THE
BULLETIN
Issue No. 2147
19-23 November 2012
Humidtropics launched: Poor farm families in the humid tropics to boost their income from improved agricultural production systems The CGIAR Research Program on Integrated Systems for the Humid Tropics or Humidtropics was launched this week in a low-key ceremony marked by a tree planting by Dr Ylva Hillbur, Deputy Director General Research. Humidtropics, a major new researchfor-development program launched
this week, aims at increasing average farm income by 50% with 25% of poor households in the humid tropics lifted above the poverty line in the next 15 years. Research leading to production system intensification is expected to boost yields of staple crops and help to reduce the number of malnourished children by 30%.
Dr Ylva Hillbur, DDG-R4D, planting symbolic tree marking launch of the Humidtropics Program at IITA-Ibadan.
“Humidtropics helps farm families to make better decisions about making their living and living their lives while caring for the environment they cultivate,” says Dr Hillbur. Intensifying agriculture in the humid tropics offers the best potential to reduce poverty, especially among women and other vulnerable groups. The bulk of the rural poor reside in these areas, which are also associated with poor household nutrition and soil fertility depletion. Even so, the humid tropics are critical to global food supplies and meeting world food demand, central to the maintenance of global biodiversity, and vital to the mitigation of greenhouse gases. The 15-year innovative CGIAR research program will help poor farm families, mostly led by women, to boost their income from agriculture while conserving the land for future generations. The initial program participants include the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), International Potato Center (CIP), Bioversity International, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center, and Wageningen University.
IITA Eastern Africa hub to lead on pests and disease research in Africa, DG The IITA Eastern Africa hub is poised to become a leading research center and an information powerhouse on major pests and diseases attacking IITA crops in Africa once the state-of the-art science building is completed. According to the DG, Sanginga Nteranya, IITA’s vision is that “anyone looking for information and solutions to different pests and diseases of major crops in Africa would come to the hub and for researchers and students from all over the world to come to conduct their research in the well-equipped science building.” Sanginga was speaking recently at a meeting with the internationally recruited staff at the hub to update them on IITA’s immediate and future plans. He said the institute would continue with its strategy of strengthening the hubs with each having its area of specialization. The West Africa hub would focus on crop improvement and agribusiness, the Central
Africa hub on natural resource management, whereas the Southern Africa hub would be strong on diversification of maizebased systems to increase food security and resilience to climate change, and the Eastern Africa hub on pests and diseases. He added that Benin would be the institute’s center for biocontrol and climate change research. Sanginga further thanked L-R: James Legg, DG Sanginga, and Victor Manyong. all the scientists for their input into the new strategy document which was now Victor Manyong, the director for Eastern completed and would be presented to the board during its meeting next week. He said Africa thanked the DG for his visit to the hub and for keeping the staff well informed. the strategy document had been developed He further said the hub would take up the with inputs from everyone at IITA to create challenge to realize IITA’s vision. a sense of ownership and responsibility.
The IITA Bulletin is produced by the Communication Office. For more information, please email: Jeffrey T. Oliver (o.jeffrey@cgiar.org), Godwin Atser (g.atser@cgiar.org), or Catherine Njuguna ( c.njuguna@cgiar.org).
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Aflasafe SN01 excites groundnut stakeholders in Senegal and The Gambia IITA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), African Agriculture Technology Foundation (AATF), and other national partners are collaborating to develop and promote biological control for aflatoxin reduction in maize and groundnuts throughout Africa. In collaboration with Direction de la Protection des Vegétaux (DPV), these institutions have developed a biological control product, aflasafe SN01, specifically for Senegal. This product is all natural and is made from nontoxic Aspergillus flavus strains native to Senegal.
aflasafeTM inoculation in Senegal August 2010.
Trials of aflasafe SN01 thus far are encouraging—about 90% reduction of aflatoxin in groundnut was achieved by 80 farmers participating in field efficacy trials during 2010 and 2011 in the peanut basin of Senegal. In 2012, farmers in Gapakh village near Nioro carried out area-wide application of aflasafe SN01, treating all their groundnut fields (nearly 300 ha). To discuss key issues related to adoption and use of aflasafe SN01 in Senegal, USDA, DPV, IITA, and AATF organized three events: meeting with stakeholders (12-13 November), preregistration meeting of aflasafe SN01 (14 November), and field visits (15-16 November). Participants in these events were from agriculture, health and trade ministries of Senegal; growers’ organizations, groundnut processors, and research institutes in Senegal, The Gambia and Burkina Faso; biopesticides manufacturers; African Union Commission; USAID West Africa Regional Office in West Africa; USDA (Senegal, Nigeria, and Washington D.C.); and European Union. The stakeholder meeting started with opening remarks from the U.S. Ambassador to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau and the Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Equipment, Government of Senegal (represented by the Director of DPV).
‘Seeds of hope’ for flooded regions of Nigeria Areas hit by massive floods in Bayelsa region of Nigeria will benefit from seeds conserved in IITA’s genebank, as the Institute plans to assist farmers rebuild their livelihoods with new improved varieties. Described as the worst ever in recent times, the floods affected the homes and crops of thousands of farmers, threatening food security in the nation. “Our farmers lost almost everything and we need help,” says Dr Rodger Obubo, a top official with the Bayelsa State government who first contacted IITA Deputy Director General (Partnership & Capacity Development), Dr Kenton Dashiell for help. “The 2012 floods were extraordinary and caused a lot of devastation of farmlands and human habitation. Our people became refugees in their own land,” Obubo added.
Welcome! Dr Martin Yemefack joined IITA-Cameroon team as Visiting Scientist in charge of implementing the IITA Component of ASB-REALU Project. He studied Natural Sciences with Earth Science option till the BSc level at the University of Yaounde. In 1995, he obtained his MSc (with Distinction) in Soil Survey and Applications of Soil information for land evaluation using GIS and remote sensing techniques at the International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), Enschede (Netherlands) where he also graduated
Speakers from the Agriculture Ministry and medical institutes and growers’ organization from Senegal and The Gambia gave presentations on the importance of aflatoxin in Senegal and Gambia’s economy. Subsequently, aflasafeTM researchers provided updates on product development in Senegal and Burkina Faso. The participants from Senegal and The Gambia recommended actions for manufacturing and distribution of aflasafe SN01 to rejuvenate groundnut exports and improve the health of the Senegalese and Gambian people. Members of Comité Sahélien des Pesticides (CSP) from the Gambia, Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Niger provided guidance on the registration of aflasafe SN01 during the preregistration meeting. The field visit took place in Séssène et N’Goyé in Diourbel district and Barkéwél, Ndémène, and Gapakh villages in Kaolack districts. Farmers in these villages have been participating in the aflasafe SN01 efficacy trials (2010 to 2012) and explained their perceptions and experiences about using the product. In general, farmers expressed their satisfaction with the aflatoxin reduction already achieved through the use of aflasafe SN01 and remain convinced that the product will make their groundnuts aflatoxin safe.
Crops worst hit by the flood included cassava, plantain, yam, maize, and pawpaw which are major staples in the region. Genebank to the rescue: The IITA genebank holds the largest collection of cowpea varieties, and is also a major bank to Africa’s major crops: cassava, yam, soybean, maize, banana and plantain. In the recent past, the genebank has played a critical role in re-establishing farms in regions that have been hit by disasters such as civil wars and fire outbreaks. Dr Dashiell said, “IITA will do everything possible to cushion the effects of floods on victims.” On 14 November, an advanced team of IITA experts visited Bayelsa to determine the extent of damage in the region. Led by Dr Richardson Okechukwu, the team held meetings with the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Thomas Commander and
other officials and also visited affected areas. Both parties agreed to step up action to save the state from imminent food crisis. “We need to act and act fast to save these farmers from the food crisis,” says Dr Okechukwu. An immediate response demands IITA to send improved cassava cuttings, plantain, and maize to the state in the next one month. These crops are part of the food basket for the people of the state. More importantly, the maize varieties to be deployed are early maturing and will help farmers to recover and adjust quickly by offering them food on the table. Dr Commander said he was delighted to see the IITA team and expressed gratitude to the IITA Management for being responsive to the plea for help and for visiting the state.
in 2005, with a PhD Degree in Quantified Soil and Landscape Modelling. Dr Yemefack started his scientific working experience in 1986 within the soil survey research program at the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD). He is now a Senior Research Officer and part-time Senior Lecturer in Yaounde 1 and Dschang Universities. He is married to Berthe Florence Nouazi Ymele, and they have five children.
Certificates in farm planning and management (2007) and conservation farming (2008) from Monze College of Agriculture and Chipata, respectively. Prior to his appointment, he was a Senior Planner at the Ministry of Health. He worked also as a Senior Agricultural Officer (2008–2009) and Agricultural Officer (2006–2008) at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in Zambia. He has worked with Projects such as ASIP-EAST, an African Development Bank (ADB)funded project and the Agricultural Support Programme (ASP) funded by SIDA.
Mr Julius Manda has joined IITAMalawi, Lilongwe, Malawi, as APOAgricultural Economist. Mr Manda is a Zambian citizen. He obtained his MSc in Development Economics Major from Wageningen University and Research Centre, Netherlands in 2012 and BSc in Agriculture Sciences with a Major in Agricultural Economics from the University of Zambia in 2005. He holds
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