In his first official mission as Executive Director of FARA, Dr Yemi Akinbamijo visits Dr Nteranya Sanginga, Director General of IITA in Ibadan on Friday. Both leaders reconfirm their commitment to redouble institutional efforts and boost the agricultural sector in Africa. IITA and FARA also underscore the need for deepening their institutional relationship to generate scientific innovations and create impact at farm levels.
Speaking on the theme: “The Science Agenda for African Agriculture: Implications for IITA and other CGIAR actors,” Dr Akinbamijo stated “To make impact and improve agriculture in the continent, we must work together, pull together, and deliver together”. He noted that IITA has a unique stake in the context of African agriculture, and that a synergy between FARA and IITA is inevitable for agricultural development in the continent.
He explained that the development of an agriculture science agenda for Africa was a result of the Dublin Process—an initiative of African stakeholders in agricultural research and development, the CGIAR consortium and development partners aimed at improving alignment of CGIAR to the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) agenda.
According to Dr Akinbamijo, the Dublin Process was inspired by the realization that CGIAR research programs could be focused – at least in Africa – to better address agricultural research for development needs articulated in country and regional agriculture and food security investment plans. He also said IITA and other CGIAR partners have strategic roles to play in the science agenda especially in terms of building and developing capacities in the continent.
Dr Sanginga pledged IITA’s commitment to partner with excellent organizations such as FARA to create impact in Africa, stressing that to realize agricultural development, both international and continental, agricultural research organizations must join efforts and complement each other. “You have our full support as you work towards improving livelihoods in Africa,” Dr Sanginga said.
Responding, Dr Kenton Dashiell, IITA Deputy Director General Partnerships and Capacity Development shared IITA’s refreshed strategy with the FARA delegation, which aims to raise 11 million people out of poverty and redirect 7.5 million hectares of degraded l and in the tropics into sustainable use. To achieve the vision, Dr Dashiell noted that partnerships would be the main driver in addition to capacity development and involving stakeholders in a joint communication process.
FARA commends IITA for youth program
Dr Akinbamijo, who was accompanied by FARA leaders Dr Aggrey Agumya, Technical Advisor, Dr Ramadjita Tabo, Deputy Executive Director, & Prof. Adewale Adekunle, Director of Partnerships commended IITA for its youth in agriculture program. The Youth in Agriculture Program tagged: ‘Agripreneurs’ aims at attracting youth with different background into agriculture, and developing crops for the next generation. The FARA Executive Director thanked IITA for giving attention to the future. “As long as I see young experts coming from different disciplines working together in the agricultural sector, there is hope for Africa”, he said. He urged the youth to take advantage of the program and also tap the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for effective operation.
Established in 2002, FARA is an umbrella organization bringing together and forming coalitions of major stakeholders in agricultural research and development in Africa. The organization complements the innovative activities of national, international and sub-regional research institutions to deliver more responsive and effective services to its stakeholders.
Dr. Akinbamijo comes into the leadership of the apex body for ARD in Africa with 30 years’ experience in animal health, market oriented production systems, agricultural research, food security and rural development. Having headed the Agriculture and Food Security Division of the African Union Commission prior to his appointment, he also seats on the board of several international panels such as International Trypanotolerance Center; Continental Working Group on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Issues; Africa-EU Joint Expert Group; Africa-Brazil on Agriculture and Food Security; Africa-Arab Joint Action on Food Security and Agriculture; Steering Committee on African Growth and Development and a host of others. He holds a PhD in Agriculture and Environmental Sciences with specialization on Tropical Animal production from Wageningen Agriculture University, The Netherl ands.
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. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.
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For more information, please contact: Andrea Gros, a.gros@cgiar.org or Godwin Atser, g.atser@cgiar.org .
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