Senators laud IITA’s efforts in improving crop productivity

L-R--Mrs Titi Falade (IITA) and IITA DDG, Dr Kenton addressing senators

Nigeria's senators have commended the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) for excellent scientific research, which has resulted in increase in agricultural productivity and improved livelihoods for farmers.

Also the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike wants stronger ties with IITA to help serve Nigeria, in particular, and Africa in general.

Members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture who paid a courtesy visit to IITA were unanimous that research and development efforts by IITA were major factors that have made Nigeria a global leader in cassava, cowpea and yam production.

“I must commend the work that you are doing to improve agriculture… We are impressed and glad with the role you are playing— not just in Nigeria but also in Africa,” the Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha said.

Senator Bwacha, who was received by the Deputy Director General (Partnerships and Capacity Development), Dr Kenton Dashiell on Tuesday, called for more support and attention to international agricultural research, adding that such efforts were needed to further advance the dissemination of technological innovations at the research centre to farmers.

Dr Dashiell thanked the senate delegation for the visit to IITA. He pledged that IITA would continue to play the role of improving food security in tropical nations with the aim of increasing agricultural productivity, creating wealth and, more importantly, reducing poverty.

In another related development, the Executive Director of NRCRI, Dr Julius Okonkwo has said that a stronger partnership between IITA and NRCRI is necessary to boost agriculture.

Dr Okonkwo said that past experiences underscored the necessity for more collaboration between the two institutions, citing that joint efforts between IITA and NRCRI led to the release of 41 improved cassava varieties.

“These varieties have contributed in making Nigeria the world's largest producer of cassava,” Dr Okonkwo said during a courtesy visit to IITA in Ibadan.

“Besides cassava, another milestone the two institutes have achieved over the years is the development of and release of 17 improved yam varieties,” he added.

Collaboration between IITA and NRCRI began as far back as the 1970's.

Dr Okonkwo who met with the Director General of IITA, Dr Nteranya Sanginga; and Dr Dashiell said NRCRI was proud to be associated with IITA.

He noted that scientists from NRCRI had benefited a lot from IITA's capacity building programs.

As a global leader in crop improvement, IITA devotes its resources to crop research, natural resource management, partnerships and capacity building. Traditionally, IITA's work was concentrated on cassava, yam, cowpea, soybean, banana and plantain, maize and cocoa. However, the refined strategy of the Institute offers the opportunity to expand to other crops with the ultimate aim of reducing poverty in tropical nations.