The Cassava Weed Management Project |
The Cassava Weed Management Project, which is being managed
by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), has signed a Memorandum
of Understanding with the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), an agency of
the Federal Government of Nigeria that ensures manufactured products entering
Nigerian market give the required degree of satisfaction to consumers through
compliance with government policies on standardization and conformity
assessment.
The SON also ensures that goods imported into the country
meet the minimum requirements of industrial standards or any other approved
international standards. The MoU seeks to establish a link to foster cooperation for
the development and implementation of collaborative programs while highlighting
the framework for the partnership between both organizations.
Areas covered in the MoU include exchange of scientific
information and developing specific cooperative programs and projects,
especially in the areas of standardization. Linkages between IITA and SON
scientists were also listed.
Dr Alfred Dixon, Project Leader, IITA Cassava Weed
Management Project, described the signing of the MoU as a remarkable milestone
in efforts to help address the problem of weeds in cassava farms in Nigeria.
“The weed challenge is a huge task and we need all hands to
be on deck to solve this problem,” he added.
Launched in 2014, the IITA Cassava Weed Management Project
is employing the use of best-bet agronomic practices, mechanical weed control
options, use of environmentally friendly herbicides, and the integration of the
three options to control weeds.
So far, the project has procured, and is adapting mechanical
weeders in collaboration with Nigerian engineers. Once completed, local
fabricators will be trained on the fabrication of those weeders for onward
dissemination to farmers.
Prof Friday Ekeleme, Principal Investigator, IITA Cassava
Weed Management Project said; “Our goal is to help farmers control weeds and
improve the productivity of cassava.” The IITA Cassava Weed Management Project is implemented in
Nigeria by IITA in collaboration with the National Root Crops Research
Institute (NRCRI), Umudike; Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, and the
University of Agriculture Makurdi. Other partners include the Agricultural
Development Programs of Abia, Benue, Ogun and Oyo State.
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