Piet Van Asten and H.E Alphons exchange signed contract of the USD 5 million policy action project 

IITA has received a $5million grant from the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands (EKN) in Uganda to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industries and Fisheries (MAAIF) policy formulation and actions for intensification of farming systems.  

This is through a project entitled: “Policy Action for Sustainable Intensification of Ugandan Cropping Systems (PASIC)”.

During the signing of the contract, the Ambassador of the Netherlands in Uganda, His Excellency Alphons Hennekes noted “The inevitable solution lies in the intensification of cropping systems by using fertilizers, improved seeds, good agronomic practices and attracting investors for buying farmers’ produce”,

Honorable Tress Bucyanayandi, the MAAIF Minster welcomed the initiative and noted it was well in line with the countries priorities and strategic development plans.

“Sustainable intensification of cropping systems, PASIC directly contributes to increased rural incomes and household food security, the two objectives of our Development Strategy and Investment Plan (DSIP)” he said.

Honourable Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and fisheries (MAAIF) welcomed the initiative.

Victor Manyong, the IITA Director for Eastern African, noted the project was very important to tackle the bottlenecks to sustainable intensification of agriculture through research on policy and policy action.

Victor Manyong, IITA's Director for Eastern Africa thanks the Dutch Government on behalf of the project team

The project will carry out research in in two zones targeting two important cropping systems- south western Highlands for Irish potatoes and the Lake Kioga plains in Eastern Uganda for rice. 

Piet Van Asten, IITA Country Representative and project leader said “PASIC will generate vital knowledge and evidence for decision makers to plan public investments and attract responsible private entities to the agriculture sector”.

Piet Van Asten, IITA's Country in Uganda representative gives an over viewof the project during the ceremony

The project starts in October 2013 and will run to September 2017. The findings and lessons learnt will support MAAIF staff to formulate credible policies and programs to intensify cropping systems. Other project partners are the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), the leading policy think-tank in Uganda, and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). 

Ghana hosts researchers working on roots and tubers

The city of Accra in Ghana is agog as researchers, farmers and development partners are strategizing ways to improve the competitiveness of root and tuber crops.
The conference is coming at a time when food security is at the front burner, and African countries are reforming their agricultural strategies with a view to feeding itself.
This year’s root and tuber symposium, organized by the International Society for Tropical Root Crops-Africa Branch (ISTRC- AB), attracted international partners, students, farmers and policy makers. Godwin Atser sought stakeholders’ opinions about the conference. Excerpts:

Mohammed Alfa, Ghana Deputy Minister, Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology Innovation, addressing participants during the symposium in Ghana 

This conference provides a platform for younger scientists to express themselves, and that is already happening, says Prof Keith Tomlins (NRI).

Prof Tomlins

The conference is a success. We have seen the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) taking ownership of ISTRC, and this is a good development. It has been super…I also find the theme of the conference appropriate because we need to find ways of making the root and tuber crops competitive to benefit local farmers -- Elizabeth Parkes (IITA Cassava Breeder).

Dr Parkes

.

This year’s theme highlights what is badly needed in Africa. What is needed is not just increasing production but also effective and efficient processing technologies. We also have to link farmers to the market -- Dr Alfred Dixon, Director General, Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute.

Dr Dixon

The ISTRC-AB provides a very important space for the CGIAR to link to research in Africa. The conference theme is appropriate and it gives us a good opportunity for learning. In the future, we need to involve more of the private sector --
Thiele Graham (Program Leader, CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas).

Dr Graham

For the first time, we are having a theme that is addressing the competitiveness of the root and tuber crops. This makes me happy. Also we are having a lot of young champions making presentations. What this means is that we are beginning to build sustainability which is great -- Prof Lateef Sanni (FUNAAB)

 

Prof Sanni

The conference provides an opportunity for African scientists to tell the world what they think is important to them, highlight areas for future development and open up areas for engagement -- Loretta Byrnes (BMGF)

Byrnes

I like to thank all the donors that have supported us. Today, most researchers in agriculture are getting old. But coming here, I can see young researchers and the conference is now serving as a grooming ground. So there is future for research in Africa— Dr Richardson Okechukwu (IITA)

Okechukwu

We have seen a lot of presentations in this conference, and high number of students which is good. I can also see networking going on among researchers—Peter Kulakow

Kulakow

Agripreneurs explore opportunities in the seed sector

Diversity of cowpea seeds

Members of the IITA Youth project have explored opportunities in the seed sector, making visits to seed companies across Nigeria. The exploratory visits in 2012 were aimed at exposing them to the potential in the seed sector.

“Plans are underway for these young people to join the Nigerian seed companies in providing farmers with high quality seeds/planting materials (for IITA commodities such as maize, cowpea, soybean, cassava, yam, and banana/plantain) in the first instance,” says Dr Gbassey Tarawali, Representative of the DG and DDG (P&CD), who is working closely with them.

Seed companies visited were Da-AllGreen Ltd, Premier Seeds Nigeria Ltd, Nagari Seeds Nigeria Ltd, Savannah Seeds Ltd, National Agricultural Seed Council, Sun Seed and Springfield Agro Ltd, Maslaha Seed Co., Terratiga Ltd, Seed Project Co. Ltd, Maina Seeds Ltd, and Manoma Seeds Co.

During the visit, the Agripreneurs were able to understand the challenges facing the seed sector and came back with plans on how to overcome those challenges.

The IITA Youth Agripreneurs project was initiated by Dr Nteranya Sanginga, IITA Director General, in 2012. The project aims to unlock the potential in agriculture by attracting and engaging young men and women in agribusiness to create decent employment opportunities comparable to those for their colleagues in the banking, oil, and communication sectors.

Strategic thinkers to propose IITA youth model to Government

Dr Okechukwu receives a plaque on behalf of DG Sanginga
from NIPSS team

Members of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, near Jos, Nigeria, will present the IITA model of engaging the youth in agriculture to Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan.

The delegation praised IITA for the concept, emphasizing that the model would be part of the recommendations that would be submitted to the President as part of strategies to tackle food security and unemployment, especially among young people.

“The youth program offers opportunities and we will recommend to Mr President that it should be replicated,” says Mr Jonathan Juma, leader of the delegation.

The Directing Staff, NIPSS, Brigadier General Johnny Hamakim, noted that IITA was strategic for Africa, adding that a visit to the Institute was imperative for the team to make informed decisions on food security in Africa.

Welcoming the delegation to IITA on behalf of DG Sanginga, the Coordinator of Cassava Transformation at IITA, Dr. Richardson Okechukwu thanked the team for coming and seeking inputs from researchers.

He explained the vision and mission of the Institute under the revised strategy, and also highlighted the milestones recorded by IITA towards addressing the constraints of development both in Nigeria and throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

NIPSS is a policy formation center for bureaucrats, private sector leaders, and Army officers, among others.

This year’s visit to IITA was facilitated by Sylvia Oyinlola and Toyin Oke. The delegation had the opportunity to tour the IITA campus. Among places visited were: the Genetic Resources Center, IITA forest, aflasafe factory, banana/plantain unit, and the Postharvest Unit. They also had a taste of the 40% cassava bread.

One year of IITA Youth Agripreneurs

IITA Agripreneurs in their cassava field

The IITA Youth Agripreneurs are a group of young graduates involved in agribusiness, with the aim of being a unit that would serve as a model to other young people planning to venture into agribusiness and becoming the trainer of trainers. Within one year of their existence, they have established many hectares of maize, cassava, and soybean and also plantain/banana fields. They have also multiplied plantain suckers in the macropropagation chamber. They have managed to bridge the gender inequality gap in the team, with their present number standing at 11 men and 10 women.

The activities of the group cut across the value-chains of different crops including cassava, maize, plantain/banana, and soybean. For cassava, the Youth Agripreneurs  are into stem multiplication and root production. For maize and soybean, their focus is on seed multiplication (both certified and foundation seeds), whereas for the plantain/banana, they are into sucker multiplication and fruit production.

The uniqueness of the team lies in the heterogeneity of the disciplines inherent therein, ranging across the Arts, Sciences and Social Sciences. After a meeting with the IFAD President, Dr Kanayo Nwanze, intended to spur youth involvement towards sustainable agriculture, the members of the National Youth Service Corps who were then serving in IITA, Ibadan, under the guidance of the Director-General, Dr. Nteranya Sanginga, responded with enthusiasm to the call on 28 August 2012.

The project began with a series of activities, such as attending seminars and training within and outside the
Institute, including a workshop organized by UNIDO in Songhai. Visits to seed companies, most of them in the northern part of Nigeria, were also made. The project has had visitors from various organizations, USAID, UNIDO, FARA, NIPSS, etc., to mention a few.

The Agripreneurs look forward to collaborating with sponsors and investors, as one of their future plans is to expand their production. They wish to become self-independent and self-employed, having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills, and ultimately become employers of labour.

Niji Farms encourages Agripreneurs’ interest in agriculture

IITA Agripreneurs and Malawian farmers in group photo at
Niji Farms

A learning visit to the cassava farm, over 3000 ha, owned and managed by a young Nigerian, Mr Kola Adeniji, was tiring but also inspiring.

Mr Adeniji , who sits at the head of the Board of Niji Farms, is one of those successful young farmers in Nigeria.

He told the visitors, “We are redefining agriculture… many people look down on farmers but we want to change that.”

The factory processes cassava into High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF), odourless fufu flour, and gari. The gari and fufu are exported to countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada. Apart from having a vast hectarage , Niji Farms is fully automated, yet built on indigenous technology.

“We believe that what is needed to develop Africa is in Africa… so we try as much as possible to have 100 percent local content,” Mr Adeniji said.

The visit gave the Agripreneurs the opportunity to have an overview of Niji farm, to see how Mr Adeniji managed his farm, and also the types of machinery he used for the processing of food products.

Mr Adeniji noted that he was inspired to invest in agriculture after coming in contact with IITA and thanked the Institute for supporting his farm with improved cassava planting materials.

Although the farm mostly grows cassava, Mr Adeniji has also forayed into growing maize and keeping livestock.

“I am looking at integrating all the areas of agriculture … to making a model farm,” he said.

IITA Agripreneurs who visited the farm testified that the farm is a perfect example, demonstrating that agriculture indeed pays off.

Cassava flour maker wants the Agripreneurs to ‘have big dreams’

Thai Farms... Nigeria’s biggest cassava flour maker

Thai Farm Nigeria Ltd, makers of cassava flour, has urged the IITA Agripreneurs to have a vision about investments in agriculture. The Chief Executive Officer/ Managing Director, Mr Louw Burger, gave the advice during their learning visit to the factory on 27 August 2013.

On the team also were Malawian cassava processors and the IITA Communication Officer, Mr. Godwin Atser.

In his presentation, Mr Burger encouraged the team to have big dreams, stating that the challenges faced while carrying out small projects are the same as those encountered in bigger undertakings.

He gave a talk on how Thai Farm came into being, the firm’s success stories, as well as its present challenges. He explained the processes involved in the conversion of cassava roots to High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF), and highlighted the uses of the by-products.

The team raised questions which were satisfactorily answered. At the factory, a detailed tour was taken, with the guests seeing all the processes involved in the making of HQCF, right from root testing (i.e., testing starch content of the cassava roots) to the packaging of the end product. Mr Burger also shared some of his expansion plans with the visitors. Two members of the IITA Youth Agripreneurs, Bekee Barituka and Lamidi Funmilola, said the visit was educative and inspiring. They were grateful for the opportunity to see cassava processing on a large scale and its potential in creating employment and wealth.

Youth concept excites top USAID officials

IITA youths and USAID officials

The Director, Office of Agricultural Research and Policy, Bureau for Food Security USAID, Dr Rob Bertram; and the Senior Agricultural Specialist, Economic Growth and Environment Office USAID Nigeria, Howard Batson, paid a 3-day courtesy visit to the institute between 14–16 July 2013. The delegation visited the Youth Agripreneurs office and listened to presentations about the group’s history, achievements, plans, etc. Both were impressed with the Agripreneur concept and commended the IITA Management for the initiative. Howard wrote in the visitors’ log: “Great potential waiting to take off,” while Dr Bertram had this to say: “Very exciting to see young people engaged in agribusiness development.”

“Put on your thinking caps”

IITA youths addressing FARA officials

The new Executive Director of the Forum for Agricultural Research for Africa (FARA), Dr Yemi Akinbamijo, has urged members of the IITA Youth project to harness the diversity of skills inherent among them for agricultural development.

He gave this counsel in Ibadan during his first official visit to IITA on 2 August 2013. Accompanied by other FARA executives: Dr Aggrey Agumya, Technical Adviser; Dr Ramadjita Tabo, Deputy Executive Director; and Prof. Adewale Adekunle, Director of partnerships, the new FARA boss could not hide his excitement over the youth project.

He also urged the youth to always “put on their thinking caps” and judiciously utilize the services ICT renders. Prof.  Adekunle in his remarks enjoined the Agripreneurs to channel much of their effort towards adding value to crops cultivated, thus diversifying their consumption forms. “It would be great to find the foods we enjoyed in the villages, repackaged and available in stores and supermarkets,” he said.

The Youth made a presentation on: “Income Generation and Youth Employment,” and gave an overview of the objectives and current operations of the project.

In his closing remarks, the Executive Director congratulated the team for a great job, and reiterated the desire of FARA to work with them.

“Youth unemployment...one of the biggest challenges”

IITA DG, Dr Sanginga addressing youths in Ibadan

Among the challenges facing sub-Saharan Africa is the spiralling rate of unemployment among the growing youth population. Reports from the Africa Economic Outlook indicate that 60% of the continent’s unemployed are aged between 15 and 24 and more than half of these, many of them women, have given up efforts to find work.

The situation is likely to worsen if nothing is done to halt the trend as the numbers are set to double by 2045.For Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan, “Youth unemployment in Nigeria is a critical national issue and is one of the biggest challenges.” In Kenya, youth unemployment has reached crisis proportions with an estimated 64% of unemployed persons younger than 25years old. The resigned idleness of rural youth is also in evidence in DR Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia where poor incentives exist to better one’s life through hard work. A few hours of “routine” morning efforts in home food gardens are followed by aimless socializing in  local canteens. To address this concern, IITA under the leadership of Dr Nteranya Sanginga has initiated a youth program as a model to address unemployment using agriculture as a tool. The plan is to encourage the youth to tap the many opportunities inherent in agriculture. The project exposes young graduates to the different opportunities in agriculture and allows them to identify entry points in the agricultural value chains where they could play a role. At the core is capacity building for the young that propels independent thinking and engenders problem solving.