IITA Cassava Weed Management Project Engages Nigerian Engineers In Search For Mechanical Weed Control In Cassava Farming Systems

International and Nigerian engineers engaged by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture-led Cassava Weed Management Project have made significant progress in the adaptation of motorized mechanical weeders for cassava farming systems in Nigeria.

The team of engineers met 18-22 May 2015 at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan to brainstorm and modify motorized weeders recently imported by the IITA Cassava Weed Management Project for cassava farming systems.

Specifically, the team was mandated to:
• Evaluate the performance of the machines for general weeding and modify the machine as necessary with special focus on cassava farms.

• Establish performance and suitability of these machines for weeding generally with focus on cassava farms;

• Carry out any needed improvement to make the machines usable for cassava farms; and

• Modify all the available machines for demonstration.

At the end of the meeting, the team of engineers modified and adapted 14 motorized weeders to suite cassava farming systems in Nigeria. The machines are currently on field trials across four states of Nigeria—Benue, Oyo, Ogun and Abia state. Their performance will determine whether further modification is needed or not.

At the opening of the brainstorm meeting, Dr Alfred Dixon, Project Leader for the IITA Cassava Weed Management Project said the motorized mechanical weeders were aimed at providing farmers with a basket of options so they could tackle weeds more efficiently.

He urged the engineers to look beyond adaptation, and conceive the idea of developing African made motorized weeders that could tackle the problem of weeds on the continent.

Professor AbdulganiyuOlayinkaRaji of the University of Ibadan commended the IITA Cassava Weed Management Project for involving national partners in the program.

He recalled that the Nigerian made cassava flash dryer which has become a success story today also started with a similar invitation/convocation of experts by IITA.

“I am optimistic we will soon begin the fabrication of motorized mechanical weeders in Nigeria,” he said.

Last year, an inception workshop was organized by IITA Cassava Weed Management Project for engineers for the same purpose. The second meeting this year built on the progress made last year.

Participants were drawn from the IITA, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, University of Ibadan, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, University of Agriculture Makurdi, Federal University of Technology Akure, National Center for Agricultural Mechanization, National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike; Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Edo Agricultural Development Program and Niji Lukas (a private fabrication and agro allied firm).

CASSAVA WEED MANAGEMENT PROJECT ORGANISED A TRAIN OF TRAINERS WORKSHOP ON USE OF MECHANICAL WEEDERS IN IBADAN