Dr Nteranya Sanginga, Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has advised Nigeria to double investment in the agricultural sector. In addition, Dr Sanginga said this should be backed by a vibrant rural infrastructural network development. “No matter our good intentions, we will not see a transformation in agriculture if we continue…
Climate Change: African must build resilience
By Habimana Brian Participants at the high-level Africa Food Security Leadership Dialogue hosted by the Government of Rwanda in Kigali urged Africa to build resilience to respond to climate change. Africa’s food and agriculture sectors are among the most vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change. Small-holder farmers, small entrepreneurs, and their families, whose livelihoods depend…
Sustainable food and agriculture: IITA Youth Agripreneur program wins the 2019 International innovation award
The youth program of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has won the 2019 International Innovation Award for sustainable food and Agriculture. The award is in recognition of IITA’s commitment to improving both agribusiness opportunities and creditworthiness of youth across Africa. The award which is the first of its kind and funded by the Government…
What room for ruminants in a sustainable food future?
Leading scientists meet to assess the climate impact of the agri-food sector in a review of sustainable eating habits… In the climate change debate, the environmental footprint of agriculture is often under discussion, with much of the recent discourse around food focusing on the potential impact of cattle. However, not all information in circulation stands…
Obasanjo, Ajimobi launch accelerating agricultural research projects
Nigeria’s former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi on Saturday commissioned two key projects at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan— an Agricultural Transformation Building dedicated to research and delivery of innovations to farmers across Nigeria in particular and Africa in general, and a 10.5Km ring road…
Kenya drought: agriculture experts urge governments to deploy climate-resilient seeds
Agriculture experts from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) have called for an intensive scale-up of climate-resilient seeds and climate-smart innovations, including drought-tolerant seeds and soil and water conservation practices in Eastern Africa. The call comes against rising drought impacts in Kenya and other parts of East Africa. In Kenya, farmers are eager…
Body slums FAO’s agricultural model over biodiversity loss
The current industrial model of agriculture underpinning the global food system is destroying itself, and us with it: This is the conclusion that we can draw from the report released by the FAO State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture. The report provides some alarming details of the irreversible and catastrophic damage being…
Nigerian biotech body approves commercial release of genetically modified cowpea
The Nigerian Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has approved the commercial release of genetically modified, pest-resistant cowpea to farmers in Nigeria. The action is a culmination of more than two decades of research, field trials, and risk assessment by multiple organizations. This places the country on the path to becoming the first country ever to cultivate…