IITA has again successfully launched a new science facility―this time at its station in Kalambo, by the shores of Lake Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The facility, which has wellequipped laboratories and a crop processing center, was launched on 5 June 2014 by the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Jean Chrisostome Vahamuitsi Mukesyayira on behalf of the President, His Excellency Joseph Kabila Kabangi.
Also in attendance were the Burundi Minister of Agriculture, Hon Odette Kayitesi, and the governor of South Kivu, Hon. Marcellin Cishambo.
IITA research efforts lauded
The minister praised IITA in its efforts to develop agriculture in the country and in the region. He singled out the institute’s research on cassava diseases, notably cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and more recently, cassava brown streak disease (CBSD), and research on value addition.
He noted that cassava was indeed the country’s top staple food crop and therefore he said any threat to its production was a threat to the country’s food security. He therefore said the new research facilities would bring a much needed boost to research in the country and region.
The Governor for South Kivu who together with his team offered a lot of support to IITA in the organization of the launch event, also commended the institute for investing in the research facilities and for its past work in the region.
The event attracted top government officials from the country and region, the diplomatic community, and the institute’s donors and partners including representatives from other CGIAR centers.
The institute’s staff in the Central Africa hub and from its Eastern and Western Africa hubs were also at the event led by the Director General Nteranya Sanginga and Bernard Vanlauwe, the Director of the Central Africa hub.
This was the second such event for IITA. Last year, a new science building was launched in its eastern Africa office in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. In addition, IITA held a ceremony to lay the foundation stone for its facility in southern Africa in Lusaka, Zambia.
IITA is putting up these facilities in the hubs as part of implementing its new refreshed strategy and its vision of becoming a leading research partner facilitating solutions to hunger and poverty in Africa.
IITA’s impact in Central Africa
While welcoming the guests and partners to the event, Central Africa Director Vanlauwe, thanked the Congolese government for its support to IITA and cited its dedication to developing the sector and all the partners of the institute.
He noted that IITA has had several successes in the country in its 40 years of working in the country. These include the development of improved varieties of key staple crops, better agronomic practices, cassava processing techniques, , as well as capacity building.
“Most of the outst anding varieties of cassava, soybean, cowpea, maize, banana, and yam are IITA improved and introduced lines or are derived from IITA lines. Our work on agricultural intensification through improved agronomy showed considerable increases in yields and diversity with a potential for reducing deforestation in the Congo Basin,” he said. “We have trained more than 45 scientists from the national agriculture research systems (NARS) and university to MSc and PhD levels in the Great Lakes countries.”
He also thanked all the IITA staff who had worked tirelessly to see that the event was a success.
IITA scientists in the region showed off their work on tackling pests and diseases, increasing productivity, improving nutrition, adding value, and other initiatives such as the ongoing work on biocontrol, natural resources management, and “agripreneurship” through an exhibition and demonstration.
The guests left Kalambo station in style, with a sunset sail on Lake Kivu courtesy of the South Kivu government. The launch was followed by a dinner for all the partners and staff hosted by the institute at the home of the Governor of South Kivu in Bukavu.
For more details, please contact:
IITA: Andrea Gros, a.gros@cgiar.org or Katherine Lopez, k.lopez@cgiar.org
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