September 1995 International Institute of 1iopkaJ Agriculture Oyo Road, PMB 5320, Ibadan, Nigeria Telephone: (234-2) 241-2626 Fax: (234-2) 241-2221 Fax (INMARSAT): (874) 177-2276 Telex: 31417 or 31159 TROPIBNG E-mail O.. iTERNEr):IITA@CGNET.COM International Mailing Address: c/o L.W.Lamboum & Co., Carolyn House 26 Dingwall Road, Croydon CR9 3EE, England Telephone: (44-181) 686-9031 Fax: (44-181) 681-8583 Telex: 946979 LWLG • What Is liT A and whose Idea was It? liTA stands for the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. It is an internationally funded, non-profit, agricultural research and training institute with headquarters in Jbadan, Nigeria. liT A was the idea of two American philan­ thropic organizations, the Ford and Rockefeller foundations. The Institute became one of the centers supported by the Consultative Group on International Agri ­ cultural Research (CGIAR) when it was formed in 1971. When was IITA established, and what are It's goal and objectives? IITA was formally established through Decree No. 32 of24 July 1967 made by the then Federal Military Government of Nigeria. It began its research program in 1970. liTA 's ultimate goal is to help fight hunger and alleviate poverty in sub-Saharan Africa through improved and sustainable agricul­ tural production. To realize this, IITA is : developing systems for managing and conserving natural resources in the humid and subhumid tropical zones of su1>-Saharan Africa 10 ensure agricullural production on a sustainable basis. increasing the productivily and improving the quality of the following crops: maize, cassava, yarn, plantain, cowpea, and soybean. Prior to 1990, llTA also worked extensively on rice, sweet potalo, and cocoyarn. reducing postharvest losses, facilitating crop and food processing, and promoting crop utilization. D • strengthening national agricultural research capability in sub-Saharan Africa so that African countries may become more self­ reliant in generating the agricultural technolcr gies they need. How is IITA funded? The Ford and Rockefeller foundations provided initial funding for IITA. Since 1971, however, funding of the Institute's research and training activities has been organized through the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Re­ search (CGIAR). The CGIAR is an infonnal consonium of public and private sector donors that suppons a net work of interna­ tional agricultural research centers. How is the Institute governed? IIT A is governed by an independent interna­ tional Board of Trustees which meets twice in a year. In recent years, trustees have come from Belgium, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Dominican Republic, France, Gennany , Italy, Japan, Kenya, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Senegal, Switzerland, Uganda, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Zambia. IITA's research programs are guided by the Technical Advisory Committee of the CGIAR. The Committee, a group of distin­ guished scientists, detennines the broad research directions of a1llhe centers sup­ poned by the CGIAR. • How Is UTA structured admInIstra­ tively? Research is currently organized into three broad divisions: the Crop Improvement Division, the Plant Health Management Division, and the Resource and Crop Management Division. The international Coopcralion Division provides support for lia ison scientists, special projects, networks, and training. The Management Division includes units for information, finance, human resources, and general administra­ tion. How widespread are IITA's operations? UTA's research work covers the humid and subhumid tropi cs of sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to its headquarters in Ibadan, the Institule has two other stations in Nige ria­ the High Rainfall Station at Onne, near Port Harcourt in southeastern Nigeria, and the Kano Station for the dry savanna at Kano in the north. liT A 's Moist Savanna Station is located at Ferkessedougou, Cote d'Ivoire. In Cameroon, the liT A Humid Forest Station is located at Mbalmayo. In the Republic of Bcnin, the liT A Bcnin Station at Calavi, near Cotonou includes the Biological Control Center for Africa. A station was recently established in Namulonge, Uganda: the East and Southern Africa Regional Center CESARC) for research on cassava, bananas, and plantain. UTA scientists are also located in liaison offices and project sites in various 0ther countries of sub-Saharan Africa. • How many people work at IITA, and how does liT A recruit Its staff? Some 1,610 people from aboul40 countri cs work al UTA,includ ing 1,470 nalionally rccruiled slaff and 144 internationally recruilcd scicntislS and other professionals. Internalionally recruiled slaff vacanc ies arc adveni sed in international journals and magazines, as well as agricultural resea rch bulletins of major professional associations. Nalional staff arc recruiled through advcr­ li sc ments in nati onal newspapers and the /ITA Weekly Bulletin. lITA is ,Ul"equal opponunit y" cmployer, recruiling people wilhoul consideral ion of race, national it y, gcnder or rcli gion. How are liT A staff remunerated? The objeclivc of UTA' s rccruilmcnt policy is lO aUraCl the besl available candidates for bOlh internati onall y and nationally recruitcd posili ons. Intcrnationally rcc ruilcd staff are remuneraled commensuralcly lO lheir qualificalions and thc standards prevailing in internati onall y recognized research institu ­ lions. Nalionally recruilcd staff arc paid compelilivel y in compari son lO lhose paid in one of the hi ghest paying seclOrs of the national economy. How large is this (IITA Ibadan) campus and how much of the land has been put to use? UTA's hcadquaners and experimental fi elds al Ibadan are localcd on a 1,000 hectare (2,400 acres) picce of land donated by the Fcderal Government of Nigeria . .. • About half of the \ITA land area has been put to use. Admi nistrat ive and residential buildings occupy a small pan of the land (100 hectares or 240 acres). while a larger ponion (3 15 hectares. or abou t 756 acres) is used for expe rimental fi elds. The remaining 600 hectares (1440 acres) has been Ie ft untouched. There are three man-made lakes. the largest o f whi ch has a surface area of about 70 hectares and a 5 kilometer perimeter. \ITA has developed and maintains nature rese rves within its boundaries. In one of the rese rved areas . marked trai ls promote the apprecia­ tion of nature and the environment. T ree cutt ing and hunting are forbidden in these nature rese rves. How does IITA cope with the prob­ lems of water and irregular electricity supply in Nigeria? One of the lakes on the liT A cam pus prov ides water for the institute's needs. A modem water treatm ent pl ant capable of prov iding 400 mill ion liters o f potable water annuall y is maintai ned on campus. A stand by electricity generating system with capacity for 4 megawatts provides insurance against powe r fai lure. IITA must spend a lot to keep Its campus so beautifu l ; why and how do you do thi s? The institu te puts great emphasis on the maintenance of a elean environment. believ­ ing this is compatible with its status as an international center o f excellence. Besides. a well-ordered environment is a great incen- • tive for hi gh achievement; it not only attracts the best staff from aU ove r the wo rld , but also encourages them to perfo rm at their best. But kecping our cam pus clean and beautiful is not as expensive as some might im aginc. It is simply a matt er of good management : a combination of using the ri ght equi pment , good supervision o f a small crew that takes pride in its work, and sensiti zing all staff to the import,mce o f cleanl iness . Why does IITA not use Its lakes for fisheries research? liT A is onl y one of the inte rnational agricul ­ tural resea rch cente rs sponsored by the CG IAR. A siste r center, the Intemational Center for Living Aquati c Rcsources Management (ICLARM ), based in the Phil ippines has a specifi c mandate to do research on fi she ri es. However, apart from prov iding drinking water, the liT A lakes arc used to irrigate the experimental plots , especially duri ng the dry season. They arc also stocked with some fresh water fi sh, mainly for sale to members of the llTA community. Why does liT A not work on tree crops and livestock? The Center fo r Inte mati onal Forestry Research (CIFOR) , another center of the CGIAR system based in Indonesia is speci ficall y mandated to do research on trees. In addition, the Intemational Center fo r Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), another CGIAR center with headqu arters in Nairobi , Kenya, al so works on tree crops. llTA coll aborates with ICRAF in a num ber • of ways, especially in alley falTIling re­ search. There is an ICRAF scientist based at lIT A headquaners in Ibadan. lIT A also has a collection of gelTIlplasm of multipurpose trees to facilitate thi s collaborative work. The CGIAR center mandated to work on livestock is the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), with headquaners in Nairobi, Kenya. This is a new center that takes over the funct ions of the International Laboratory for Research in Animal Diseases (ILRAD), at Nairobi and the International Livestock Center for Africa (ILCA), with headqua ners in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. As with ICRAF, lIT A collaborates closely with this institute. ILRI has a stati on on lIT A 's Ibadan campus. What is IITA's strategy for the control of crop pests and diseases? At lIT A the strategy we have adopted to control pests ( insects, mites , bactcria, nematodes, fungi, viruses, even weeds) is to employ management systems that incorpo­ rate many methods . This strategy is called integrated pest management or !PM. The essence is to control crop pests and di seases with an integrated set of complementary methods that are e fficient and effective, and that do not have adverse effects on the environment. One component of this strategy is to breed varieties of crops that are innately resistant to the pests and di seases that affect the crops, thereby avoiding the need for chemi­ cal pesticides and fungicides. Biological control is another environmen­ tally friendly method that lIT A scientists use IJ • to control insect and mite pests. Adopting appropriate cultural practices and managing the crop's habitat so it stays beneficial are other components of our integrated ap­ proach. Can you explain biological contro l? Biological control, or biocontrol for shan, is the control of the activitics of insect and mite pests through thc usc of biological, rather than chcmical agents. Classical biocontrol uses cenain insects, known as beneficial insects, to control the activities of others, the pests. Take the case of the cassava mealybug, a pest that threatened to destroy cassava fields throughout the cassava belt of Africa. Scientists at liT A and at Centro Interna­ tional de Agricultura Tropical (C1AT}-- a Colombia-bascd sister institute within the CGIAR-found a beneficial insect, the wasp Epidinocarsis lopezi, in South America. The wasp was bred in large numbers and re­ Ieascd on mealybug-infested cassava fields in 36 countries from Senegal to Mozambique. The effect is that the mealy­ bug populations have been reduced to such levels that they no longer cause economic damage. It was like a miracle to many of the farmers whose farms had been infested. They did not know what happened, nor did they have to spend their money. liTA is working on other biocontrol meth­ ods to control grasshoppers and locusts, the cassava green mite, the larger grain borer of maize, and the water hyacinth. • Does IITA have any recommenda­ tions for soil management? Yes, indeed. Over the years, liT A has developed some technologies which help maintain soil fen ility and thereby ensure that the land is productive over a long period. liTA 's research shows that the essential principle in preventing or retarding soil degrad~tion is to keep the soil covered with appropriate vegetation, and to maintain an adcquate cover of organic matter in the topsoil. The method of land clearing has imponant consequences on soil characteri stics and subsequent crop productivity . Soil erosion is reduced when soil disturbance is kept to a minimum during land clearing. Since mechanical till age has been shown to increase soi l erosion, impair fenility , and therefore, reduce crop yield, minimum tillage is recommended for cenain types of soil. This involves little or no till age of the land before planting, which ensures that the soi l structure is not damaged. UTA has al so developed some technologies to shonen the fallow period, traditionally used by farmers to revitali ze overused land. One of these is planting a leguminous crop to cover the depleted land . One sueh crop is Pueraria; another is Mucuna. Both protect the soil from erosion and have the ability to convert nitrogen in the atmosphere for the use of the soil , thereby making the land more fertile at the end of a shon fallow. The fertility of the soil may also be main­ tained through alley farming. II • What Is alley farming? Alley fanning is a system in which trees (usually leguminous) are planted in rows that are 4--6 meters apan. Food crops are then planted in the "alleys" between the rows of trees. The trees, if they are legumi­ nous, are able to conven atmospheric nitrogen for the use of the crops. The trees are pruned regularly, and these prunings are spread on the alleys. They add valuable nutrients to the soil and this benefits the crops. Alley fanning, when it works properly, makes it possible to continuously crop the land with minimal amounts of fertilizers and yet get a good and stable yield. The system is particularly appropriate where land is very scarce, labor is cheap, and the soil is badly depleted. In addition to improving soil fenility, alley fanning has other advantages. What are these other benefits of alley farming? Branches cut from the hedgerows of trees can provide fuel wood. The cut leaves can provide fodder for livestock, and the cut stems may also be used as staking materials for other crops, such as yam or climbing beans. When the alley fann is on a slope, the hedgerows can prevent erosion. If prunings are spread on the alleys, weeds are reduced. Who are IITA's collaborators and who benefits from IITA's work? We at lITA see ourselves as a link in a chain that can be traced from advanced research laboratories in the developed world to the ultimate beneficiary ofIITA 's research, the Afriean fanner. Other links in the chain are • national agricultural research systems in sub-Saharan African countries, including university faculties of agriculture, extension agencies, nongovernmental organizations (NOOs), and the private sector. All these links in the chain are lITA's partners and collaborators. There arc several categories of people who benefit from the work of lITA. lITA col­ laborates with national programs, sharing expcnise with their scientists and training staff of national programs, with a view to strengthening their capability to use, adapt, and generate appropriate technologies. But the primary beneficiaries of lITA 's research are the African farmers who can utilize improved technologies to enhance their farming activities thereby increasing food production, and raising their families' incomes. The small-scale processors and traders whose business is enhanced by liT A varieties are also beneficiaries. There are also the rural and the urban poor, and everyone else who would have access to more food at affordable prices. Is IITA's work relevant to Africa's drought problem? Wherever feasible, lITA scientists breed crops that can tolerate drought or recover from shon spells of drought. Some lITA ­ bred varieties escape drought because they mature early. Notable among these are many lITA cowpea varieties. In collaboration with colleagues at CIAT, lIT A is developing varieties of cassava that are panicularly adapted to drought condi­ tions. These have shown a great deal of II • promise in tests carried out in Zaria and Kano in northern Nigeria. Does liT A' s research benefit o thers outside Africa? Although IITA's research is meant primarily for sub-Saharan Africa, mar.y of its findings are applicable elsewhere. Varieties and germplasm of crops developed at IIT A have been distributed around the world. The United States and some countries in Asia and Latin America have benefited from liT A's hybrid maize research. IIT A cowpea and soybean varieties are being used in Asia, Central and South America, and the United States. IITA's earlier work on sweet potato has benefited farmers in the United States and the Caribbean. Farmers in Cambodia arc extensively growing two rice varieties developed at IIT A. Plantain hybrids resistant to the black sigatoka disease are being tested and used by research institutes around the world. Some of the tools, like planters, designed at lITA are being manufactured in Asia and are being used by farmers there. In addition, students from Asia, Europe. and Nonh America have benefitcd through panicipation in IITA's training programs. How do IITA's Improved technologies reach the small-scale farmer? The responsibility for getting improved agricu]turalteehnologics and practices to the small-scale farmers of sub-Saharan Africa is that of the various governments. IITA • cannot possibly directly reach the many millions of fanners in the many countries of the continent. IITA, however, assists governments and nongovernmental organizations to reach farmers through several mechanisms. The first of these is ensuring that the characteris­ tics of Ine technologies and practices it develops are such that they will be easily adopted by small-scale farmers. The method of on-farm adaptive research, whereby scientists and farmers together carry out the research on farmers' sites, ensures that research addresses the real needs of farmers, and that farmers can easily adopt the out­ comes of research. Another method of reaching farmers is through the exchange of information and germplasm with colleagues in the national programs. IITA helped to form the Media Forum for Agriculture (MFA) in Nigeria, and is making arrangements to do the same in other African countries. MFA consists of agricultural journalists, farmers, policy makers, extension workers, etc. Through the Forum, and through the various training programs, conferences and workshops organized at IIT A, word on new technolo­ gies as well as actual technologies are taken to the ultimate beneficiaries. lIT A publishes a variety of books, pam­ phlets, and newsletters that highlight the available improved technologies. Moreover, lITA takes part in appropriate agricultural exhibitions and technology fairs. • Where can one obtain IITA Improved varieties? IITA improved va rieties can be obtained from approved governm ent agencies. For example. in Nigeria. the National Seed Service multiplies improved varieties and di stributes to farm ers. either directly o r. through state level Agricultural Develop­ ment Projects (ADPs). In Uganda . lIT A scienti sts at the Nam ulonge stat ion are collaborating with the extension service of the Uganda Mini stry of Agriculture to multiply and di stribute improved varieties to farmers. In Ghana. the Crop Research Institute and the ex tension arm of the Ghana Mini stry of Agri culture are multiplying selected varieties from liT A 's improved varieties and dist ributing them to farmers. Some farmers are also independentl y multiplying these im proved varieties and selling to o the r farmers. This is common especially wi th cassava stems. However. when purchasing from independent opera­ tors it is quite difficult to asce n ain that such material is genuinely an improved variety. and the buyer must beware' Many of the problems farmers face occur during and after harvesting their crops. What Is IITA doing about these? lITA recognizes the imponance of postharvest issues. such as losses during harvesting and after. problems of inefficient processing methods. and the need to find new uses for old food crops. ete. New cassava postharvest technologies developed at !ITA can reduce losses during processing by more than half. These technologies • reduce Ihe tedium of cassava processing and enhance Ihe efficiency of operation, too. They also improve Ihe quality of Ihe food product and help raise Ihe incomes of Ihe processors. liTA 's poslharvesttechnology unit designs and produces prototypes of equipment for poslharvest operations, including Ihose required for processing. IITA collaborates wilh olher organizations to develop new food products from the crops it wOrXs on, such as cassava and soybean. liTA has been a major catalyst in promoting household utilization of soybean and the commercial development of many soybean food products. Where can one obtain IITA-deslgned tools? Tools designed at liTA -including the rolling injection planter, the com sheller, cassava chipper and grater, and many olher simple implements-are available from local manufacturers in Nigeria and olher parts of Africa. Some of Ihese are also manufactured in Asia. The addresses of some manufacturers are available on request from Ihe IITA Postharvest Technology Unit. What does IITA's Training Program entail? IITA organizes two types of training. They are group training and individual training. Group training, as Ihe name implies, is carried out for groups of trainees from various African countries. These trainees may be researchers or staff supporting research in national programs, or extension officers. • One type of individual training is designed fo r persons registered in acc redited universi­ ties and other institutions , and working towards a higher degree in aspects o f agricultural sciences, eithe r at MSc or PhD levels. These students carry out their re­ search work at UTA under the superv ision of IITA scienti sts. Degrees are awarded by the universities, no t by UTA. Other ind ividuals from cooperating research organizations who are not study ing fo r a degree come to UTA fo r sho r1 peri ods (usuall y 1- 6 months) to acquire experience and skills in specialized areas, by working with appropri ate liT A stafr. Si nce 1970, liT A has trained more than 7 ,000 Afri cans, includi ng about 400 at the MSc and 300 at the PhD levels. How can one benefit from anyone of these programs? Group training program s are adver1ised annual ly. Prospective cand idates are encour­ aged to apply to UTA's Head of Training. Group training courses are held e ither in Nigeri a or in othe r African countries whe re collaborating organizations within the nati onal agricultural research systems play signifi cant or lead ing roles. Appl ication fo r ind ividual training, ei the r fo r MSc o r PhD projects, are made to UTA through the appl icant 's head of depar1ment or some other relevant autho rity in the universi ty in which the student is enrolled. The student's proposed research project must be relevant to lITA ' s resea rch man­ date. • Students may apply to donor agencies for sponsorship. lIT A also provides a limited number of fellowships to deserving students. Fellowships cover accommodation, food, research materials, use of laboratory equip­ ment and other essential expenses. How does lITA respond to the needs of women farmers? lITA recognizes the special needs of women in agriculture. Many African farmers are women; it is, therefore, appropriate that technologies developed at liT A meet the specific needs of women. Many of liTA 's postharvest technologies are designed to cater for women farmers who are more involved in the processing aspect of agricul­ ture than the men. In addition, women researchers are encour­ aged to study and work at IITA, as they may better understand the peculiar needs of women farmers. liTA offers special fellow­ ships for women working towards MSc and PhD degrees, thereby increasing the number of women agricultural scientists in Africa. Is lITA getting recogni tion for Its work? Yes, indeed. Overthe years, both UTA as an institution and UTA scientists as individuals have been recognized for their work; they arc often being honored for their contribu­ tions to science and to agricultural develop­ ment. The King Baudouin Award , given once in two years, was endowed by the late king of Belgium to recognize excellence among the international agricultural research centers. • lIT A has won this award three times in the past 8 years. In 1986, lIT A won the award for developing resistance to a uniquel y African disease, the dreaded maize streak virus, and for incorporating that resistance into several maize varieties. In 1990, lIT A and ClAT jointly won the awa rd as a result of the outstanding success of the biological control of the cassava mealybug. Again, in 1994 IITA won the King Baudouin Award for its work in developing resistance in plantain to the black sigatoka disease, and for other advances in Musa genetics. Individual scientists and staff of the institute have also been recognized with several awards. Former British Prime Minister, Mrs Margaret Thatcher presented the Rank Pri ze for Nu trition to Dr H.R. Herren for his work on the cassava mealybug. Dr S.K. Hahn, won several international awards as well as the traditional title of Seriki Agbe of Ikire . Many have been elected fellows of interna­ tional professional societies. The list of all awards to lIT A and to individual staff members in recognition of various contribu­ tions to sustainable agricultural development is a very long one. In appreciation of lIT A 's immense contribu­ tions to Nigeria's agricultural development, the Federal Government of Nigeria honoured the institute with the issuance of a collection of special postage stamps to commemorate lIT A 's 25th anniversary in 1992. Equally important is the expression of satisfaction and confidence by donor agen­ cies, African governments, and collaborating institutions. • Despite IITA's many achievements why are many Africans stili hungry? lIT A 's input is by no means the only requirement to arrest hunger on the conti­ nent. Other factors that are of crucial impor­ tance must be considered. II is one thing to develop im proved tech­ nologies-as liT A has done- and another to transfer those technologies to large numbers of farmers who should apply them for their use. Especially in Africa, transfer­ ring technologies has not been easy. Through such activities as on-farm research and collaboration with NGOs, lITA has been supplementing the work of national exten­ sion agencies in getting technologies across to farmers. But more work still needs to be done. Improved technologies need the appropriate policy environment in order that they be adopted by farmers. In several instances government policies have not favored the farmer. Many farming communities lack basic infrastructure like good roads and potable water. Farmers also need favorable market conditions that guarantee reasonable returns on their investment. Equally significant are the unusual problems of war and drought which cause massive disruption to agricultural production, leading to serious problems of hunger in many instances. An improved extension service, the right policy context, and a conducive environment for agricultural production can all help in ensuring that research achievements are translated into increased food production. • But increased agricultural production does not automatically prevent widespread hunger. Food may be available. but people may be too poor to buy it. To truly arrest hunger. the matter of poverty must be addressed. In addition. a high rate of population growth can quickly overtake the effects of increases in agricultural output brought about by the introduction of new technologies. Thus. food production has been increasing in many African countries. but population is increas­ ing faster in some of these countries. But for the contributions of agricultural research institutes. the problem of hunger would have been much worse. Will there ever be a "Green Revol u­ tion" In Afri ca? The term "Green Revolution" is often used to refer to the great increases that occurred in agricultural production in Asia and South America following the development of improved wheat and rice varieties. among others. This feat was achieved with the help of large inputs of fertilizers and pesticides. And. in the case of Asia. it was so dramatic because rice and wheat are dominant food crops. Many of the improved varieties of crops that are being bred at lITA and the other national research institutions in Africa are already resulting in enormous increases in output. too. Take cassava for example. Twenty years ago. the average per hectare yield of cassava in Africa was about 6 tonnes (metric tons). By the I 990s. the yield has more than • doubled. Nigeria is now the number one producer of cassava in the world. Maize cultivation has also spread to areas of the savanna where, in the past, maize was hardly grown. All of these are happening without the use of large doses of fertilizers and pesticides that characterized the "Green Revolution" in Asia. Thus, there is already some form of revolution going on in Africa, even though it is quieter and more subdued than the Asian "Green Revolution." Given the conscious effort to preserve the envirorunent that has accompanied Africa's quiet revolution, it may be correct to say that the revolution is in fact "green." So much money is spent on agricultural research, is it really worth it? Yes' Expenditure on agriculture, compared with that on armaments, is notoriously inadequate. Particularly on the African continent where it is most needed, govemments still spend far too little on agriCulture in general, and on agricultural research in particular. And yet, returns to invesunents in agricultural research are among the highest anywhere in the world. Take the case of the biological control of the cassava mealybug. An American economist found that IITA's research on this facet had a benefit/cost ratio of 149: 1. The financial benefit to African farmers from this one project alone is put at US $3 billion over 25 years. This amount is more than IITA's entire operations budget for 100 years! Text: Dejl Haastrup