Articles in the Best Practice Category
IITA recognizes that close collaboration with partner organizations is essential for the optimum use of resources and knowledge; access to cutting-edge science and technologies; mutual learning; and for making a positive impact on the livelihoods of poor farmers.
A series of impact studies in Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo provides evidence that IITA’s R4D work does have an impact on small-scale farmers.
Read how the IITA-Leventis forest restoration project in Ibadan is promoting conservation and raising awareness about the need to protect our forests, especially among the young.
IITA scientists have devised an easy method of killing nematodes, which cause annual losses of millions of dollars, in banana suckers—immersing them in boiling water for 20-30 seconds!
Commercial production of a simple biocontrol product called aflasafe™, developed by IITA and collaborators, may be the solution to the recalcitrant problem of aflatoxin contamination in important food products, such as maize and groundnuts.
Banana/Plantain Breeder Bi Irie Vroh explains how IITA produces clean planting materials of banana for distribution to partners.
Virologist James Legg discusses how IITA and partners have put in place a rigorous new system called Quality Management Protocol to assure the health of cassava planting material through seed systems.
Plant Physiologist Hidehiko Kikuno describes the new technology of producing yam seed tubers. The technology combines growing vine cuttings on carbonized rice husks and in vitro micropropagation (tissue culture). It is quick, cost-effective, and results in clean planting materials.
IITA and partners continue to collaborate on research that would control the Maruca podborer, a major pest of cowpea in the field. IITA Legume Entomologist Manuele Tamò describes the ongoing work on developing this biocontrol technology.
Nigeria has released two new cowpea varieties for the savanaas. These improved varieties were developed by IITA and local partners to increase production and improve farmers’ income.