The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) announced today that it has entered into a 3-year partnership agreement with Syngenta. The collaboration aims to identify, adapt, and make available to Nigerian farmers high-yielding and superior maize and vegetable hybrids. Joint efforts by both organizations will improve and promote cost-effective production packages for maize, tomato, sweet pepper, and cabbage and increase farmers’ yields and incomes from cultivating these crops.
Under the agreement, variety trials will be conducted at IITA sites in Nigeria using Syngenta’s hybrid seeds for the selected crops, crop protection packages, and st andard crop production protocols. The research is being piloted in Kaduna, Kano and Oyo states and will deploy best agronomic strategies in developing complete growing protocols to evaluate the hybrids for adaptation in Nigeria. IITA will also provide professional development and training to Syngenta staff and partners in Nigeria to increase knowledge and capacity to deliver more effective client services.
“This partnership showcases the benefits of public-private sector collaboration in research and development and is expected to provide the farmers and local communities the best of both worlds — it will bring together IITA’s strong research capacity, improved varieties and agronomic technologies from both IITA and Syngenta, and the technical capacity and best practices of private business,” said Dr Kenton Dashiell, ITA’s Deputy Director General for Partnerships and Capacity Development.
Dimitri Pauwels, Head, Africa Venture Team at Syngenta, said, “This partnership with IITA is a key milestone for Syngenta in Nigeria and will enable the development and transfer of modern agricultural practices and technologies that are suited to the Nigerian environment. Furthermore, this partnership will also enable Syngenta to empower smallholder farmers, a commitment Syngenta made as part of its Good Growth Plan.”
The partnership is being launched officially today at a ceremony with local implementing partners including the National Institute for Horticultural Research and Training (NIHORT), the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR), National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) Institutions, and state Agricultural Development Projects (ADPs).
For more information, please contact:
Andrea Gros, a.gros@cgiar.org or Katherine Lopez, k.lopez@cgiar.org Iruansi Ito andon, iruansi_imonikhe.ito andon@syngenta.com
About IITA, www.iita.org
IITA is one of the world’s leading research partners in finding solutions for hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. Its award-winning research for development (R4D) approach addresses the development needs of tropical countries. IITA works with partners to enhance crop quality and productivity, reduce producer and consumer risks, and generate wealth from agriculture. IITA is a nonprofit organization founded in 1967 and governed by a Board of Trustees. IITA works on the following crops: cowpea, soybean, banana/plantain, yam, cassava, and maize. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.
About Syngenta
Syngenta is one of the world’s leading companies with more than 28,000 employees in over 90 countries dedicated to our purpose: Bringing plant potential to life. Through world-class science, global reach and commitment to our customers we help to increase crop productivity, protect the environment and improve health and quality of life. For more information about us please go to www.syngenta.com
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