African coffee farmer at work
The Japanese Government has praised the Nigerian based International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on its recent research breakthrough in root and tuber crops which has produced several innovative outputs such as the propagation of yam through vine cuttings.
This fact was made known by the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Toshitsugu Uesawa, who was represented by Mr. Shigeru Hamano, at the commissioning of Japan-assisted projects in IITA-Abuja station adding that IITA’s efforts have contributed toward sustainable development of agriculture in developing countries.
Partners Called to Support Yam Research
He thereby called for more action from partners to support yam research noting that the Institute’s research efforts are consequently contributing to reducing poverty, increasing food production, and also improving livelihoods in rural communities.
Mr. Uesawa observed that IITA’s role has been great despite the strides it has made and that the envoy feels that more attention should be given to yam research to prevent the threats of food crises in Africa.
According to him: “Root and tuber crops provide a veritable cushion in times of food crises in Africa and tapping the potential of these crops will result in high payoffs in the region.”
In his own contribution, the IITA Yam Physiologist, Dr. Hidehiko Kikuno, called on farmers to tap the available agricultural innovations from IITA and also to maximize the use of the facilities.
Dr. Kikuno, who has successfully propagated yam through vine cuttings, demonstrated to farmers the practicability of the technology. He explained that for yam production, seeds constitute between 30 and 50 percent of production cost and that the propagation ratio is low (1:5-10) using traditional methods.
“But with the vine propagation technique, the propagation rate would be high with a possibility to reduce the cost of seed yam.”
Also speaking during the even, a staff, Department of Crop Science, University of Abuja, Dr. Beatrice Aighewi said the IITA station in Abuja was strategic especially for capacity building of students in universities around the north central zone and farmers.
She said the facility would be used for teaching and research, adding that “it would in the long run improve the fortunes of Nigeria’s agriculture.”
The Government to Mobilize Farmers
A top official in the Federal Capital Territory, Shuibu Adamu, said the government would mobilize farmers to tap the benefits of the facilities especially as it relates to processing adding that the knowledge to be acquired from the projects would help farmers in cutting down post-harvest losses, which affect all tuber crops. “With the processing center, the problem of storage of yam will be a thing of the past.”
Part of the facilities commissioned by the Japanese envoy included a root and tuber processing center with processing machines, soil preparation shade, and a screen house.
The projects were financed at a cost of over US$82,000 from the Japanese Grass Roots Project, which aims to improve the livelihoods of rural people.
About IITA
IITA as an international non-profit R4D organization was established in 1967, and it’s governed by a Board of Trustees, and supported primarily by the CGIAR. It develops agricultural solutions with its partners to tackle hunger and poverty.
Its award winning research for development (R4D) is based on focused, authoritative thinking anchored on the development needs of sub-Saharan Africa. The Institute works with partners in Africa and beyond to reduce producer and consumer risks, enhance crop quality and productivity, and also generates wealth from agriculture.
Source: http://www.iita.org/
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