Researchers working under the International Institute of
Tropical Agriculture led Cassava Weed Management Project (IITA-CWMP) will this
week share findings and recommendations on how to tackle weeds in cassava
farming systems.
The sharing of research findings is part of activities
marked for a week-long annual review and planning meeting and Steering
Committee meeting scheduled to hold 27-30 March 2017 at IITA in Ibadan.
“We are optimistic that the key findings from our research
will help farmers to tackle the problem of weeds in cassava, with the view to
having more yield,” says the Project Leader of IITA-CWMP, Dr Alfred Dixon, who
is also a Director with IITA on Monday.
Declaring the meeting open, Dr Kenton Dashiell, IITA Deputy
Director General, Partnership for Delivery, said the goal of the project was to
take off drudgery due to weeding in cassava farming systems.
“I am happy that this meeting will share findings that will
impact positively on weed control,” Dr Dashiell said.
Grown on about 7 million hectares, cassava is a major staple
in Nigeria and it has transited from a food security crop to a cash crop.
However, yield per ha of the root crop is about 8 tons per ha or less than half
the amount realized on research stations. One of the major factors affecting
the yield of cassava is weeds. Most of those involved in weeding are women and
children, often times skipping classes to assist in weeding in Nigeria.
In 2014, the Cassava Weed Management Project was conceived
to address the problem of weeds in cassava. The 5-year project which is
supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is exploring diverse weeds
control methods including the use of simple motorized implements, use of safe and
environmentally friendly herbicides, and the use of best-bet agronomic
practices.
This year, which is the fourth, researchers, will make
available findings of what has been done over the period.
Lawrence Kent of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
said the findings of the project would contribute to improvement of cassava
with positive impact on women and children who bear the burden of weeding in
cassava.
“Our major task in this meeting is to translate research
findings into recommendations that farmers can use to improve cassava farming
and their livelihoods,” he said.
Dr Dixon said the project is in an exciting phase. “This is
an exciting time for us… Because we are going to begin the sharing of new
findings to farmers and farmers will begin to benefit,” Dr Dixon said.
The IITA Cassava Weed Management Project is being
implemented in Nigeria by IITA in partnership with the National Root Crops
Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta,
University of Agriculture Makurdi, and the state-based Agricultural Development
Programs of Abia, Benue, Ogun, Oyo; and non-governmental organisations
including the Justice Development and Peace Movement (JDPM) in Oyo and
Abeokuta, and KOLPING in Abia.
For more information, please contact: Godwin Atser, g.atser@cgiar.org, Communication &
Knowledge Exchange Expert.
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