New science building ushers IITA’s agricultural research-for-development into the 21st century; Researchers, development workers, and policymakers discuss new initiatives to “grow” Africa
The President of the United Republic of Tanzania, His Excellency, Dr Mrisho Jakaya Kikwete, on 13 May, inaugurated the new science building of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in a ceremony which brought together stakeholders in agricultural research, coming from the public and private sectors, and research, development, and academic backgrounds.
The construction of the science building represents an investment of over US$4 million and is part of IITA’s efforts to strengthen its research capacity and that of its partners in sub-Saharan Africa that continues to grapple with food shortages, malnutrition, and famine every other year.
“The science building is a symbol of IITA’s commitment to continue waging war against hunger and poverty and is part of its efforts to boost agriculture through capacity development and improve the livelihoods of small-holder farmers in East Africa through its research-for-development approach,” says Dr Nteranya Sanginga, IITA Director General.
Citing IITA for its decades long research-for-development work in sub-Saharan Africa, President Kikwete lauded the construction of the science building, saying that any effective socioeconomic transformation which would have a significant impact on poverty reduction in Tanzania and Africa should be anchored on agriculture.
However, President Kikwete noted that inadequate investment in agriculture and in particular research are the major constraining factors to modernization, transformation, and growth of rural sectors in Africa.
“This in turn is the source of the prevailing precarious food security situation in many parts of the continent,” he added.
Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who is also IITA’s Goodwill Ambassador, said that the inauguration of the Science Building has raised hope for Africa to independently solve the problem of food insecurity that has plagued the continent for decades. He said agricultural development in sub-Saharan Africa, home to more than 27% of the world’s arable l and, is being stymied by low funding for research, dilapidated infrastructure, and poor access to markets by small-holder farmers who account for more than 70% of agricultural production.
According to him, over the years, IITA’s research using biological control method saved cassava from pests—cassava mealy bug and green mite—which threatened to wipe out the crop from Africa. Also, the institute has consistently delivered new and improved crop varieties and technologies, therefore generating wealth for farmers and showing significant impact through improved livelihoods. President Obasanjo said that in view of the huge task before IITA, there is the need for African governments, international donors, and individuals to support IITA.
The Chief Executive Officer of the CGIAR Consortium, Dr Frank Rijsberman, lauded IITA for the investment, adding that it would advance the development of the critical innovations needed to tackle the bottlenecks to agricultural development in Africa.
The Chair of the IITA Board of Trustees, Prof Bruce Coulman, noted that IITA’s research focus on Africa’s key staple crops makes the Institute an asset to the continent. He said that the Science Building is an additional tool to exp and on capacity building of IITA’s partners and to improve the efficiency on the work of researchers.
The ribbon cutting and inauguration by President Kikwete was followed by a tour of the new building and exhibition booths showcasing IITA’s work in East Africa. The inauguration was followed by a workshop with the theme “Grow Africa and the role of agricultural research by national systems, IITA, and its partners.”
Initiated 18 months ago, the state-of-the-art and environmentally friendly Science Building has five modern laboratories. With a capacity to host 70 researchers, the building will be open to scientists from national partners and students from higher learning institutions in the Eastern African region.
Dignitaries at the inauguration included His Excellency Mr Benjamin Mkapa, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania; Hon. Tress Bueyanay andi, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries, who represented H.E. Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Ug anda; Hon. Christopher Chiza, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, Irrigation, and Cooperatives, United Republic of Tanzania; and the Ambassador of the United States of America to the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Alfonso E. Lenhardt.
ENDS
About IITA (www.iita.org)
Africa has complex problems that plague agriculture and people’s lives. We develop agricultural solutions with our partners to tackle hunger and poverty. Our award-winning research for development (R4D) is based on focused, authoritative thinking anchored on the development needs of sub-Saharan Africa. We work with partners in Africa and beyond to reduce producer and consumer risks, enhance crop quality and productivity, and generate wealth from agriculture. IITA is an international non-profit R4D organization established in 1967, governed by a Board of Trustees, and supported primarily by CGIAR.
About CGIAR (www.cgiar.org)
CGIAR is a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. Its science is carried out by the 15 research centers who are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations.
For more information, please contact:
Catherine Njuguna
Regional Communication Officer for East Africa, IITA
Email: c.njuguna@cgiar.org
Tel: +255 22 2700092 | Mobile no: +255 767 361255
Skype: catherine_njuguna
Andrea Gros, Head of Communication, IITA
Email: a.gros@cgiar.org
Tel: +234 02 7517472
Skype: andrea-gros
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