Members NABG and IITA researchers group picture |
Research and innovations being developed at
the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) hold promise, and
could transform Nigeria’s agricultural narrative, says Nigeria’s agricultural
think-tank, the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG).
The team was puzzled and excited over the many
innovations that have been developed by researchers in IITA ranging from
improved seeds that could more than double farmers’ productivity, to technologies
that control weeds and double the yield of cassava, to simple processing
machines that add value to crops such as cowpea, cassava, and yam. Other
technologies such as inoculum production which raises the productivity of
legumes such as soybean by about 20 percent, and aflasafe—a biological control
product for managing aflatoxins—were also explored. The semi-autotrophic
hydroponics which is being used to produce thousands of clean seeds of clonal
crops such as cassava and yam, and the yam aeroponics—a system of growing clean
seed yam in the air—were also well received by the group.
After a series of presentations by IITA
researchers and a tour of the 1000-hectare research facility, Mr Ijewere
remarked, “The visit to IITA is an eye opener.”
“Yes, we knew that IITA was doing some things,
but little did we realize the extent and depth of what they have done… how far
they have gone, and how relevant they have become to Nigeria’s agriculture future,”
he added.
Located in Ibadan—about 150 kilometres from
the commercial city of Lagos, Nigeria, IITA was established 50 years ago with
the aim of providing solutions to constraints that plague Africa’s agriculture
and development.
In the last 7 years, IITA under the
leadership of Dr Nteranya Sanginga (Director General), has refreshed its
strategy with emphasis not just on research but also partnership building,
delivery, commercialization of technologies and dissemination of innovations, and
youth in agribusiness.
Mr Ijewere said the NABG would work with
IITA to see how the research outputs of the Institute in the last 50 years
could be ‘translated to money in the bank for resource-poor farmers.’
The President of NABG, Mr Sani Dangote, who
is also the Vice President of the Dangote Group said, “What we saw here (in
IITA) is amazing.”
Mr Dangote, who was represented by Mr. Baba
Girma said, “I never thought we have this in Nigeria. Before, we thought IITA
was only about research but what we saw today shows opportunities that can bring
synergy between what they (IITA) are doing and the private sector.”
Earlier, the Deputy Director General,
Partnerships for Delivery, Dr Kenton Dashiell, reiterated IITA’s commitment to
work with the private sector with the goal of improving the livelihoods of
millions of farmers in Africa.
The convener of the meeting, Dr Alfred
Dixon, Director for Development and Delivery at IITA, said IITA was glad for
the exploratory visit by NABG, and was willing to join forces with the group
towards eliminating poverty and hunger in Nigeria.
Dixon said the decision to collaborate with
NABG and other partners was aimed at paving the way for the rapid delivery of
IITA-developed technologies.
Researchers and staff who made
presentations at the meeting included Dr Robert Asiedu, West Africa Hub
Director; Dr Chrys Akem, Project Coordinator; Mr Frederick Schreurs, Chief
Executive Officer, IITA Business Incubation Platform; Dr Sam Ajala, Maize
Breeder; Dr Elizabeth Parkes, Cassava Breeder; Dr David DeKoeyer, Yam Breeder;
Dr Christian Fatokun, Cowpea Breeder; Prof. David Ojo, Soybean Breeder; Mr Oluwaseun
Adedeji, member, IITA Youth Agripreneurs; and Prof. Friday Ekeleme, Weed
Scientist. Others were Dr Norbert Maroya, Yam Breeder; Dr Peter Kolawole, Postharvest
Engineer; Dr Mary E. Deibiru, Scientist; Mr Wilson Igbaifua, Farm Manager; Mr
Oluwadare Odusanya, a youth agripreneur; Mr A. Alonge, NoduMax Specialist, and
Mr. B. Zeledon, Aflasafe Specialist.
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