IITA Bulletin No. 2164

THE

BULLETIN

Issue No. 2164

18-22 March 2013

IITA Tanzania gears up for the science building inauguration IITA-Tanzania is abuzz as it prepares for the launch of the institute’s new science building slated 13 May. The hub hosted visits from a high-powered delegation from the Tanzanian Agriculture Ministry and IITA’s Deputy Director General (R4D).

The hub management has also been making courtesy calls to embassies of neighboring countries to finalize plans for the event.

Last month, the hub received a highlevel delegation from the Tanzanian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives (MAFC) consisting of 12 directors who toured the nearly completed science building and held discussions with the hub staff on the inauguration plans.

The delegation was received by IITA R4D Director for Eastern Africa Victor Manyong. He briefed the visitors on IITA and its research-for-development activities especially in Tanzania where it has made great strides in boosting cassava production through breeding of improved varieties, controlling pests and diseases, and promoting value addition. He thanked the team for their support towards the planning of the inauguration of the science building, noting that the two institutions have a very good working relationship.

The Tanzanian team, led by Director for Research and Development, Fidelis Myaka, also thanked the institute for its hospitality and assured IITA of their support to ensure the success of the inauguration.

The team included the Directors of Training, Irrigation Services, and

Left photo (from left): IITA’s Catherine Njuguna, Eveline Odiambo, and Adebayo Abass with the Kenyan High Commissioner. Right photo: Digna Swai (left), a research technician, shows DDG Ylva Hillbur an ongoing research at the IITA laboratory in Kibaha.

Procurement and Management; Acting Director for Seed Certification, Assistant Directors for Crop Development, Crop Monitoring and Early Warning, and Crop Research and Mechanization. Other guests included the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Certification Officer, Seed Certification Agency, Officer in Charge of Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute and the Principal Cooperation Officer.

Diplomatic visits. Related to this, Dr Manyong also visited four ambassadors from neighboring countries to follow up on IITA’s invitation to their presidents to the inauguration event.

These include the embassies of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.

The visit to the DRC and Rwanda Embassies took place on 12 and 15 March, respectively, and were led by Dr Manyong; the visits to the Ugandan

Mohammed Arman (in white shirt), who is overseeing the construction of the science building, and R4D Director Victor Manyong (extreme right) take the directors from the Tanzanian Agriculture Ministry on a tour of the Dar facilities.

and Kenyan Embassies on 18 and 19 March, respectively, were led by Dr Adebayo Abass, acting Director in the absence of Manyong.

IITA officials met with DRC’s Ambassador Juma Mpango, Kenya’s Ambassador Mutinda Mutiso, Rwandese Ambassador Ben Rugangazi, and Uganda’s Ambassador Norah Lema Katabarwa.

The IITA delegation was warmly received and given invaluable advice on planning for the participation of the various heads of states and on diplomatic issues. All the ambassadors assured the team of their support.

IITA DDG in Tanzania. IITA-Tanzania also received DDG (R4D) Ylva Hillbur who was in the country for a two-day familiarization visit, 6-8 March. She met with all the IITA scientists as a group and held one-on-one discussions with each one to learn about their research activities and how she can support them.

Dr Hillbur was warmly welcomed by the hub staff led by Dr Manyong.

As part of her tour, she paid a courtesy call on MAFC R&D Director Myaka, accompanied by Dr Manyong.

The DDG presented a seminar to all staff and partners on “R4D--the way forward” where she outlined the current R4D status at IITA including its funding situation and how it was realigning its research activities to fit into the CGIAR Research Programs.

Dr Hillbur also visited the hub’s laboratories and field trials at the Sugarcane Research Institute at Kibaha, 40 km from Dar es Salaam, and the plot at Kwembe given by the Government of Tanzania for a token fee. The institute intends to put up a training center here for youths in agriculture that will include experimental fields, valueaddition units, classrooms, and hostels for the trainers and trainees.

The IITA Bulletin is produced by the Communication Office. For more information, please email: Katherine Lopez (k.lopez@cgiar.org), Jeffrey T. Oliver (o.jeffrey@cgiar.org), Godwin Atser (g.atser@cgiar.org), or Catherine Njuguna ( c.njuguna@cgiar.org).

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IITA and ISABU organize coffee stakeholders’ workshop in Burundi A workshop was organized by IITA and the Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Burundi (ISABU) for coffee stakeholders on 14 March at Hotel Chandelier, in Burundi.

The meeting was attended by major stakeholders in the coffee sector including IITA, ISABU, InterCaffé, ARFIC, CNAC, FLORESTA, ADISCO, and CNAC consultant to the World Bank.

Coffee production is constrained by challenges such as low productivity resulting from poor agronomic practices, pests and diseases, climate change, and price fluctuation. Hence, the workshop aimed to catalyze a platform of stakeholders and reflect on innovations to increase coffee productivity and quality. Dr Bernard Vanlauwe, IITA R4D Director for Central Africa, welcomed participants and highlighted the importance of coffee in the Burundi economy.

Research on sound intercropping practices, rejuvenation of fields, and training on good management are essential components to address the key challenges, he said. Mr Dieudonné Nahimana, director general of ISABU, gave an update on research in improving the coffee sector in his opening remarks. Dr Piet van Asten, IITA Systems Agronomist, presented on opportunities to intensify coffee systems to improve income and

resilience: coffee banana intercropping with evidence from national statistics and individual plantations in the Great Lakes region. Mr Gilbert Nduwayo, head of industrial crops at ISABU, presented on the current state of coffee and a roadmap for intervention via integrated pest management (IPM), improved cultural practices, and production of a technical guide for producers. He also highlighted

the importance of coffee in Burundi, institutional strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the coffee sector. The meeting allowed time for interaction and discussion.

Participants came out more informed about the status of coffee in Burundi and the opportunities for innovations to increase productivity and quality.

Participants also agreed to develop a joint proposal and mobilize support.

Participants at the coffee stakeholders’ workshop.

Japan, IITA, and ABUAD in joint efforts to help farmers The Japanese Embassy in Nigeria has agreed to join efforts with IITA and the Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) to help farmers.

To demonstrate their commitment, the three institutions signed a memorandum of understanding to improve cassava production and processing for Agbekoya farmers in Ekiti state.

Specifically, IITA will provide the Ekiti State Chapter of Agbekoya Farmers Association, with 600 bundles of improved cassava cuttings. In addition, IITA will provide 30 Agbekoya farmers with training in the use of cassava processing machines and 10 Agbekoya farmers on the maintenance of cassava processing machines.

The Japanese Embassy, on the other hand, will provide two cassava processing centers for the farmers while ABUAD would provide monitoring/ training services.

At the signing of the agreement in Ibadan on Monday, Dr Kenton Dashiell, IITA Deputy Director General (Partnerships & Capacity Development), expressed optimism that the collaboration would contribute to improve the livelihoods of cassava farmers, especially women and youth who play a pivotal role in cassava processing.

Dr Dashiell noted that the development of cassava along the value chain is critical for Africa to unleash the potential of the root crop.

“To make cassava work for the poor, we need to produce and also process it into products such as gari, fufu, high quality cassava flour, etc. We believe that value addition through processing is an important aspect for us to advance

the potential of cassava,” Dr Dashiell said.

According to him, the project in Ekiti will contribute in several ways: it will create jobs, improve incomes, open new markets for farmers, and improve the Nigerian economy.

The Ambassador, Embassy of Japan in Nigeria, His Excellency Mr Ryuichi Shoji said that the provision of cassava processing centers with the collaboration of farmers was part of efforts to support the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the Nigerian government. He also thanked IITA for its contribution to ensuring the success of the project, adding that the project would alleviate poverty and enhance food security.

The President General of the Agbekoya Farmers, Kamorudeen Aremu Okikiola, commended IITA, the Japanese Embassy, and ABUAD for their support to farmers. He called on other development and research organizations in Nigeria to emulate the intervention.

Prof Sidi Osho, Vice Chancellor of ABUAD, called on the farmers to actively participate in the project and to ensure that the efforts by IITA, ABUAD, and the Japanese Embassy do not go in vain.

ABUAD, the Japanese Embassy in Nigeria, and IITA sign a memorandum of agreement with farmers from Ekiti State, Nigeria 2

USAID commends work by Africa-RISING in Malawi On 18 March, a combined delegation from the USAID Country Mission in Malawi and a team from the Integrating Nutrition in Value Chains (INVC) visited Dedza, one of the sites of the IITA-led Africa-RISING project, to see how the initiative is doing in terms of introducing new technologies to support smallholder households in sustainably intensifying farming systems for improved food, nutrition, and income security.

In Dedza, the USAID team met with different project stakeholders and partners that included farmers, extension staff, and district agriculture officers. One of them was Farmer Chiyembekezo Chayera, who owns a mother trial field. Here, he tests sustainable intensification technologies espoused by Africa-RISING, particularly rotation and mixtures of cereal grains with bushy legumes, and diversification of crop production.

Asked why he joined the project, he replied that he does not want his family to experience hunger again.

“I have a lot of hope in the new technologies introduced by AfricaRISING. Through them I expect to harvest more from a small piece of land. I have planted 12 different types of crops that I expect will give me a bumper harvest considering the current crop stand. Many other farmers are coming to learn from my field,” Chiyembekezo proudly says.

Chiyembekezo is growing maize, cowpea, groundnut, and soybean, among other crops.

Chiyembekezo also wanted to grow pigeon peas, but he does not have access to seeds as the crop is mainly grown in the southern part of Malawi.

He was hoping that the project will be able to help him get seeds.

Mr Owen Kumwenda, District Agricultural Development Officer (DADO) for Dedza, lauded the project’s approach in preserving soil fertility and increasing profits for farmers. However, he sees the availability of markets as the main constraint, describing middlemen and vendors as people who are pulling farmers down by offering low prices for their produce.

John Edgar, Deputy Team Leader for Sustainable Economic Growth

of USAID who led the delegation, expressed high hopes that AfricaRISING in Malawi will achieve a lot in complementing and stepping up efforts for the right type of technologies for soil nitrogen improvement of which USAID has keen interest in. Edgar also acknowledged the project staff and the farmers for their efforts.

“We must come to an understanding on how we can work together to make this a success. I am sure we will be able to come up with the modalities considering that there might be other organizations in the catchment. I am impressed with the approach taken here and with the activities I have seen.

I hope there will be more farmers who will learn from this and implement,” Edgar said.

Farmer Chiyembekezo explaining activities on his mother trial farm to USAID and INVC visitors.

Unleashing the potential of Innovative Agriculture for Food Security in sub-Saharan Africa Sub-Saharan Africa holds great potential for world food supply and stem the rising food insecurity but the untapped vast agricultural and human resources have continued to threaten this potential.

Researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders say unlocking the

IARSAF Pesident Christian Nwadili emphasized the need for capacity development for youths to take advantage of opportunities in the agricultural sector.

potential of agriculture in Africa holds several benefits including the provision of food for the growing population and job creation for youths.

At the 16th annual symposium of the International Association of Research Scholars and Fellows (IARSAF) held at IITA, Ibadan, on 14 March, with the theme ‘Exposing the Potentials of Innovative Agriculture for Food Security in sub-Saharan Africa,’ Dr Kenton Dashiell, IITA Deputy Director General, Partnerships and Capacity Development, noted that innovative and youth-oriented agribusiness could transform and turn the very many challenges in agriculture into opportunities.

Dr Dashiell, representing the Director General, Dr Nteranya Sanginga, observed that there were great opportunities for youth to start small businesses in seed production, input supply, weed control, processing etc.

The youth, he said, could also participate as farmers, using modern farming methods that are less laborintensive to increase yields and income.

In a keynote address, the Managing Director of Thai Farm International 3

Ltd., Mr Louw Burger, called for a more friendly land ownership system that would grant investors easy access to land. Mr Burger also emphasized the need for easy access to capital.

Prof J.A. Odebiyi, Vice Chancellor, Achievers University, Owo, Nigeria, said there was the need for a holistic approach in food supply.

Speaking on the topic, “Integrated Pest Management and environmental sustainability,” Prof Odebiyi noted that the increasing influence of climate change particularly in sub-Saharan Africa has implications, for example, the changing agroecological systems resulting in shifts in agricultural pests’ dynamics and cropping pattern. He said that biological control of insects and other important biotic constraints remained a viable and reliable tool in IPM which government should support.

The president of IARSAF, Mr Christian Nwadili, emphasized the need for capacity development for youths to take advantage of opportunities in the agricultural sector, which holds promise to the development in Africa.

IITA International School pupils persuade staff to quit smoking For more than one hour, pupils of the IITA International School held the attention of staff in Ibadan with a strong campaign on the dangers of smoking.

They warned staff to quit smoking, emphasizing that 45,000 people die each year in Nigeria due to smokingrelated illnesses and over 1,000 of them from ‘second-hand smoking.’

The campaign, which is part of the Grade 4 academic exercise, aims to save some of the over 1.22 billion people that have been held captive by smoking.

The children counseled that there are lots of problems attached to smoking, which include problems in breathing, wrinkles on the skin, smell of stale tobacco, loss of sense of taste and smell, and waste of financial resources. “Every

IITA International School pupils conduct a “Stop smoking” campaign with staff in the campus.

year, hundreds of thousands of people around the world die from diseases caused by smoking and when inhaled, nicotine first goes to the lungs and bloodstream. It has a powerful effect on the brain and the central nervous system; half of these deaths occurs in middle age,” they added.

Cigarettes, they said, contain over 4000 toxic chemicals, 50 of which are known to cause cancer. Also, tobacco contributes to a number of cancers.

“30% of all cancer deaths are due to smoking; half of all smokers will die from smoking-related sicknesses,” they warned.

The position of the children was supported by Dr Samson Adeleke, Head of IITA Clinic. He warned that staying in an environment where people smoke has negative implications on someone’s health because one breathes in the smoke from both ends and that makes it more harmful.

Grade 4 teacher, Miss Omolara Salako advised both the staff and the pupils never to engage in smoking--either real smoking or second-hand smoking. “It is never too late to stop smoking to gain health benefits. To those with heart disease, your outlook is more improved if you stop smoking,” she said. She reminded the audience of the slogan ‘Smokers are liable to die young.’

CGIAR Consortium Monitoring Team in IITA

Welcome!

A two-person CGIAR Consortium Monitoring Team led by Gerard O’ Donoghue, the new Director of Finance and Corporate Services at the CGIAR Consortium Office, and Bruce Fraser, visited IITA recently to monitor the implementation of the financial plan IITA submitted last December.

This is the second monitoring visit to

Daniel Brain Akakpo joined the Africa RISING Project - Ghana this month as a Research Associate. He is a graduate of the University of Ghana, Legon where he obtained both his BSc and MPhil degrees in Crop Science.

He served as a teaching assistant at the Department of Crop Science, University of Ghana, and then joined an NGO called the Development Institute (D.I) as a Senior Project Officer – Agriculture Value Chain.

At D.I he worked on some major projects such as:“Adaptation to Climate Change – Ghana Case” (ADAPTS) financed by the Dutch Government and “Improving the Implementation of the Ghana Fertilizer Subsidy Programme” financed by the Alliance for a Green Revolution for Africa (AGRA).

Prior to joining IITA, Mr Akakpo also worked briefly for Calli Ghana Limited as a Cocoa Agronomist. Mr Akakpo is a member of the Ghana Policy Hub established by AGRA and other Civil Society Platforms and Networks. He enjoys swimming and reading as hobbies.

IITA. The team met with DG Nteranya Sanginga and other IITA staff.

According to O’ Donoghue there are indications that things are in good shape in IITA. He further said that he is pleased with the result of the financial monitoring visit.

The team also took the opportunity to tour IITA’s facilities.

The CGIAR Consortium Monitoring Team in a dinner hosted by DDGs Kwame AkuffoAkoto (Corporate Services, middle, in white shirt) and Kenton Dashiell (Partnerships and Capacity Development, third from right). Others in photo (L-R) are Kwesi AttahKrah, Toyin Oke, Jim Scott, Gerry O’ Donoghue, Solomon Ogunade, Bruce Fraser, Omoshalewa Sholola, Eric Koper, Hilde Koper, and Bukky Adeyemo.

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