On Tuesday, 20 May 2014, the South Kivu provincial government held a special Council of Minister’s meeting at the research site of IITA in Kalambo, located 10 miles from the city of Bukavu in Eastern DR Congo.
The council members were warmly welcomed by IITA’s Director General Nteranya Sanginga and his team as they inquired about the progress of work on the IITA Science Building scheduled to be commissioned on 5 June 2014.
“This research center based in the DRC will improve food security in 14 African countries through research on soil, plants such as cassava, banana, and soybean as well as agroprocessing,” said Sanginga during the Council meeting.
The Ministers of the province led by Governor Marcellin Cishambo Ruhoya asked IITA staff many questions, with a special interest on the cassava value chain and the integration of women and youth in agriculture.
During a guided tour of the facilities of IITA Kalambo, the government delegation noted that the construction of this center was going on well and that the cassava processing units are almost ready. Hundreds of Congolese hired for this purpose are hard at work on various construction sites.
The science building and its laboratories are of international st andards and give researchers from the region the unique opportunity to work using state-of-the-art science facilities, constructed by IITA’s Facilities Management Services.
In a well attended press conference organized by IITA’s Communication Office in collaboration with 15 local media houses, the South Kivu Governor urged all Congolese to take ownership of the IITA initiative.
“The IITA research center provides a great opportunity to improve the quality of life among the poorest populations in our area,” said the Governor, adding “ and when I say ‘area’, I mean not only South Kivu but the DRC as a whole, as well as the Great Lakes countries. This is why the government is making every effort at all levels to ensure that everything goes well as we prepare to welcome our guests to the official inauguration on 5 June”.
On listening to the widely broadcasted radio programs on the event, the residents of South Kivu felt that the IITA Science Building had turned Kalambo into the provincial capital for the day.
“The establishment of this research center in my area gives hope because, for decades, our soil had not been productive.” said Deo Akilimali, a farmer in Kalambo. “I am confident that this agricultural center is part of the process of rebuilding the Kivu region.”
For more information, please contact: Andrea Gros, a.gros@cgiar.org
About IITA www.iita.org
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (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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