Kudos to IITA at 50

The deluge of encomiums that trailed the recent celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), from eminent citizens such as ex-presidents  retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo,( also an IITA Goodwill Ambassador), Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and several renowned scientists from across the globe is well deserved.

The auspicious occasion provided Osinbajo the opportunity to address more than 300 international, regional and national experts on food security. He also touched on Nigeria’s preparedness to diversify its economy, using agriculture as a lever for the desired improvement on the quality of life of the citizenry. The acting president’s message was aimed at assisting  the participants to understand the country’s agricultural development agenda much better.

In his view, Dr. Nteranya Sanginga, the IITA Director General designate said the world is waiting for Nigeria to take leadership in the agricultural space.Said he: “Since our inception 50 years ago, IITA has evolved into a strategic partner for research-for-development in sub-Saharan Africa with over 200 scientists working in over 18 countries. This event is therefore an opportunity for us to celebrate our past successes with all our partners, friends and beneficiaries. It is also to reflect on our future role in our efforts to transform agriculture in the next 50 years. ”

Good enough, the event showcased the giant strides made by IITA researchers in collaboration with a range of partners. These include adoption of almost 400 varieties of cassava with increased yields and better resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. There is the additional development of nearly 200 improved soybeans, and 78 improved yam varieties.

Besides, over 70% of the over 300 maize varieties with IITA germ-plasm and drought-tolerant maize developed in partnership with CIMMYT has been adopted in 13 countries with projected economic gains of US$907 million. Their impact on agriculture in the region in improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers is remarkable.

Impact has also been felt in improving nutrition through promoting legumes such as cowpea and soybean, developing bio-fortified yellow cassava with enhanced vitamin A and the effective and safe bio-control solution, Aflasafe, to control aflatoxins in maize and groundnut that is being rolled out in a number of countries.

IITA’s most conspicuous successes have been recorded in two principal areas: biological control of major insect pests and genetic improvement of key crops in its mandate. These have led to the distribution of planting material with better disease and pest resistance and improved yield potential. These possess greater stability of performance over diverse environments and better quality of products for the end users throughout the region. For instance, some activities, such as banana/plantain improvement, Striga research and IPM strategies are breaking new scientific ground and making a very practical contribution.

It is on record that IITA’ s success in banana research won it the King Baudouin Award in 1994. It has also made progress with its germ-plasm collections, its plant health management activities, and its leadership role in the emerging eco-regional initiatives.

IITA as a non-profit institution with the salutary aim to generate agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty and natural resource degradation has moved greatly in that direction.

That Africa’s largest agricultural  research institute has lived up to its marching mandate, both scientifically and in the managerial capability of those who have been piloting its affairs for the past five decades is stating it as it is. It has over the years worked assiduously with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa to improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment as well as preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.

It would be recalled that members of the 1990 External Review Panel admitted that: “We have been impressed by the dedication and energy with which the Board, management and staff of IITA have responded to the recommendations of the last External Review. We believe IITA is now well positioned to catalyze further agricultural research in sub-Saharan Africa in its mandated responsibility. The Panel concluded that IITA’s relevance to agricultural development in Africa remains as valid today as it was when it was created in 1967”.

Ever since, the institute has made positive impact through the international agricultural research for its mandated crops and agro-ecological regions. IITA’s research agenda reflects a balance between activities aimed at achieving immediate and medium-term productivity gains. These include post-harvest research as well as long-term sustainability of the agricultural resource base used for production.

The achievements have come from the Crop Improvement Division (CID), the Plant Health Management Division (PHMD) and the Resource and Crop Management Division (RCMD). Over the years emphasis has shifted from the Humid Forest to the Moist Savanna Zone, notably in the case of cassava, maize and yam. This is because the crops are in reality moving in that direction and the potential for maize production, in particular, is greater in the moist savanna.

Now, the future beckons but it would still be a mixed bag of more meaningful reasearches provide in countries with policy flip-flops on agriculture even as population and the rate of unemployment explode. This means that the non-agricultural sector would continue to be unable to provide gainful employment for the rapidly rising population. For Nigeria and severl African countries the onus will be on the agricultural sector to be one of the main contributors to economic growth, while national economies diversify and regional markets grow.

As rightly noted by some experts on agriculture in the coming years, as agriculture in the region begins to change, from the present “rough and ready” subsistence operation, towards more market-driven enterprise, IITA will face increasingly multifaceted challenges and opportunities. These will arise from a mix of production expansion and intensification and related socio-economic environments.

For IITA to succeed in taking the continent’s agricultural revolution to the next level, it needs a secure and an enabling environment with stable infrastructural development as well as the   cooperation of the host countries.

Besides, those countries should show, more by action than by wishful words that it takes researches, their adequate funding and implementation and adoption of recommendations most seriously. Sad to say that Nigeria, unlike India, Brazil, the United States, the United Kingdom and many Asian countries still lags behind in this regard.

 

Ayo Oyoze Baje