The Korea-Africa Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (KAFACI) has signified interest to work with IITA on cassava. KAFACI plans to work with IITA in 10 of their member countries in Africa with a focus on training and the testing and dissemination of agricultural practices that will boost yield and improve food security in Africa.
These intentions were disclosed by Cho Gyoung-Rae, Secretary General, KAFACI, during a courtesy visit to IITA last week.
The team was received by Director for Western Africa, Robert Asiedu; and Alfred Dixon, Head of Partnerships Coordination Office.
Asiedu welcomed the proposed collaboration, and promised that the Institute would support KAFACI in its mission to fight hunger and poverty.
He talked to the visitors about some of IITA’s work on cowpea, banana and plantain, yam, maize, and soybean.
Dixon, meanwhile, assured the team that IITA will share its expertise on cassava. According to him, the proposed partnership can capitalize on existing IITA varieties developed and distributed by partners across the continent.
The KAFACI team included Kw andal Ko, Director General, National Institute for Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Korea; Babasola Ayodele Adelaja, KAFACI Scientific and Technology Advisory Council and Adviser on Horticulture; and Mayowa Olubiyi, National Center for Genetic Resources and Biotechnolgy and KAFACI project investigator (Development of Technology on Conservation of Genetic Resources in Nigeria).
KAFACI is an intergovernmental and multilateral cooperation body aiming to improve food production, achieve sustainable agriculture, and enhance the extension services of African countries through knowledge and information sharing on agricultural technologies. It was inaugurated in 2010 in Seoul, Korea, with the participation of government representatives from 17 member countries.
For more information please contact:
Katherine Lopez, Head of Communication, IITA HQ, K.Lopez@cgiar.org
À propos de l'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 non-profit organization founded in 1967 in Nigeria and governed by a Board of Trustees. IITA works on the following crops: cowpea, soybean, banana/plantain, yam, cassava, and maize. It is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.
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