The International Society for Tropical Root Crops-Africa Branch (ISTRC-AB) has singled out and appreciated the efforts of 10 scientists including the Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) towards the development of root and tuber crops in Africa. This took place at a gala dinner hosted by the Society at its recently concluded 13th Symposium held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The IITA DG received special recognition for his outst anding contribution to the development of roots and tuber crops in Africa in the five-years he’s headed the Institute. Other scientists from IITA who received an appreciation award from the society were the Directors for Eastern and Western Africa, Drs Victor Manyong and Robert Asiedu, Head of Advocacy and Resource Mobilization, Dr Regina Kapinga, and country Representative for the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dr Mahungu Nzola. Also honored was the 2016 World Food Laureate from the International Potato Center (CIP) Dr Maria Andrade, Dr Mpongo Bokanga formerly with UNIDO, and Prof Malachy Akoroda from the University of Abeokuta.
While h anding over the appreciation plaques the President of the Society, Prof Lateef Sanni noted that the eleven scientists had been recognized for their efforts to boost the production of root and tuber crops such as cassava, sweetpotato, potato, and yams in Africa. These included developing improved varieties that are high yielding, resistant to major emerging diseases and with improved nutrition, pushing for commercialization and value addition, and financially supporting the research efforts.
Root and tuber crops are versatile staples that contribute significantly to food security in the continent of Africa as they produce more food per unit area of l and than most crops. Annually, more than 240 million tons of root and tuber crops are produced annually on nearly 23 million hectares of l and. Their combined value exceeds all other African staples, including cereal crops.
The 13th Symposium attracted over 350 researchers, development partners, private sector practitioners, and farmers from all over the world. The theme of the meeting was “Exp anding collaboration and catalyzing innovation of root crops for accelerating Africa’s economic growth.”
The organization of the meeting was led by Tanzania’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries. Other partners included IITA, CIP, the Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), and Cassava Adding Value for Africa (CAVA) project that is led by the Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre (TFNC). Tanzania was selected as the venue of its 13th Symposium at ISTRC-AB’s last meeting in Ghana in October 2013 and the next meeting will be held in Zambia in 2020.
About IITA www.iita.org
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.
About ISTRC-AB
ISTRC-AB was created in 1978 to stimulate research, production, and utilization of root and tuber crops along various value chains in Africa. While the Society’s headquarters are at IITA in Ibadan, Nigeria, its Executive Council comprises eminent root and tuber researchers from national, regional, and international bodies across Africa. Membership is open to everyone interested in root and tuber crops including researchers, the business community, and government officials.
For more information
Kathy Lopez, Head of Communication, IITA. E-mail: k.lopez@cgiar.org
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