IITA Bulletin No. 2144

THE

BULLETIN

Issue No. 2144 29 Oct –2 Nov 2012

IITA joins experts to map a Green Revolution for Africa …Melinda Gates notes value of IITA’s research on cassava diseases The African Green Revolution Forum held recently in Arusha, Tanzania, brought together the ‘who’s who’ in African agriculture, from the private, public and nonprofit sector, to strategize on how the continent can achieve food security and fight poverty through the transformation of its agricultural sector.

The importance of research activities in fighting deadly cassava diseases was acknowledged by Melinda Gates, Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in her speech during the official opening of the forum. Stressing the importance of agricultural research, Mrs Gates said farmers were relying on the findings of cutting-edge research that come from organizations such as IITA to find solutions to cassava brown streak and cassava mosaic disease and increase their production of the crop.

IITA helps farmers and processors by adding value to cassava

IITA top management visit Nairobi Station DG Nteranya Sanginga, accompanied

by Mrs Charlotte Sanginga and DDG (Partnerships and Capacity Development) Ken Dashiell, visited the IITA–Nairobi stations on 25 October.

At a luncheon hosted by Dr Dashiell, they interacted with staff and students stationed in the separate campuses of ILRI and icipe. It was the first time that staff based at the two centers got to interact since the office of the IITA Central Africa hub was established at icipe early this year.

Dr Bernard Vanlauwe, R4D Director, Central Africa hub, warmly welcomed the party to Nairobi, and requested IITA staff from ILRI and icipe to have more interaction in future.

In his address to staff, Dr Sanginga expressed his gratitude for the good work the staff are doing. “Do not always ask

what IITA can do for you but what you can do for IITA, as this is the spirit that should be embraced by the entire IITA community to achieve exemplary results that contribute to better livelihoods for farmers in Africa,” said Dr Sanginga. He concluded by announcing that IITA would soon enhance its presence in Kenya with a launch event slated for next year.

In his speech, Dr Dashiell reiterated the important role that each staff plays towards achieving the Institute’s goal. “In your daily work always remember that everything you do is aimed at improving the lives of farmers all over Africa.” He concluded that IITA management is always willing to support and provide staff with all the necessary tools, including capacity building, needed to enable them to achieve IITA’s mission.

IITA-Kenya office staff from the two campuses, ILRI and icipe, got together when the DG recently visited Nairobi.

The forum was held 26–28 September, and was graced by H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania. Other dignitaries included Kofi Anan, president of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and former United Nations Secretary General, and various agriculture ministers from African countries including Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Nigerian and the Republic of South Sudan, and members of parliament.

IITA’s Director for East Africa, Dr Victor Manyong, was one of the panelists in a session on value addition and markets for staple food crops where he shared IITA’s experience in adding value to cassava to reduce postharvest losses and generate income for farmers. Dr Bernard Vanlauwe, IITA’s Director for Central Africa, was also present. The institute also organized an exhibition to showcase its R4D activities.

IITA welcomes Dr Girma Taye Aweke Dr Girma Aweke has joined IITAIbadan team as the Head of Biometrics and Statistics Unit.

Dr Aweke received his B.Sc. in Statistics (with Economics) from Addis Ababa University in 1986.

He obtained his M.Sc. and Ph.D. both in Biometry from the University of Reading, UK in 1992 and University of KwazuluNatal, South Africa in 2006, respectively.

Prior to his appointment, he was a Biometrician with CIMMYT (2011 to 2012). He was also the Senior Researcher and Biometrics, GIS and Agrometeorology Research Program Coordinator with the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization (and EIAR) from September 1986 to July 2011.

Dr Aweke, an Ethiopian citizen, is married to Yeworkwoha and has two children. He lives at no. 4, Guildway Drive. His office is in building 401, room 3G with telephone no. 2685.

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IITA-MIRACLE builds capacity of cassava stakeholders in Swaziland As part of its efforts to promote cassava and help ensure food security in Swaziland through crop diversification, the IITAMIRACLE Project trained 26 beneficiaries and partners on various aspects of variety selection, production, seed multiplication, and pest and disease management. The course was held on 2–4 October at the Malkerns Agricultural Research Station.

“Swaziland can no longer continue relying on just maize as a staple as it is prone to the vagaries of climate change,” said Dr Vusumuzi Mkhonta, Acting Head of the station and guest of honor during the opening of the training. “Diversifying into crops like cassava is important for food security because of its resilience to harsh conditions.”

“I also urge you to help erase the notion that Swazi people are ‘against’ eating cassava,” added Dr Mkhonta, pertaining to the common misconception that the local people do not like the root crop and, therefore, do not value it.

The training participants (19 men and 7 women) comprised of IITA-MIRACLE lead farmers and staff from the Ministry of Agriculture, various partner NGOs, the

Swaziland National Nutrition Council, and CARITAS. The course was facilitated by Ms Phetsile Shiba, MIRACLE Coordinator for Swaziland; Mr Cinisani Tfwala, Agricultural Research Officer for Root and Tuber Crops in Swaziland; Dr Pheneas Ntawuruhunga, Participants at the MIRACLE-Swaziland training workshop on PVS, Cassava Breeder; cassava production, pest and disease management with Dr Mkhonta and Mr Chris Moyo, (third from right).

Research Associate be immediately imparted to cassava for Cassava Breeding, IITA-Malawi. farmers, starting with those participating The 3-day course covered cassava in the Project. Among the topics they production, agronomic practices, seed identified as a priority that should be multiplication techniques, participatory varietal selection (PVS), and cassava and sweet addressed before the planting season are knowledge on PVS and controlling pests potato pest and disease management. and diseases.

The participants indicated that it is important that the knowledge they gained

Africa RISING West Africa holds review and annual planning meeting About 60 collaborators and partners involved in the USAID-funded project on ‘Sustainable Intensification of Cereal-Based Farming Systems in the Guinea Savannah Zone of West Africa’ (Africa RISING - West Africa) met in Tamale, Ghana, for a review and planning workshop on 23-25 October.

The three-day workshop looked at the status

and expected outputs of quick-win activities in cereal (maize, rice, and sorghum)-legume (soybean, cowpea and groundnut)-based systems in Mali and Ghana. Participants also worked in groups to plan and develop a demand-driven research agenda for years 2-5.

A final research agenda is under preparation and should be available by early 2013.

Partners and collaborators of Africa RISING West Africa came together for a meeting in Tamale, Ghana, in October.

Obituary

Desny Bishop and Audrey Rinde pass on Desny Bishop, former teacher with IITA International School and wife of the Head of Facilities Management Service, Mr Rod Bishop; and Audrey Rinde, Personal Assistant to former IITA DG, Dr Herb Albrecht (19681975), have passed away.

Desny died on 20 October in South Africa from an illness. She first came to IITA in

2000 and later joined the International School in 2008. She will always be remembered for her graciousness, lovely dance moves and choreographies, and her contributions to the women’s group and campus life.

Audrey passed away on 20 September, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from bone cancer. She always considered her time at IITA as the high point of her life, according to sister Helen.

If anyone would like to get in touch with Audrey’s family, write to Helen R. Turner, Apt. 318, 8430 Pennsylvania Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55428. Rod can be reached through rg.bishop@ cgiar.org.

Key stakeholders attend farmers’ field day in IITAAbuja station Key stakeholders in the agricultural sector that include farmers, policymakers, and the private sector, converged in IITA-Abuja station for a farmers’ field day on 13 September.

This farmers’ field day, which was organized with the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) gave farmers, agro-allied industrialists, agricultural financiers, and researchers the opportunity to share ideas for a more productive agricultural sector.

In his opening speech, DG Dr Nteranya Sanginga—represented by the Abuja Station Manager, Mr Francis Adunoye, commended the FCT government for their support and encouraged farmers to make use of the rare opportunity given them by having an international agricultural research organization such as IITA in their locality.

Mrs Olvadi Bema Madayi, the secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, also echoed this when she said that local farmers should harness the best global agricultural practices that the field day has to offer in the areas of yam, maize, cowpea, and soybean production. Mrs Madayi reiterated the CT administration’s commitment to continue to assist IITA.

Mrs Olvadi Bema Madayi of the Agriculture and Rural Development at the farmer’s field day in IITA-Abuja.

The IITA Bulletin is produced by the Communication Office. For comments and/or contributions, please email: Jeffrey T. Oliver (o.jeffrey@cgiar.org), Godwin Atser (g.atser@cgiar.org), or Catherine Njuguna (c.njuguna@cgiar.org).