{"id":12758,"date":"2026-06-20T12:24:59","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T12:24:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.iita.org\/news-item\/iita-dg-how-southern-africa-can-unleash-its-agriculture-potential\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T21:47:08","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T21:47:08","slug":"iita-dg-how-southern-africa-can-unleash-its-agriculture-potential","status":"publish","type":"news-item","link":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/news-item\/iita-dg-how-southern-africa-can-unleash-its-agriculture-potential\/","title":{"rendered":"IITA DG – How southern Africa can unleash its agriculture potential"},"content":{"rendered":"

Director General Nteranya Sanginga<\/a> has called on southern African countries to tap the youth population in the region to address food insecurity and end unemployment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Picture<\/a>
Alfred Dixon representing DG Nteranya Sanginga at the CCARDESA conference in Durban, South Africa<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addressing policymakers and the youth in the region at a conference organized by the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development in Southern Africa (CCARDESA<\/a>), Sanginga said the youth population in the region should be seen as an asset, not a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe youth have the energy, and if we are able to tap this energy we will be able to advance agriculture on the continent,\u201d said Sanginga who was represented by Alfred Dixon<\/a> Head of IITA\u2019s Partnerships Coordination Office, in Durban, South Africa, 3-6 August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking on the topic \u201cUnlocking agribusiness opportunities for youth in Southern Africa\u201d, the DG gave an account of how a youth program called IITA Youth Agripreneurs (IYA<\/a>) initiated by IITA in 2012 is attracting youth into agriculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom zero dollars, these youths have been able to grow their incomes to $700 per month,\u201d he explained. \u201cOn their own, these young men and women are today managing different enterprises including cassava, maize, vegetables, soybean, banana and plantains, fish, and livestock,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to him, the experience of the IITA youth program clearly demonstrated that with institutional support and mentoring, the youth could be engaged in agriculture to make a decent living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mustapha Quadri, a member of IYA, gave also gave a presentation titled \u201cCassava production, processing, and marketing\u201d during a break-away session on the subtheme \u201cThe role of youth in innovations and agribusiness solution: Cassava case study\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The presentation was based on the various products and value addition that can be derived from cassava. Participants visiting the exhibition st ands liked the various cassava products showcased in the exhibition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his keynote address, the Executive Director, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)<\/a>, Yemi Akinbamijo<\/a> said, \u201cThe agricultural sector needs to be transformed to provide employment for the youth in Africa and we need to increase value addition to attract the youth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Executive Director of CCARDESA, Timothy Simalenga<\/a> commended IITA and other partners for initiating youth programs to attract the youth into agriculture, and emphasized that CCARDESA would continue to support agricultural development in the region with emphasis on getting more youth engaged in agriculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IITA participants included Godwin Atser<\/a>, Ugheoke Avoedoghia Diana, Christophe Kongolo, Caroline Liwena, Bupe Gwasa, Ronald Ongario, and Christine Zamugurha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information please contact:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Katherine Lopez, Head of Communication, IITA HQ, K.Lopez@cgiar.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00c0 propos de l'IITA<\/strong> www.iita.org<\/a>
IITA is one of the world\u2019s 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.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Director General Nteranya Sanginga has called on southern African countries to tap the youth population in the region to address food insecurity and end unemployment.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":12759,"template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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