The IITA
CGIAR
No. 2351
24–28 October 2016
IITA cited for its efforts in improving food and nutrition security; wins Al-Sumait Prize for Food Security
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ITA has been recognized with the 2016 Al-Sumait Prize for Food Security for its sustained efforts in undertaking groundbreaking research and development that continues to positively affect the lives of millions on the African continent. IITA shares the prize with sister center, International Potato Center (CIP), which was cited for its work on orangefleshed sweet potato to address Vitamin A deficiency. The two CGIAR centers are the first laureates for food security. The award was announced by the AlSumait board of Trustees in Kuwait on 17 October, and will be officially conferred by the Amir of the State of Kuwait and the President of Equatorial Guinea during a ceremony at the Fourth Arab African Summit in Equatorial Guinea on 22 November. IITA was recognized for its work in improving the yields and nutritional quality of major staple food crops, such as cassava, banana, and maize. “We are proud of this award and we thank the Al-Sumait Prize for recognizing the efforts of IITA and our partners in
helping African farmers and communities improve their livelihoods and enhance food and nutrition security through research and development on major food staple,” said IITA Director General Nteranya Sanginga. The prize highlights IITA’s work on key areas that have contributed to food security for millions of Africans, including Striga resistant maize and droughttolerant maize; Vitamin A maize with the first released orange maize varieties coming from IITA; soybean varietal enhancement and deployment across Africa; cowpea germplasm/varieties from IITA’s genebank cowpea to income increase in northern Nigeria; cassava breeding work; plantain and banana varietal improvement; and 10 years of systems research in a project called Consortium for Improving Agriculturebased Livelihoods in Central Africa (CIALCA). Adnan Shihab-Eldin, Director General of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), which administers the awards, said the Board of Trustees is proud to award the prizes to this year’s recipients who have made major contributions to improving the lives of millions of people throughout Africa. “We are deeply humbled by the efforts demonstrated by Al-Sumait prize laureates in the pursuit of scientific discoveries to meet the challenges of disease, nutrition, food production and climate change,” he said. He added that all the laureates were in the frontline of Africa’s challenges, yet have succeeded despite limited resources.
IITA’s goals include ensuring food security for smallholder farmers.
Al-Sumait’s Board is chaired by H.E. Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad AlSabah, Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Other board members include Bill
IITA research helps enhance nutritional security for millions of Africans.
Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Donald Kaberuka, Former President of the African Development Bank; Kwaku Aning, Former Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency; Abdulatif Alhamad, Director General and Chairman of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development; Tareq AlMutawa, Executive Member of the Board of Public Gathering Charity Committee, and others. Al-Sumait Prizes honor individuals or institutions who help advance economic and social development, human resources development and infrastructure in Africa through their sustained research and or innovative projects that result in major impact on the lives and welfare of the people of Africa especially the poor and underprivileged. The awards were instigated on the initiative of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait. The awards acknowledge the work of the late Abdulrahman Al-Sumait, a Kuwaiti doctor who dedicated his life to addressing the development challenges confronting Africa and established the Direct Aid humanitarian organization.
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Smart farming of cassava with focus on integrated soil fertility management increases yield by 60% in Tanzania
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reliminary results from an ongoing study by IITA in Tanzania have shown an increase of nearly 60% in cassava yield which translates to a 30% increase in income for farmers. The study “Integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) for productive and sustainable cassava production systems in Tanzania” is being conducted in the major cassavagrowing areas of Tanzania - Coast, Eastern and Western region. It is a part of the ‘Support to Agricultural Research for Development of Strategic Crops in Africa (SARD-SC)” project funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB). Cassava is an important staple in Tanzania and source of income to a most farmers in the cassava growing regions. The crop tolerates drought well earning the nickname “Rambo Crop” in the face of climate change and uncertain weather conditions. However, its yield is low due to factors such as poor soil fertility, untimely planting, use of disease-prone planting materials, poor site selection, local and poor farming practices, and poor soil fertility management.
Veronica (right) assessing cassava in the field of one of the farmers involved in the study.
The project has introduced ISFM which is a set of practices geared towards increasing productivity, sustainability and generating income for smallholders and the country as a whole. It includes the use of the appropriate varieties, efficient use of both organic and inorganic soil nutrients and good agronomic practices. “ISFM plays a critical role in maintaining both short and longterm availability of soil organic matter and nutrients which are key for productivity. It optimizes nutrient use efficiency in cassava production systems for maximum gains,” said Veronica Uzokwe, an agronomist at IITA-Tanzania and the project’s coordinator as she presented the findings at a seminar at IITATanzania.
A farmer shows the huge cassava roots obtained after applying ISFM practices.
IITA Bulletin 2351
In Tanzania farmers do not apply any fertilizers to their cassava. The study therefore looked at the response of cassava to increasing rates of N (nitrogen), P (potassium) and K (calcium) in the soils through application of NPK fertilizers. The preliminary results show a significant increase of cassava yields when farmer applied good agronomy practices and ISFM.
The study was initially conducted in the cassava growing areas in Zanzibar; Kigoma, Western Tanzania; and Mkuranga, Coastal Tanzania and has now extended to the Lake zone and Southern zone. “The study shows the great untapped potential to increase cassava through use of good varieties, applying agronomic practices, and soil fertility management such as use of organic and inorganic fertilizers. However, though ISFM has shown its potential to replenishing nutrients to depleted soils and maintaining soil fertility and enhancing productivity, it is not yet widely taken up by farmers. Farmers need more knowledge to use the technologies,” said Veronica. Study results have led to a spin-off project, the Africa Cassava Agronomy Initiatives (ACAI) funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to continue investigating these technologies further. Other partners have come in to help in scaling out these technologies to more farmers.They include Cassava Adding Value for Africa (CAVA) project, MIJINGU fertilizer – a private company, Menonite Economic Development Associates, Farm Concerns International, and Agriculture Research Institutes and government agencies in Tanzania.
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The World Bank recognizes IITA scientist
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he World Bank has congratulated the efforts of Emmanuel Njukwe, IITA’s associate scientist in Central Africa, for his doggedness in promoting the cause of the Enabling the Business of Agriculture 2017 project in the region.
of Agriculture team said Njukwe’s contribution to the work of the group has been invaluable and called for his continuous support.
The project provides objective measures of regulatory good practices and enforces them in 62 selected countries.
“Your contribution has been essential in ensuring the quality of the data in the Enabling the Business of Agriculture report, and we would appreciate it if we can rely on your continued cooperation with the project in the future.”
In a congratulatory letter by the World Bank, the Enabling the Business
Njukwe was also presented with a special Certificate of Appreciation. Emmanuel Njukwe
Nigeria Zero Hunger holds second meeting in Abuja
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he Nigeria Zero Hunger Strategic Review held its second meeting in Abuja this month, led by former President and IITA Goodwill Ambassador Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. Attended by the chairs and representatives of the various working groups comprising nine areas (Food Security & Nutrition; Agricultural Research, Innovation, Intervention & Extension; Finances; Producer Needs Assessment; Infrastructures; Legislation; Implementation, Partnership and M&E). The meeting looked at the status reports and plans of each of the committees and discussed potential actions that will ensure zero hunger in Nigeria by 2030.
Nigeria has committed itself to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to being measured and monitored against progress towards the goals and targets that Heads of State and Government collectively decided upon at the September 2015 Special Summit held in New York. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 aims to “end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture” by 2030. A comprehensive countrywide perspective is needed to achieve the goals, and
roles of the Government, private sector, civil society, and international development partners need to be clearly defined. IITA and the United Nations World Food Programme is supporting former President Obasanjo to lead the Nigeria Zero Hunger Strategic Review that will help to clearly articulate what Nigeria will need to do to achieve SDG 2 of the 2030 Agenda. The findings and recommendations of the multistakeholder Strategic Review are intended to: • Provide a comprehensive understanding of the food security and nutrition context of Nigeria; • Identify key development and humanitarian challenges the country faces in achieving the zero hunger aspirations of SDG 2; • Discuss the role of the private sector in achieving zero hunger, including food security and improved nutrition, and related fields; • Propose actionable areas where partners can better support the country to make significant progress toward zero hunger; and • Recommend milestones for national Zero Hunger Roadmap.
Former Pres. Obasanjo leads lawmakers and policymakers in developing a roadmap to ensure that Nigeria attains zero hunger by 2030.
IITA Bulletin 2351
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IITA provides secretariat and coordination services to the Review.
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New German envoy visits IITA
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he new Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Mr Bernhard Schlagheck, accompanied by Mr Manuel Mueller, Deputy Director, West Africa Department, were in IITA recently to learn about IITA’s work and explore potential collaboration.
and interventions were being used by policymakers in partner countries. Dashiell explained that a recent example of this is our involvement in the Nigeria Zero Hunger strategic review (see related story).
He was warmly welcomed by DDG Kenton Dashiell, Partnerships for Delivery. The new German envoy was very much interested in IITA’s work and how the Institute’s research efforts
The party of two was then taken on a tour of IITA facilities including the Genetic Resources Center, BioScience Center, Business Incubation Platform, and the Youth in Agribusiness projects.
DDG Kenton Dashiell briefs the German Ambassador on IITA’s projects and activities.
IITA is Open Access! This is Open Access Week! IITA joins the celebration of this global event, now on its eighth year (http://www.cgiar.org/ consortium-news/open-access-week/). Open Access Week provides an opportunity for the academic and research community to learn about the potential benefits of Open Access,
to share what they learn with colleagues, and to help inspire wider participation in helping to make Open Access a new norm in scholarship and research (from OpenAccessWeek.org). #IITA50 The CGIAR Systems Organization Communication Office has featured
IITA’s story on the website: http://ow.ly/ qKKl305Akti. These are some of the Open Access resources available: OA General Brochure, OA for Communicators, OA for Project Managers, OA for Researchers, OA Poster 1, OA Poster 2, OA Poster 3.
We are Open Access! IITA Communication and Knowledge Management staff in Ibadan.
Announcements • Visit of the Nigerian Senate Committee on Agriculture, IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria, 30-31 October. • First Regional Cocoa Symposium, IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria, 8–10 November. More details available here. • IITA Open Day, IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria, 12 November. • Marketplace Event, Humidtropics, IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria, 15–17 November. • P4D (Partnerships for Delivery) Week, IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria, 21–25 November. • 7th International Nitrogen Initiative Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 4–8 December. More details available here. Got a story to share? Please email it with photos and captions every Wednesday to Katherine Lopez (k.lopez@cgiar.org), Jeffrey T. Oliver (j.oliver@cgiar.org), Catherine Njuguna (c.njuguna@cgiar.org), or Adaobi Umeokoro (a.umeokoro@cgiar.org).
IITA Bulletin 2351
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