Gearing up 
for impact
Gearing up for impact
IITA 2015 Annual Report
Published by the International Institute 
of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), 2015
PMB 5320, Oyo Road 
Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
ISSN 0331 4340
International mailing address
IITA, 7th floor Grosvenor House, 125 
High Street, Croydon CRO 9XP UK
 
Development and Production
General Directorate: Ylva Hillbur, Kenton Dashiell
Communication Office: Katherine Lopez, Jeffrey Oliver, 
Rose Umelo, Catherine Njuguna, Juba Adegboyega, 
Clement Ono-Raphael, Olusegun Adebayo 
With support from: Godson Bright, Tunde 
Ajayi, Kwasi Asiedu, Ezekiel Bolarinwa, 
Christopher Adeyemi, Sade Oyedokun 
Correct citation: IITA. 2016. Gearing up for 
impact. IITA 2015 Annual Report. Ibadan, Nigeria. 
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). 
Available online at www.iita.org/annual-reports
Cover photo: A happy farm family in Rwanda.
Copyright IITA
Creative Commons License ver 4.


Contents
From the Director General 6
From the Board Chair 7
Gearing up for impact: IITA’s vision and mission 8
Strategic Initiatives 10
 IITA Youth Agripreneurs: Building the future of Africa today 11
 BIP: Business more than usual 15
 Towards a gender-equal IITA 18
 Innovations in big data 20
 Bringing IITA research results into the open  22
Improving Crops 24
 Genetically fortifying banana, enset, cassava, and yam against pests and diseases  25
 Streamlining the release of improved maize and cowpea varieties in Africa 28
 Taking the genetic superhighway in crop breeding 31
Making Crops Healthy 34
 Untangling the coffee (root) knots in Africa  35
 East African Highland Banana: Saving the future by understanding the past  38
 CBSD in East Africa: The fight continues  40
Integrated Systems 41
 A decade of CIALCA: Lessons learned from integrated systems R4D in the Great Lakes Region 42
 Integrated soil fertility management and coffee-banana intercropping in climate-smart   
 agriculture 44
Impact and Outscaling 46
 Benefits and impact of drought-tolerant maize varieties in Nigeria 47
 Building stronger cocoa farmer groups through ICT 50
 Of grains and gains: Realizing the potential of soybean in Mozambique 52
 DeMISSTifying the soybean seed system in Malawi 54
 RISING out of poverty in Tanzania 56
 Scaling N2Africa products through Private-Public Partnerships  58
Training and Seminars 60
Effective Project Administration 62
Publications 64
Our Finances and Supporters 68
Board of Trustees 72
Headquarters and Hubs 74
From the Director General
In 2017, we will be celebrating our 50th anniversary—half a century spent a legume inoculant designed to increase biological nitrogen 
in nourishing Africa through research-for-development! I cannot imagine fixation by grain, tree, and forage legumes; and GoSeed to advance 
an Africa―or a world for that matter—without IITA. However, as we look breeder and foundation seed ventures for a more rapid and reliable 
towards this milestone and beyond it with great anticipation, we should commercialization of improved crop varieties.
also not lose focus on the present.  This is a world in which the agricultural 
and food landscapes are drastically and dramatically changing. IITA must As climate change is making pests and diseases yet more destructive 
continue to adapt if we are to remain relevant and exist for the next 50 and unpredictable, IITA scientists continued to explore new and more 
years or more. efficient genetic avenues to give important African crops an edge for 
survival. At the same time, we also undertook efforts to document 
IITA is at the midpoint of its 2012−2020 Refreshed Strategy. If we lessons learned on deploying some of our climate-smart technologies.
Dr Nteranya Sanginga achieve our target milestones, by 2020 we should have lifted 11 
Director General million people out of poverty and brought back 7.5 million hectares On the home front, we initiated a serious exercise to streamline our data 
of degraded land into productive and sustainable use across Africa. management systems to make sure that research data and information 
And we are getting set for this result. are efficiently organized and readily available. To ensure that staff—our 
most precious asset—perform at their peak, we instituted policies and 
In 2015, we increased our human resources and accompanied this initiatives that put gender equality top and center in the workplace.
with substantial investments in research infrastructure across our 
Hubs to support our increased activities. We also continued to This year, we continued to enhance existing relationships and reach 
support and promote our youth-in-agriculture initiative, providing a out to new donors and partners who will continue with us, shoulder-
working model that is now being replicated and adopted by many to-shoulder, on our way to achieving our 2020 goals.
Governments and other organizations across the continent and 
helping to ensure that young Africans will become the drivers of There is no question that we need to maintain our momentum, our 
economic growth—today and tomorrow. integrated approach, our high-quality science and people, and our 
outstanding partnerships. We also need to continuously evaluate and 
We also focused on strengthening our research-to-commercialization reinvent ourselves as the situations demand, and stay focused and 
pathway through our Business Incubation Platform (BIP) and guided by the principles outlined in our Refreshed Strategy.
publicprivate partnerships to ensure that our research results and 
products such as Aflasafe, NoduMax, and GoSeed get into the hands I invite everyone to read in more detail some of our success stories in 
of beneficiaries. 2015. 
BIP will advance Aflasafe—scaling up a proven solution for controlling Nteranya Sanginga 
hazardous aflatoxins in cereals and grain legumes; NoduMax, Director General
6
From the Board Chair
The mission of IITA is to be the leading research partner facilitating 300 tons of aflasafe were produced, much of it going to Kenya to help 
agricultural solutions to overcome hunger, poverty, and natural reduce aflatoxin contamination in maize fields. The construction of aflasafe 
resource degradation throughout the tropics. The Institute’s 2012―2020 production facilities is being planned in three other African countries.  
Refreshed Strategic Plan established an ambitious goal and IITA social 
scientists and natural resource management teams have developed a IITA is the lead center on the CGIAR research program (CRP) “Integrated 
methodology to monitor progress which shows that significant advances Systems for the Humid Tropics”, which has been the focal point for the 
have already been made. The Board of Trustees is committed to providing Institute’s R4D programs. Six CGIAR centers are partners in Humidtropics 
leadership and oversight to the Institute in the achievement of these goals. and the program has numerous non-CGIAR collaborators. IITA is a 
partner in eight other CRPs with major research activities in Roots, 
The year 2015 was another successful period for IITA. The budget of the Tubers and Bananas, MAIZE, and Grain Legumes. Several years ago, 
Institute increased by 12% over 2014, the fourth successive year of funding IITA established a “Youth Agripreneur Program” on its Ibadan campus Dr Bruce Coulman 
increases. This came in a year that has been financially challenging for to provide training to university graduates in agricultural business and Chair, Board of Trustees
the CGIAR system, with substantial reductions in funding from this very enterprises. This has now been extended to all the IITA hubs and will 
important source. Through sound financial management and increased be more widely instituted across Africa in a program to be funded by 
bilateral funding, IITA did not have to lay off any of its R4D staff, even the African Development Bank. The goal is to get African youth more 
increasing the number of both national and international staff, and involved in agriculture, driving innovation in the sector, and addressing 
considerably expanding its research capacity. youth unemployment.  
IITA completed the first phase of its Strategic Plan at the end of 2014. During I am pleased serving as Chair of the Board of this well-managed Institute 
this phase, IITA expanded in both human resources and research facilities, and would like to thank my colleagues on the Board for their dedication 
particularly in the Tanzania, DR Congo, and Zambia hubs. The second phase to IITA’s success. The Board expresses its appreciation to DG Sanginga and 
of the Strategic Plan (2015−2017) will continue to focus on the delivery of his senior management team for the significant accomplishments over 
IITA’s research technologies to producers in the tropics. the past four years and for their vision for the future. We congratulate the 
scientists and support staff for the excellent research being conducted. 
To facilitate the delivery of it products, IITA established a Business Incubation Finally, we express our appreciation to our funders who recognize the 
Platform (BIP) at its main headquarters in Ibadan. The goal of BIP is to facilitate importance of the work being done and their continued unwavering 
the scale up of technologies developed from IITA’s research programs confidence in IITA’s ability to do it.
and advance public−private partnerships to deliver these technologies 
to African farmers. The three production components of the BIP, Aflasafe, Bruce Coulman 
NoduMax, and GoSeed have been fully operational for two years. In 2015, Board Chair
From the Board Chair 7
Gearing up for impact: IITA’s vision and mission
In 2017, IITA—the first agricultural research center in the African link of such as youth and women’s engagement in agribusiness and gender 
international organizations—will mark 50 years of supporting national empowerment, and public−private partnerships.
systems and nourishing  African smallholder farmers. Our mission remains: 
to offer a leading research partnership that facilitates agricultural solutions Specifically, IITA intends to increase the yields of major African staples 
for hunger, poverty, and natural resource degradation. such as cassava, banana/plantain, cowpea, maize, soybean, and yam, by 
60%; increase average farm income by 50%; lift 50% of poor households 
To make sure that we meet our goal, we continue to focus on out of poverty; reduce the number of malnourished children by 
ensuring four system-level outcomes: increase in food security, 30%, and restore about 40% of degrading farmlands to sustainable 
reduction in rural poverty, reduction of undernutrition, and more management. 
sustainable management of natural resources. These are aligned with 
the new sustainable development agenda and the 17 Sustainable Through its hubs and 15 research stations across sub-Saharan Africa, IITA 
Development Goals, a set of goals intended to “end poverty, protect operates decentralized but integrated regional research programs that 
the planet, and ensure prosperity”. To ensure that the goals are met, work on major constraints to agriculture in Africa, and participates in eight 
IITA is doing its part in reaching partners in government, the private of the CGIAR Research Programs that cut across its major research themes: 
sector, and civil society, through its research-for-development efforts, biotechnology and genetic improvement, natural resource management, 
capacity development, commercialization activities, special initiatives plant production and health, and social science and agribusiness. 
8
Mission and Vision 9
Strategic Initiatives
10
and income-generating option. Proposal writing to solicit for funds 
IITA Youth Agripreneurs:  is an integral part of the project and another means of generating 
income for IYA.
Building the future of Africa today Spreading IYA’s wings
Adetola Adenmosun, IYA, IITA-Ibadan
During the year, IYA established affiliate youth groups in Kenya and 
The IITA Youth Agripreneurs (IYA) are breaking new ground and Uganda, while in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) two other 
recording successes in Nigeria—its birthplace—and the hubs. youth groups in Kinshasa and Kisangani were created to complement 
the efforts of the already established group in Bukavu. The expansion 
For 2015, a landmark achievement of IYA was that the proposal to of the IYA-affiliated youth groups in DRC attracted the attention of 
train about 140 young people from the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria the government and other policymakers resulting in the first youth 
on agribusiness was approved. The project, which is sponsored agribusiness exhibition co-organized by the government of DRC and 
by Chevron Nigeria Limited, will give IYA the opportunity to fully IITA.
execute the Chevron Youth Agribusiness (CYAG) project using their 
experience and acquired skills from the various workshops, seminars, IYA also conducted a 3-day training workshop on agribusiness for 
and trainings attended on agribusiness and agripreneurship in members of the Nigeria National Youth Corps serving in IITA. After the 
Nigeria and elsewhere. training, the Corps members were screened and recruited as interns 
to undergo an 18-month internship program under IYA. Following 
The project, which is the first self-written proposal by the group, is the Youth Agribusiness Guidelines (YAG), these interns—called 
worth several million naira and will run for two years. IYA will showcase GreenWealth Agripreneurs—will be further trained on different 
to the young people and communities of implementation (Ijaw and agrobusiness enterprises, developing bankable business plans, and 
Itsekiri) how agriculture and agribusiness can be a viable livelihood establishing independent business enterprises. 
ENABLE Youth
Another achievement by the group was the wide acceptance and 
recognition of the ENABLE Youth program. The African Development 
Bank requested a concept note for the project and it was developed in 
2014 during the Youth in Agribusiness Development Initiative (YADI) 
conference held at IITA-Ibadan. ENABLE Youth is a five-year program 
designed using the IYA model to empower young African adults 
through a comprehensive outreach effort by providing information, 
proven technologies, and opportunities to about 800,000 youth in 
at least 25 African countries. The program will give opportunities 
for more than 20,000 internships, over 10,000 agribusiness startups, 
and over 30,000 new jobs in rural and urban areas, leading to future 
incomes of at least $450 per month/person and a projected $160 
The GreenWealth Agripreneurs, the first batch of interns being trained by the IITA million annually . ENABLE Youth will mobilize the energies and 
Youth Agripreneurs, in Ibadan, Nigeria.
Strategic initiatives 11
IYA added 13 more fish ponds in 2015. The fish harvest also tripled 
from 70 tons in 2014 to about 200 tons in 2015.
The group also continued to multiply and provide high quality 
planting materials to banana growers. Using the macropropagation 
technique, IYA increased its production of plantain suckers by 25%. 
Six additional macro-chambers were constructed to help meet the 
increase in demand for plantain suckers.
The year 2015 also saw the addition of several new items in IYA’s high-
value snack food product lineup. These new products included Tidbit 
Delight, Sneh balls, and croquant which are produced from maize, 
cowpea, soybean, and high-quality cassava flour. 
IYA was also able to acquire a modern kiln for smoking catfish during 
IYA’s expanded fish ponds ambitions of the youth as engines for employment and agricultural the year, which added value to the fresh catfish raised and marketed 
in IITA,  Ibadan, Nigeria. 
Photo by  IYA. transformation, reduce migration to urban areas, and improve the by the group. With aggressive marketing campaigns, the group was 
self-image of the youth, within their communities and across society able to introduce the smoked catfish product in major markets in the 
as a whole. southwestern zone of Nigeria. The product is expected to be available 
in major supermarkets and stores across Nigeria by 2016. 
In 2015, the IYA model was again cited with the launching of the Influencing young minds
Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Program (ATASP) by the 
Federal Government of Nigeria. Under this project, IYA plays an active In 2015, IYA  successfully organized a debate on the topic “Agriculture 
role by coordinating and training young people across the agricultural is a Sector of Economic Opportunity for Youth in sub-Saharan Africa,” 
value chains for cassava, rice, and sorghum in three youth training This was inspired by the MasterCard Foundation to enable the youth to 
centers to be established in Onne, Abuja, and Kano. Using the IYA express their views on the topic to be debated by IITA Director General, 
model, about 200,000 new jobs will be created for unemployed and Dr Nteranya Sanginga and Prof James Sumberg, Research Fellow with 
underemployed young people in Nigeria. The three youth training the Institute of Development Studies at a summit organized by the 
zones, which will be handled by IYA, will cater for Kano, Jigawa, Kebbi, MasterCard Foundation in South Africa.  The event was attended by 
Sokoto, Enugu, Anambra, and Niger states in Nigeria. many young people and other interested IITA staff. More debates will 
Expanding business ventures be organized in 2016 to give the youth the opportunity to express 
their views on topical issues of interest. 
During the year, IYA continued to grow its fishery and livestock Increasing visibility
ventures with the expansion in the number of its fish ponds from four 
to 17. The IYA fishery and livestock unit started in 2014 with four fish IYA contributed to a chapter of the Alliance for Green Revolution 
ponds after being trained by the Durante Fish Industries—the largest (AGRA) 2015 Africa Agriculture Status Report. Writing on the topic 
fish company in West Africa. To meet increasing demand for catfish, “Youth and Agricultural Productivity in sub-Saharan Africa”, IYA 
12
relayed a case study of how the youth can be productively engaged business plans they developed, will be backstopped by IYA to offer 
in agriculture using the experience gathered so far. Many references technical support when the need arises. 
were made to the chapter and case study shared by the Agripreneurs 
at the Alliance for Green Revolution Forum held in Lusaka, Zambia, in Building on the momentum of activities from the previous year, IYA 
2015. in 2015 continued to implement some projects such as the Cassava 
Transformation Agenda (CTA) and the High Quality Cassava Flour 
The group also launched its official website (www.youthagripreneurs. (HQCF) training of rural youth and farmers on the projects, and the 
org) in 2015 to enable it to communicate and share information more establishment of cassava fields in Ekiti, Ogun, and Kwara states.
widely. The youth group also acquired two sophisticated DJI inspired 
drone cameras, which help in taking aerial photographs and videos of With the success of IYA, the CGIAR Consortium organized a workshop 
fields for scientific analysis and documentation. on “Mobilizing the youth in agriculture in the second phase of 
CGIAR Research Programs” to define the key issues to be addressed 
Eric Sika, a member of the group in Bukavu, DRC, was selected to and to explore and identify good approaches to promoting youth 
participate in the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African engagement, employment, and enterprises that can be integrated Agripreneurs use ICT tools to 
Leaders in 2015. Prior to this fellowship, Eric graduated from the into the work of CGIAR. IYA representatives participated and spoke take data on the field. Here, they 
operate the DJI inspired drone with 
Catholic University of Bukavu with a Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy. at the workshop, which took place at the CGIAR Consortium Office in Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of 
The fellowship was a flagship program of President Obama’s Young Montpellier, France. the African Development Bank.
African Leaders Initiative (YALI). The selection was keenly contested 
across Africa. Following his selection, Eric studied business and 
entrepreneurship for 6 weeks at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. The 
study sharpened his leadership capabilities before his attendance at 
the presidential summit in Washington where he had an opportunity 
to interact with US leaders in the fields of business and government, 
and the non-profit sector. 
Other milestones
During the year, IYA relocated from its former office in IITA-Ibadan 
to the new building at the Business Incubation Platform (BIP). The 
building is about 516 m2 and houses offices, seminar rooms, board 
rooms, and other facilities. This relocation is expected to enhance the 
operations of the group.
Another major milestone was the approval and the distribution of 
start-up grants for 40 young people in Borno State trained under 
the N2Africa project. In September 2014 and 2015, IYA moved from 
Ibadan to Kano State to train the Borno youth on agribusiness. The 
trained youth, who are now receiving grants based on the bankable 
Strategic initiatives 13
14
BIP: Business more than usual Zambia, and Kenya. During the year, Aflasafe also received a Certificate of 
Kenton Dashiell, IITA-Ibadan registration from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration 
and Control (NAFDAC) in Nigeria that is valid until October 2019. 
IITA’s Business Incubation Platform (BIP) supports the Institute’s strategic 
goals and accelerates the commercial development of its proven and In the beginning of 2015, Aflasafe entered into the initial stage of 
profitable R4D technologies, ensuring close alignment with R4D, the discussion with global and local agribusinesses for technology licensing/
institute’s research arm. BIP focuses on two avenues of commercial commercialization. Aflasafe was also cited for helping minimize aflatoxin 
development: the creation of innovative and commercially viable products contamination in Kenyan maize and received final sales payment from the 
by IITA scientists, and the initiation and building of a network of public and Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture and the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock 
private-sector partners that will support the activities of small to medium- Research Organization (KALRO).
scale agribusiness entrepreneurs, initially within Nigeria and, later on, 
elsewhere. Negotiations have also been started with various private sector enterprises 
for different aspects of commercialization: 
In 2014, the Board of Trustees conditionally approved business plans for 
each of the initial start-up agribusinesses of BIP: GoSeed, NoduMax, and NoduMax
Aflasafe; and committed funding for BIP’s establishment. An IITA/BIP In 2015, 30,450 packets of NoduMax were produced and sold for $90,000. A 
Advisory Council was then created to provide guidance and oversight few large companies such as Notore and Nigeria Flour Mills and many other 
of BIP’s establishment and operation, and the feasibility of its financial smaller companies have placed orders for the 2016 June planting season. 
performance.  Additionally, IITA received legal confirmation of BIP’s status We are planning to produce 110,000 packets in 2016 with a projected 
and approval of ongoing operations, and a CEO, Frederick Schreurs, was income of about $330,000. 
recruited late in 2015 to build and grow BIP.
In November, NoduMax received regulatory approval from NAFDAC. With 
this, BIP will undertake a major marketing campaign of the product in 2016. 
BIP business start-ups: roaring on
Aflasafe GoSeed
In 2015, Aflasafe contributed $487,000 to the earnings of BIP, while sales During the year, through various projects funded by the Government of 
of the product came to about $597,000. This figure is more than double Nigeria and other donors, approximately 120 tons of high quality breeder 
its sales of $291,000 in 2014. The business has so far received orders and foundation seeds of maize produced by IITA were given to seed 
amounting to $881,000 for delivery in 2016. companies in Nigeria either for free or at highly subsidized rates. GoSeed 
sold about $5,000 worth of seed in 2015.
In terms of infrastructure development, construction of the second 
Aflasafe factory in Africa—in Kenya—has been started while plans Income in 2015 
are under way for the construction of three more factories in Senegal, The actual net income for BIP in 2015 is about $380,000 (Tables 1 and 2).
Strategic initiatives 15
  Table 1. Actual cash flow (net income each month) ($) for BIP in 2015 (reported during BoT meeting, November 2015).
January February March April May June July August September October November December Total
NoduMax (24,571) (33,938) (22,100) (6,653) (6,730) 47,049 (5,246) (8,050) (45,241) (5,597) (5,597) (6,622) (123,296)
GoSeed (2,714) 107 237 (1,483) (57) 0 0 (864) 1,442 3,212 7,126 12,611 19,618
Aflasafe 0 0 36,890 (21,926) 0 45,648 (15,190) (28,470) 13,466 (1) 456,590 (1) 487,006
AgriServe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total (27,285) (33,831) 15,027 (30,062) (6,787) 92,697 (20,436) (37,384) (30,333) (2,386) 458,119 5,988 383,328
Packing aflasafe at the manufacturing plant in Ibadan, Nigeria. Photo by IITA
16
 Table 2. Actual cash balances (at the end of each month) ($) for BIP in 2015 (updated at BoT Nov 2015).
January February March April May June July August September October November December (Closing)
NoduMax (24,571) (58,509) (80,609) (87,262) (93,992) (46,943) (52,190) (60,239) (105,480) (111,077) (116,674) (123,296)
GoSeed (2,714) (2,607) (2,370) (3,853) (3,909) (3,910) (3,910) (4,773) (3,331) (119) (7,007) 19,618
Aflasafe 0 0 36,890 14,964 14,964 60,612 45,422 16,952 30,418 30,417 487,007 487,006
AgriServe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total (27,284) (61,116) (46,089) (76,151) (82,938) 9,759 (10,677) (48,060) (78,393) (80,779) 377,340 383,328
We forecast that by August 2016 NoduMax and GoSeed will break even and Aflasafe will have a profit of about $900,000.
Packing the bioinoculant NoduMax, BIP, IITA, Ibadan. Photo by O. Adebayo, IITA.
Strategic initiatives 17
Towards a gender-equal IITA
Lilian Mendoza and Lade Oke, IITA-Ibadan
A strong point of the IITA 2012–2020 Refreshed Strategy is its emphasis on 
promoting gender equality across the Institute, specifically stating that 
“gender equity is to be ensured in all areas of operation”.  This means that a 
gender perspective is to be integrated into every aspect of the formulation, 
development, and implementation of IITA policies, initiatives, projects, and 
activities. This also means that IITA will think of, plan for, and take actions that 
equally and equitably promote the interests of men and women in everything 
that we do as an institute.
To guide specific interventions and activities towards effective gender 
mainstreaming, IITA’s Human Resources Office (HR) conducted an internal 
assessment survey in October 2014 to assess staff’s perception of gender 
mainstreaming and the general level of gender awareness and understanding. 
The survey results showed that only 34% of respondents were aware of the 
concept of gender. In 2015, IITA took steps to increase staff’s level of awareness 
about gender and to enhance capacity for mainstreaming gender in the 
workplace, with the overall goal of changing mindsets, attitudes, and behaviors, 
and enhance consciousness in gender-related issues in the workplace and in 
research.
To help achieve this goal, HR engaged the services of a consultant, Prof Jane 
Bennett, of the African Gender Institute, University of Cape Town in South 
Africa, to drive the gender awareness program. Prof Bennett facilitated a gender 
awareness seminar at the IITA-Ibadan campus on 1 September 2015, which was 
attended by more than 400 staff from HQ and the Western Africa Hub, as well 
as the regional administrators. The seminar was also streamed online for staff 
located in stations outside of Ibadan. The seminar covered key concepts on 
gender, gender dynamics, gender inequality, and gender mainstreaming.
The awareness-raising seminar was followed by a two-day training on 2−3 
September 2015 to build staff capacity in gender mainstreaming. Participants 
included a mix of managers and staff from R4D, Partnerships and Capacity 
Development, Corporate Services, and Finance Directorates. The workshop 
focused on the application of gender analysis to specific work activities/
Banana scientist Delphine Amah inspects tissue culture-grown banana. Photo by O. Adebayo, IITA. projects and the exploration of gender mainstreaming tools likely to generate 
18
deeper levels of gender-aware and gender-sensitive knowledge. It was also Other initiatives taken by HR to enhance gender equality in the workplace during 
intended to deepen gender sensitivity within all areas of participants’ working the year included sustaining the practice of equal pay for equivalent work and 
environments. After successfully completing the training, participants were enhancing female representation in the workforce, with the latter resulting in 
designated as gender focal points for their respective units and hubs. a substantial increase in staff female representation from 1% in 2014 to about 
26%, in 2015. HR, with the Capacity Development Office, also co-hosted an 
Additionally, a one-day introductory training for Dignity Advisors was also African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) Leadership 
conducted by Prof Bennett. Dignity advisors are selected staff that would support and Management Course in which 14 senior female staff participated. The goal 
the implementation of the policy on harassment and discrimination, which was of the course was to develop women leadership as a means to promote gender 
also launched in 2015. The initial training was attended by 20 participants who equality.
had been preselected and had indicated their willingness to serve as Dignity 
Advisors. Related to this initiative, HR organized an awareness-raising seminar in HR also continued to use staff town hall meetings as avenues to encourage 
May about staff’s rights to dignity in the workplace, how to contribute towards gender-sensitive communication and promote the use of gender-neutral 
a harassment- and discrimination-free workplace, and what to do and where to language in influencing organizational culture in a gender-sensitive 
get help if any staff becomes a victim. HR plans to hold a more in-depth training direction.
on skills needed to handle cases of harassment, especially sexual harassment, in 
2016, for the Dignity Advisors. The Women Empowerment Platform (WEP), established in March 2014 as an 
initiative of the Director General, marked the 2015 International Women’s 
To help ensure that gender is mainstreamed into research at IITA, the R4D month by organizing a seminar on “Celebrating Women in Science and 
Directorate organized a special presentation by Prof Bennett during R4D Week Entrepreneurship” on 25 March. Dr Ylva Hillbur, IITA Deputy Director General 
on gender awareness and dynamics in the workplace, with the aim of integrating for R4D, along with two notable women entrepreneurs, shared their life The Women Empowerment 
Platform organizes seminars 
gender research into research planning, priority setting, and targeting. The experiences of “making it to the top”, with the aim of influencing and inspiring for women.  
special seminar was attended by some 200 scientists and research associates. other women to do so as well. Photo by O. Adebayo,  IITA.
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A young researcher 
gathers crop data using Innovations in big data
has accelerated related processes as well as improved the management, 
a tablet. Photo by O. Peteti Prasad, Agbona Afolabi, Trushar Shah1, and Andreas Gisel 
Adebayo, IITA quality, and compatibility of collected data. At IITA, 2015 saw significant 
IITA-Ibadan and 1IITA-Kenya strides in the modernization of its data capture and management 
systems.
Modern advancements in Internet data, computer hardware and Automating field data collection
software, global standards, online collaboration platforms, and 
mobile technologies now allow the easy integration of various data Crop breeding experiments are data intensive, with a typical breeding 
management processes that were previously strictly separated. In program producing hundreds of thousands of datasets in any given 
agricultural research, these advancements have revolutionized how year. Inefficient and poor handling of these datasets can significantly 
information is captured, pre-processed, automated, analyzed, and hamper the activities of a breeding program and set back its targeted 
accessed by multiple users in different locations at near real-time. This outputs. IITA researchers have traditionally used a “pen-and-paper” 
20
approach to data collection and transcription, which is time consuming management, data analysis, and decision support. It also provides 
and error prone. a database that works seamlessly to manage pedigree information, 
phenotypic and molecular characterization as well as germplasm 
The Cassava Breeding Program of IITA developed an innovative method evaluation.  
to securely capture cassava field data by using electronic field book Bioinformatics and big data
applications in tablets, which capture data in milliseconds. A barcode 
reader in these tablets reads barcode labels that are generated and used, High-throughput sequencing is an emerging technology that allows 
for example, for accurate and efficient plot identification. The tablets for fast and inexpensive sequencing of a whole genome, which makes 
are then connected to a multifunction platform called Cassavabase the process affordable to many researchers and leads to the production 
(www.https://cassavabase.org), which makes the collected data readily of large amounts of data. However, this technology demands high 
available in compliance with the institute’s Open Access policy and can computer processing power to efficiently store and analyze large data 
be used for downstream analysis. sets. IITA has been using these sequencing data for more than a year for 
gene discovery and genotyping to accelerate breeding cycles.
The program uses Cassavabase as its primary data management tool 
for uploading both phenotyping and genotyping data. These data are The Bioinformatics Unit of IITA, based in Ibadan, offers high throughput 
useful for implementing genomic selection and will improve accuracy sequencing, as well as storing and processing big data. Currently, 
in estimating breeding values and genetic gain for quantitative traits the unit holds more than 4 TB of compressed sequencing data from 
compared to traditional breeding methods. Currently, Cassavabase has different crops. To visualize this amount of stored data, if just the text 
over 1500 phenotyping trials with ~8 million phenotypic observations of this sequencing data is printed, the printout will cover about 300 km 
and ~2 billion genotypic data points with more than 400 registered end-to-end. For large-scale data processing, the Bioinformatics Unit is 
users. equipped with upgraded computing power consisting of 64 cores and 
combined 900 gigabytes of RAM. The actual capacity is set up for the 
The Cassava Breeding Program has successfully implemented tablet- storage of 30 TB of data and processing of 2 TB compressed data in a one 
based data collection in almost all its test environments. About data analysis process. This allows IITA to master large-scale genotyping, 
100 tablets are presently being used, with efforts geared towards gene expression whole genome sequencing data for advanced research 
implementation using handier smartphones in 2016. The program in plant genomics. This important capacity enables IITA researchers 
has also initiated several training workshops on data collection using to increase the precision of correlating traits, also complex traits, to 
tablets for its field technicians. These training workshops have also markers which, in turn, contribute towards faster and more efficient crop 
been extended to other crop breeding programs. breeding.
An integrated breeding management system In the pipeline
Modern breeding programs need to integrate diverse data types Following up on the success of Cassavabase, IITA is currently developing 
and exchange information with partners globally. IITA has developed sister platforms: Musabase and Yambase. IITA is also an active contributor 
and implemented the Breeding Management System (BMS), a to the development of the CGIAR Consortium’s “Big Data Platform 
comprehensive and easy-to-use software suite designed to help Project”.  The envisaged data pool to be generated from this multi-CGIAR 
breeders conduct their routine activities more efficiently. Developed center platform could be used, for example, to directly feed agronomic 
by the Integrated Breeding Platform (IBP) based in IITA-Nairobi in information and advice to farmers through electronic or mobile 
Kenya, the BMS provides interconnected tools for breeding program technology-based means.
Strategic initiatives 21
	 Are	you	about	to	submit	 We	are	Open	Access!			 most. In 2015, IITA made significant strides towards bringing its archived 
a	manuscript	to	a	 Open		 research out into the open.
publisher?	
	 Access	
Let’s	work	together	to	 What,	Why	and	How	 The beginning of the Open Access era at IITA
Receive	proper	credit		 make	it	Open	Access!  	
	 Research	publications	and	
for	your	work	 data	should	be	available	for	 Open Access (OA) and Open Data offer huge opportunities to improve the 
Do	you	have	your	ORCID	number?	 the	world	to	read,	to	learn	
IITA	authors	need	to	register	here:	 Valérie	Poiré		 from,	and	to	build	upon.	 	
http://orcid.org	 	 impact of IITA’s research and development activities as well as increase its 
Open	Access	Focal	Point	
v.poire@cgiar.org		 and its researchers’ visibility within and outside the science community. 
	
Elsie	Ezomo	 IITA formalized its adherence to the principle of OA by signing the CGIAR 
Knowledge	Center	Manager	
e.ezomo@cgiar.org		 Open Access Policy in October 2013. This key document gives a clear and 
	
Martin	Mueller	 common definition and understanding of OA and its inclusions to which 
E-Research	Coordinator	
m.mueller@cgiar.org		 the 15 CGIAR Center signatories have to abide. The CGIAR Consortium 
	
Hilde	Koper	 Office, with funds from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation took the lead 
Intellectual	Property	Focal	Point	
h.koper@cgiar.org		 in 2015 to streamline the OA implementation activities of all centers as 
Our	knowledge	and	experience	with	agricultural	 much as possible, initiating three task forces: the CGIAR Data Management 
innovation	and	multi-stakeholder	processes	can	help	 Task Force, the CGIAR Knowledge Managers, and the individual centers’ 
other	R4D	actors	and	governments	amplify	their	
impact	on	farmers’	lives.	 Open Access Implementation Working Group. 
	 MARC	SCHUT,	Social	Scientist,	IITA/WUR	
MURAT	SARTAS,	Innovation	Systems	Scientist,	IITA/WUR/SLU	
The Open Access Implementation Working Group drafted the IITA 
Open Access implementation plan. The implementation plan covers 
Bringing IITA research results  a whole gamut of activities: from strategy questions over timelines, 
into the open major infrastructural investments, and internet connectivity issues to 
interoperability requirements, formats, transition period and embargo 
Martin Mueller, IITA-Ibadan times, budgets, regulatory frameworks for Intellectual Property (IP), 
resource planning, and change management to impact assessment. This 
For many years, one of the most common criticisms leveled against plan, together with the E-Research and Open Access communication plans, 
international agricultural research centers is that many of its forms the basis for many OA actions for 2016, which has been declared as 
intellectual products are usually relegated to the proverbial “shelf” “IITA Year of Open Access”.
once a research project is completed and the required reports have 
been submitted to funders. Such a practice has deprived intended Related to Open Access, E-Research is one other focus area for IITA. 
beneficiaries—resource-poor smallholder farmers—the opportunity to E-Research is the umbrella that covers all activities and initiatives that 
better their lot through scientific findings locked away in some obscure deal with data management, information management, and knowledge 
knowledge vaults. management. For E-Research, in 2013, IITA initiated a process involving an 
inventory of institutional databases to identify critical issues and concerns. 
However, with the leaps in modern information and communication In this process, IITA identified four main challenges: financial support, quality 
technology, complemented by the strong clamor to make scientific of data, awareness and training of researchers and other staff, and the IT 
findings of publicly funded research centers freely available as being infrastructure. This analysis highlighted the need for coordination and 
“global public goods”, the Open Access revolution began. In this integration of ongoing initiatives. To manage the process, an E-research 
“revolution”, all protagonists benefit, with farmers ultimately gaining the initiative  was set up. 
22
In 2015, E-Research was slightly restructured: the main body of E-Research is adopted the BMS in their research activities while other crop programs are in 
an Advisory Board that meets at least once every two months. All major work the process of also adopting the platform. BMS deployment workshops also 
areas in IITA are represented. The Advisory Board makes strategic assessments held during the year were welcomed by partners such as the West African 
and decisions on information management and their consequences on data Center for Crop Improvement, the Soybean Innovation Lab, and private seed 
management and data infrastructure. companies.
Making data “talk” to each other
The priority work areas for E-Research in 2015 included: Open Access 
implementation planning, SharePoint testing, HR data solution, agronomy During the year, IITA also undertook efforts to harmonize the “understanding” 
database, IITA website revamp, metadata registry, M&E data integration, of human-to-machine and machine-to-machine communication by 
partner database, CG Space deployment, and an approved data and developing and using a common subject term set and by starting to collect 
information management policy. and systemize research metadata. Metadata are data that describe files or 
Improving Open Access infrastructure data (i.e., data about “Author”, “Date published”, “File format”, “use restrictions”) 
or simply a scientific variable (i.e., “Yield per hectare”). The first 2400 metadata 
As a direct outcome of OA implementations, a new institutional repository was will form the base of a metadata registry. One can look at this register as a 
introduced called CG Space (https://cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/68616). central reference defining how to describe frequently used research data. It 
It is a shared DSpace implementation hosted by the International Livestock goes beyond the “crop ontologies” (collaboratively defined types, properties, 
Research Institute (ILRI). CG Space stores not only scholarly publication data and interrelationships of crops respecting crop traits) (http://www.
(journal articles, books, etc.) but also other textual and even multimedia cropontology.org/ ) which are already in use for cassava or cowpea. 
content such as reports, field protocols, photographs, posters, presentations, 
and the like. This repository fulfills all OA requirements, such as having A twin project, the IITA term store, will directly benefit from that and supplies the 
permanent and unlimited access without a login and being free of charge, register back with terms out of authority lists (standard reference lists defined by 
with sufficient metadata and enabling other machines or websites to authorized bodies only) especially those ones from international standardizations.
harvested content. It also comes with an easier and flexible search and 
browsing functionality, shows use statistics about views and downloads, Another major step in making research data fit for cataloging was pushed 
gives useful metadata and all this consistently across eight CGIAR Centers, by the CGIAR Consortium Office: the CGIAR core metadata schema, designed 
seven CRPs, four CGIAR programs, and nine other CGIAR Space partners that to harmonize and uplift the quality of metadata across all CGIAR centers. 
participate in CG Space. They are usually given as a set that belong together, often following an 
international standard, like the “Dublin core”. A metadata set which is a fixed 
A week’s training at IITA-Ibadan equipped eight staff and five individuals conceptual system is a schema. A “core schema” defines the essential part of it. 
from partner institutions with the necessary know-how to run CG Space Assessing our research data management
technically, use it, and manage its content. The repository was launched 
in October with a presentation to researchers. As IITA’s Knowledge Center During the year, the CGIAR Shared Services held an intensive, 10-day audit 
curates legacy publication data for upload, the institute’s collections on CG of IITA’s research data management system, which covered a sample 
Space grow day by day. of seven existing projects and many research support units. The audit 
revealed strengths and weaknesses of how the institute deals with data. 
Good news also from the Breeding Management System (BMS), a collaboratively It resulted in and heightened sensitivity for the importance of proper data 
developed database suite of the “integrated breeding platform” (https://www. management practices. As an outcome, a work plan of improvements is 
integratedbreeding.net/). In 2015, the cowpea and soybean programs at IITA now one priority issue for 2016. 
Strategic initiatives 23
Improving Crops
24
Genetically fortifying banana, enset, 
cassava, and yam against pests and 
diseases 
Leena Tripathi, IITA-Kenya
Genetic engineering is one of the key techniques for improving 
crops particularly those that are vegetatively propagated or not 
amenable to conventional breeding. At IITA, the technique is being 
used for the improvement of crops that are economically important 
to Africa, such as banana and plantain (Musa sp.), cassava (Manihot 
esculenta), and yam (Dioscorea sp.).
Genetic transformation platform 
for banana and cassava 
Genetic engineering of any crop requires efficient transformation protocols. 
However, many African laboratories lack the capacity and expertise to carry 
out the genetic transformation of staple crops and this work has been 
limited to advanced laboratories. There is a need to build the capacity of 
researchers in Africa to carry out the genetic transformation of staple crops 
such as banana and cassava. 
BXW-resistant banana and enset Donors and partners 
Despite the technical difficulties of transforming a monocot species, we looking at BXW-resistant 
transgenic banana in 
have developed an efficient transformation system for several banana Banana Xanthomonas Wilt (BXW) caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. confined field trial at NARL, 
and plantain cultivars using embryogenic cell suspensions. This, in turn, musacearum has caused estimated economic losses of between $2 and Uganda. Photo by Leena 
has paved the way for the genetic manipulation of banana and plantain 8 billion over the last decade in Africa. In the absence of natural host Tripathi, IITA.
by incorporating agronomically important traits such as those conferring plant resistance, researchers at IITA and National Agricultural Research 
resistance to diseases or pests as well as tolerance to abiotic stress factors. Laboratories [NARL] in Uganda, have developed transgenic banana by 
inserting Hypersensitive Response-Assisting Protein gene (Hrap) and Plant 
The Transformation Laboratory at IITA in Nairobi, Kenya, has also successfully Ferredoxin-Like Protein gene (Pflp) from sweet pepper. These genes were 
developed an effective transformation platform for farmer-preferred licensed by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) on a 
varieties of cassava that can be used to develop improved varieties with royalty basis from the Academia Sinica in Taiwan. The 11 transgenic lines 
desired traits. This is the first-ever report of the successful Agrobacterium- selected for field trials, after exhibiting strong resistance in the laboratory 
mediated transformation of African farmer-preferred cassava varieties in a and greenhouse, have been shown to be 100% resistant to BXW through 
laboratory based in sub-Saharan Africa. three successive crop cycles.
Improving Crops 25
They will be further tested at multiple locations to capture the effects of 
different environmental conditions on disease resistance. 
It is well known that pathogens can evolve and “breakdown” resistance 
to disease. To avoid this, we have also developed transgenic banana by 
stacking the two genes together in the same line to enhance durability of 
resistance. An ex-ante impact analysis conducted last year in Uganda has 
clearly shown that if this new technology is successfully adopted in the 
region, both consumers and producers will benefit. The greatest benefits 
would be in countries that have experienced large production losses from 
BXW. These transgenic lines are also currently under testing for food and 
environmental safety in compliance with biosafety regulations. 
Based on success with transgenic banana, we are trying to transfer 
transgenic technology from banana to enset in partnership with the 
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research. Enset, closely related to banana, 
is a staple food source for over 15 million people in Ethiopia. Its production 
has also been severely threatened by BXW in all the enset-growing areas. 
We have established a protocol for enset transformation and we are 
currently developing transgenic enset using Hrap and Pflp genes.
We are also identifying additional resistance genes for use in gene stacking 
or pyramiding strategies. We tested the potential of rice pattern recognition 
receptor (PRR), Xa21 for providing resistance against X. campestris pv. 
musacearum. Our results confirmed that the constitutive expression of the 
rice Xa21 gene in banana results in enhanced resistance to BXW disease.
Virus-resistant banana 
The Banana Bunchy Top Disease (BBTD) is a serious threat to banana across 
the world. It is extremely difficult to control and is continuing to spread 
in many countries where banana are primarily produced by smallholder 
farmers. BBTD has already moved into Nigeria and is causing major losses 
in plantain, the country’s third most important starchy staple. The disease 
has also been reported in several Central and East African countries and 
there is a risk of it spreading into Uganda and Tanzania where banana is a 
Harvesting of nematode resistant transgenic plantain. Photo by Leena Tripathi, IITA.
26
key staple crop. The virus infects all types of banana including East African improvement of slow-cycling crops. IITA and the University of California at 
Highland banana, plantain, and dessert varieties. Davis (UC Davis) are trying to develop double haploid banana. A transgenic 
approach developed at UC Davis previously in the model plant Arabidopsis 
Host plant resistance is the most appropriate form of control. However, thaliana was transferred to banana in an effort to develop a haploid inducer. 
there is no known resistance against the Bunchy top virus in the Musa The approach involves silencing an endogenous histone protein CENH3 
germplasm. Therefore, IITA and Queensland University of Technology and replacing it with a modified version. When plants with the modified 
(QUT), Australia, are developing transgenic banana and plantain with CENH3 of the protein are crossed to the wild type (with no modification in 
resistance to BBTD using the RNAi approach. About 50 transgenic lines of CENH3), haploids are obtained. Under this project, we developed a genetic 
plantain cultivar Gonja manjaya have been developed in the laboratory at transformation system for the diploid banana cultivar Zebrina GF, which is 
IITA-Kenya. These lines will be characterized at molecular level and then a fertile parent used in breeding programs. The haploid inducers for the 
sent to IITA-Nigeria for glasshouse evaluation for resistance to BBTD. diploid banana cultivar Zebrina GF were developed and transferred to the 
glasshouse for flowering. Wild type plants of two diploid parents (Zebrina 
Nematode-resistant plantain GF and Calcutta 4) were also planted in the field to be crossed to transgenic 
Plant parasitic nematodes can cause losses of up to 70% on plantain and haploid inducer Zebrina GF for haploid induction. The transgenic line 
cooking banana in Africa. Application of nematicides is inappropriate flowered in the glasshouse, was crossed with pollens of wild type Zebrina 
and resistant cultivars are not available. IITA in partnership with the GF, and is currently under seed setting. Once the seeds are set, they will be 
University of Leeds, UK, has developed transgenic plantain using an tested for haploidy.
anti-feedant cysteine proteinase inhibitor (cystatin) from maize and 
an anti-root invasion, non-lethal synthetic peptide, either singly or by Genetic transformation of yam
stacking these genes. The glasshouse study showed that both genes are Yam is an important crop in the tropics and subtropics providing food 
capable of providing resistance in plantain to concomitant infection by security and income to over 300 million people. However, its production 
different nematode species. Confined field testing of 12 promising lines remains constrained by increasing levels of field and storage pests and 
demonstrated that transgenic expression of maize cystatin and synthetic diseases. A major constraint to the development of biotechnological 
peptide confers resistance against key nematode pests Radopholus similis approaches for yam improvement has been the lack of an efficient 
and Helicotylenchus multicinctus. The best peptide transgenic line improved transformation and regeneration system for the crop.
agronomic performance compared with non-transgenic controls and 
provided about 99% resistance to nematodes at harvest of the mother Recently, IITA has developed an efficient, fast, and reproducible protocol 
crop. Its yield was 186% of the nematode-challenged controls, based on its for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Dioscorea rotundata 
larger bunches and reduced plant toppling in storms because roots were using axillary buds as explants. This provides a useful platform for future 
less damaged. GE studies in this economically important crop. This is the first report of 
the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of yam with experimental 
Double haploid banana evidence of stable integration of T-DNA in D. rotundata genotypes. 
Banana is a slow breeding crop and developing a pure breeding line This protocol opens up an avenue for future genetic improvement of D. 
can take up to several years. Haploid inducers are used in breeding to rotundata with candidate genes of proven agronomic importance to attain 
hasten the process. Haploid breeding could, therefore, revolutionize the sustainable production. Yam plant; Photo by IITA.
Improving crops 27
sub-Saharan Africa, specific procedures and steps still vary from country 
to country. Generally, the authority to release new varieties of maize and 
cowpea is vested on the National Variety Release Committee (NVRC) of 
each country. Research organizations such as IITA and national research 
institutes help to push forward the release process. 
The variety release process involves several steps and activities. The plant 
breeder of an institution that intends to release a variety completes and 
submits standard variety release nomination forms to the country’s NVRC. 
Before this, the nominated variety should have undergone rigorous testing 
in several locations, at different levels (i.e., on-station and on-farm), and 
over a number of years to prove its superior qualities and performance. 
A study undertaken by IITA in 2007/2008, under the auspices of the 
project Drought-Tolerant Maize for Africa funded by the Bill & Melinda 
Gates Foundation, defined the time taken to release elite maize varieties, 
summarized the variety release requirements and procedures in 13 
project countries, identified constraints to the release of elite germplasm 
to smallholder farmers, and proposed strategies to speed up the release 
of new varieties. Results showed that the composition of the NVRCs and 
the variety testing and release processes differed considerably among 
countries. In several situations, the public sector dominated the NVRC’s 
variety-approval meetings. 
In general, the systems in place resulted in delays in the release of new 
A good crop of maize. varieties. In some cases, the system allowed only a few varieties to be 
Photo by IITA. Streamlining the release of improved 
maize and cowpea varieties in Africa released at any given time. As variety release is costly and repetitive (the 
same variety must be tested in all countries where it is being targeted for 
B. Badu-Apraku, A.  Menkir, O. Boukar, T. Abdoulaye, S. Ajala,  marketing), the delay means that the return on investment is also pushed 
B. Asafo-Adjei, and C. Fatokun, IITA-Ibadan and IITA-Kano back as seed companies—who often invest heavily in the development 
of new varieties—have no option but to wait for varieties to be released 
The benefits of improved varieties generated by research are realized only before they can start selling or marketing them. 
when these varieties are actually used and grown by farmers—the intended 
beneficiaries. However, the path from research farms to farmers’ fields is not as The lack of an effective variety release system in sub-Saharan Africa was 
simple and straightforward as it may seem. identified as a major impediment to the transfer to smallholder farmers of 
already available elite maize varieties and, therefore, constituted a major 
Although the processes for approval and release of new varieties of constraint to increased maize production and productivity. Furthermore, 
crops such as cowpea and maize are basically similar across countries in most of the NVRCs lacked good coordination and were holding meetings 
28
only once a year to consider varieties for release. That is not often enough, create a larger seed market and quicken the pace of diffusion and use of 
given the number of improved varieties being developed and nominated newly released varieties. 
for release every year. Seed laws were also too rigid as data from one country 
where a variety had been tested could not be used as a basis for its release Thirdly, because only a few countries accept data from other countries 
in another country, even though both countries had similar agroecologies. for variety release, we recommended that testing should not be 
This further delayed the release process as the same variety needed to be mandatory for varieties already released in other countries if the 
retested in every country where it was intended to be released. recommendation domain is the same, thereby eliminating the need 
for retesting of varieties from country to country, saving resources and 
In addition, national variety lists and catalogues were not being updated quickening variety release. 
regularly, making it difficult for seed companies to commercialize 
improved varieties. Only a few countries also had Plant Breeders’ Rights Fourthly, it was noted that registration should be simplified so that only 
(PBR) thus discouraging many private seed companies from introducing important VCU and DUS information would be required to distinguish 
their best products because the protection of such products could not be a new variety from the others.  The DUS information should be from 
guaranteed. The private sector had dominated varietal releases in Eastern one season as it is affected very little by the environment. 
and Southern Africa. In West Africa variety release had been mainly from 
the public sector because there were fewer seed companies operating in Fifthly, breeders’ own data should be used to support variety release 
the region. Southern Africa has the highest rates of varietal release and thereby eliminating the need for the National Performance Trials (NPTs). 
adoption of improved maize varieties. Few locations should be required for release and emphasis should be 
on locations where the variety would be recommended for production. 
Making the variety release process more efficient
IITA, working with partners, consequently developed and recommended Finally, breeders should embark on limited production of breeder seeds 
several strategies to streamline the varietal release process and rates and marketing rather than waiting until the variety was fully released 
based on results of the survey. as this prolonged the time before a variety  reached the farmers. 
First, we recommended that regional standards for PBR should be Harvesting the fruits
promoted to allow plant breeding programs to generate income from The strategies adopted by IITA to promote the rapid release and 
the products of their research through royalties. This would allow the registration of  stress tolerant maize and cowpea varieties have resulted 
private and public sectors to benefit from the products of research and in a large number being released in West and Central Africa (WCA) for 
lead to more investments in varietal improvement.  the past 8 years. A total of 95 maize varieties, developed under IITA’s 
Maize Program with tolerance for drought, low soil nitrogen and/or 
Secondly, West Africa would benefit from the free flow of germplasm Striga resistance, as well as resistance to the maize streak virus and 
across national boundaries of the Economic Community of West African stem borers, have been released by our NARS partners in sub-Saharan 
States (ECOWAS) if the regional variety release process were to be Africa since 2007. Similarly, 31 cowpea varieties developed in IITA 
harmonized. Thus, varieties released in one country should be considered have been released by the NARS across the target countries during 
automatically released in other countries with similar agroecologies, the same period. The improved varieties have good adaptation to the 
an approach already proposed and endorsed by ECOWAS. Mega- various agroecological zones in each of the target countries in sub-
environments and adaptation zones cut across country boundaries, Saharan Africa. Several of the maize and cowpea varieties have been 
therefore varieties should be released based on mega-environments to commercialized in the various countries. They produce yields as high 
Cowpea field. 
Improving Crops 29 Photo by IITA.
as or higher than the presently available commercial varieties. In Output (million tons)
addition, several of the maize varieties have elevated levels of lysine 
and tryptophan, and/or provitamin A.
The release and commercialization of the stress tolerant early, extra-
early, intermediate, and late-maturing varieties developed in IITA and 
promoted by the NARS and the private sector have contributed to a 
phenomenal increase in maize production and productivity through 
the movement of maize across new frontiers. They have replaced 
sorghum and millet in the savanna zones of WCA (Fig. 1) resulting in 
the high annual growth rates of maize production shown in the table.
Similarly, the release, promotion, and adoption of IITA cowpea 
varieties have significantly contributed to the production increases 
recorded in West Africa since 2001 (Fig. 2).  Results of an adoption 
study conducted in 2016 in Kano State, Nigeria, indicated that about 
58% of the land area was devoted to improved varieties. The varietal Figure 1. Total production of maize, millet and sorghum grain in11 West and Central 
specific adoption rates for selected improved varieties were as follows: African countries, 2000-2012 (Source FAO statistics).
IT99K-216, 31%,;IT90K-277-2, 9.7%; IT89KD-288, 9.4%; IT97K-499-35, 
5.3%; and IT89KD-391D,1.6%. The average yield gain of improved Output (million tons)
varieties was 254% higher than the local varieties with an average 
grain yield of 222 kg/ha. The results also indicated that the adoption of 
improved cowpea varieties increased daily income by N64.19 ($0.32). 
Furthermore, adopters gained a total household asset value of N15, 
783.81 ($74), on average.
Growth rates of maize poduction in West Africa.
Burkina Fasso 22.3% Mali 58.2%
Ghana 7.7% Nigeria 10.8%
Benin 4.7% Benin 3.6%
Guinea 7.9% Guinea 32.0%
Sierra Leone 46.9% Sierra Leone 17.2% Figure 2. Total production of cowpea in six West African countries, 2000-2014  
(Source: FAO statistics).
30
Taking the genetic superhighway in 
crop breeding
Melaku Gedil, Ismail Rabbi, Ranjana Bhattacharjee, Andreas Gisel,  
and Christian Fatokun, IITA-Ibadan
Genetic improvement is considered the major contributor to crop 
productivity. Advances in biotechnology, such as the availability 
of whole genome sequences, high throughput genotyping and 
phenotyping tools, as well as data management, and analytical services, 
enable breeders to better understand the genetic basis of agriculturally 
important traits in crops and predict the breeding values of individual 
plants or lines in a plant breeding program. Additionally, the decreasing 
cost of using molecular techniques enables breeders to screen large 
populations, thus increasing the efficiency of their application.
The various approaches for accelerated breeding include marker-
assisted backcrossing (MABC), a quick and effective way of transferring 
a gene from a donor line to another line that is deficient in the trait 
of interest; marker-assisted recurrent selection (MARS), which allows 
the  accumulation of a relatively large number of favorable alleles, 
represented by quantitative trait loci, using selected markers that are 
significantly associated with target traits, and genomic selection (GS) 
which helps to predict the genetic values of breeding progenies using 
a statistical model based on markers distributed across the genome. 
IITA researchers are developing and deploying these genomic tools and 
techniques for innovative and accelerated breeding of crops such as 
maize, cassava, cowpea, and yam. primary focus was on the performance of lines under drought and no Technician extracting and 
drought conditions as well as Striga infestation. In the two populations analyzing DNA. Photo by IITA
Fast-track breeding of stress-tolerant maize analyzed so far, MARS increased the frequencies of favorable alleles, 
DNA markers linked to key traits, such as tolerance to drought and Striga, suggesting the efficiency of genotypic selection. 
have been identified and applied in our maize breeding to save time and 
reduce the costs associated with extensive field evaluation. Two cycles of Catalyzing genetic gain in cassava 
genotypic selection have been completed in four IITA MARS populations through genomic selection
drawn from different maturity groups, adapted to the low to medium Cassava breeding through phenotypic recurrent selection has 
altitude, and with various agronomically superior attributes. Lines achieved remarkable success, with a large number of disease resistant 
derived from the various marker-based cycles of selection have been and high yielding improved varieties being currently deployed 
evaluated in multilocational field trials to estimate genetic gains. The throughout sub-Saharan Africa. However, it takes between 4 and 6 
Improving crops 31
Since the onset of the project, three cycles of genomic selection and 
recombination have been undertaken. In each of these annual cycles, 
about 100 clones with good breeding values for key traits (fresh root 
yield, dry-matter content, and resistance to cassava mosaic disease), 
undergo controlled crosses producing 5000−10,000 seeds. To accelerate 
the breeding cycle, the seeds are germinated during the off-season and 
about 2500 of these are selected based on parental breeding values for 
genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). Each seedling is genotyped at more 
than 100,000 genomic positions to generate the breeding values for traits 
of interest. Superior progenies are then selected for the next cycle of 
controlled crosses in the main season. This shortened breeding cycle allows 
the breeding program to respond to changes in breeding targets and meet 
the demands of smallholder farmers. As a result, new cohorts of improved 
varieties have been channeled towards the product development pipeline.
Cassava in the field. Photo by IITA
years of field phenotyping to identify good parents for generating the 
next cycle of selections. The breeding cycle has now been reduced 
to 1−2 years through genomics-assisted breeding. IITA has teamed 
up with Cornell University and the national programs of Nigeria and 
Uganda to embark on genomic selection-based breeding within the 
framework of the Next Generation Cassava Breeding Project (www.
An overview of genomic selection-based annual breeding cycle implemented for 
nextgencassava.org). cassava: reprinted from Gedil et al.
32
Additionally, several other aspects of this pipeline have been tested for their efficacy in facilitating genetic gain. MABC is being used to 
strengthened. For example, trait measurements on individual plants quickly introgress resistance to Striga from an IITA improved breeding line 
and plots are captured using android apps running on tablets and to two released varieties which lack resistance to the parasitic weed. 
smartphones, making the data instantly available for uploading to 
the breeding database. To store, analyze, and ensure open access, the Data management and decision support tools  
Cassava Breeding Program is currently depositing all field-trial data on As depicted in the above examples, the low cost of sequencing allows 
http://cassavabase.org. This database not only provides access to data but molecular breeding approaches with large populations producing vast 
also hosts tools for breeders and other researchers that include genomic amounts of raw data. These data need to be processed promptly to 
selection algorithms and analysis capacity, a cassava genome browser, extract the information needed by the breeders for selecting progenies 
cassava ontology tools, phenotyping tools, and social networking. with good breeding values. The data analysis pipeline, including sequence 
cleaning, sequence polymorphism search, comparative genomics, and 
The promise of molecular techniques in yam decision-making, needs specific hardware and software to be able to cope 
Among the major staple food crops, yam (Dioscorea spp.) is a challenge with the immense data load and complex analysis. By establishing a bioin-
to breeders. The biology of the crop makes it less amenable to genetic formatics platform with the correspondingly adapted infrastructure, IITA is 
improvement as it is a polyploid dioecious species with a significant now able to efficiently analyze the big data produced by diverse breeding 
period of tuber dormancy that prolongs the growth cycle. The yam programs. The capacity of the computing infrastructure allows the breed-
collections maintained at IITA have been characterized using GBS. This ers to analyze thousands of genotypes simultaneously producing up to 
has allowed varietal identification and description of genetic diversity, 100,000 data points. Genotypic data, in combination with phenotypic and 
linkage mapping, and QTL analysis of target traits (anthracnose disease, other metadata, are organized and stored in effective open access data 
sex-determination, and other agronomic traits) for accelerated breeding management systems such as Breeding Management System (BMS, www.
through marker-assisted selection. A simple and efficient Agrobacterium- integratedbreeding.net) and customized crop databases (CassavaBase, 
mediated transformation system for D. rotundata has been established, YamBase, MusaBase). These systems provide the downstream deci-
opening up an avenue for further genetic studies.  Through the AfricaYam sion-making tools with a vast quantity of high quality data for a precise 
project (www.africayam.org), genomics and marker-assisted breeding selection of improved offspring for subsequent breeding steps.
platforms are being established to fast-track the development of new Technician at Bioscience Center 
varieties and training of NARS partners. in Ibadan analyzing DNA. Photo 
by IITA
Novel approaches for advancing cowpea improvement
In cowpea, genomic tools are being developed to enhance progress 
in breeding improved varieties with attributes preferred by farmers 
and consumers. To this end, the genetic diversity of 365 lines, a subset 
representing the entire 15,000 accessions maintained at IITA, has been 
characterized by GBS. This has classified the accessions into five distinct 
groups. In addition, a set of about 215 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) 
has been genotyped and phenotyped for resistance to aphids and other 
desirable traits. A wild cowpea relative, which is resistant to aphids, is one of 
the two parents for the RILs. Trait-linked candidate markers are also being 
Improving crops 33
Making Crops Healthy
34
Untangling the coffee (root) knots  decisions on pest and disease management options. This is especially 
in Africa important for a perennial crop such as coffee. 
Danny Coyne, IITA-Tanzania IITA embarked on a quest to fill this gap together with experts and their 
students from the various partner academic and research institutions 
If you are one of those whose day must be jump-started by coffee, in the countries we work in, as well as from UC Davis (USA), EMBRAPA 
then you are part of the millions that make coffee one of the world’s (Brazil), Ghent University (Belgium), and National Plant Protection 
most important cash crops. Coffee is also the second most traded Organization (The Netherlands). 
commodity, with an estimated total export value of $19.1 billion in 
2012/2013.  More than 100 million people, mostly from developing These efforts are now beginning to achieve results, not only in 
tropical countries, depend on coffee-growing for their livelihoods. In building a wealth of knowledge about the pest in Africa but also in 
Africa, it is a primary source of income for an estimated 10 million demonstrating how advanced technologies could help to clear the 
households across 25 countries and yet, production has been diagnostic confusion. 
declining here by approximately 17% since the 1970s. Elsewhere, 
production has doubled over the last 50 years owing to skyrocketing Traditionally, researchers have relied on morphometrics to identify 
increases in consumption. Meloidogyne species—a burdensome, labor-intensive process 
dependent on scarce expertise that is now known to be greatly 
This decline in production in Africa is primarily blamed on losses hampered by phenotypic plasticity and inter-specific similarities. 
to pests and diseases and the associated costs in managing them. Despite its shortcomings, a biochemical-based diagnostic technique 
Pesticides, for example, account for over 30% of production costs. has remained one of the most reliable and widely-used differentiation 
Among coffee pests, root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are a methods. Over time, molecular methods have been developed, in 
special threat, significant yet often overlooked. In South and Central particular, species-specific primers, but even with rapidly declining 
America from where most of the information comes, root-knot costs, DNA barcoding has continued to prove difficult, especially for 
nematodes are recognized as highly destructive pests that can wipe the tropical root-knot nematodes. Mitochondrial genes, however, 
out entire coffee plantations and force a shift to other cash crops, such known for their uni-parental inheritance combined with high 
as sugarcane. In Brazil, for example, there is such emphasis on their 
importance that the Brazilian Agricultural Research Organization A healthy, productive 
coffee plant.
(EMBRAPA) has assembled a diagnostic kit specifically designed to 
rapidly detect the presence and assess the incidence of Meloidogyne 
spp. in coffee plantations. 
Virtually no information exists on nematode pests affecting coffee in 
Africa, except for some early distribution and diagnostic studies. This 
is despite the obvious economic value of the crop in the continent. 
A key obstacle has been the lack of a robust and reliable diagnostic 
method. Identifying which species occur and the potential damage 
they pose provide valuable information towards making informed 
35 35
mutation rates, have increasingly become a focus as a useful diagnostic 
barcoding region. Using hundreds of populations from widespread 
geographical origins and variable crop hosts we screened a selection 
of quickly evolving mitochondrial coding genes. Our results indicated 
that mitochondrial haplotypes are strongly linked and consistent 
with traditional esterase isozyme patterns and confirmed that these 
barcodes can effectively distinguish closely related species. 
With this new tool in hand a rich abundance of species has 
recently been determined from just a handful of coffee 
samples from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. At least six 
species of Meloidogyne have so far been identified, often 
demonstrating mixed species combinations from individual farms. 
The tropical species M. incognita and M. javanica were observed, as 
expected. The less commonly occurring and more temperate species, 
M. hapla, was also found, as was M. africana, a relatively unknown and 
little studied species. In addition M. paranaensis was collected from 
Uganda and M. izalcoensis from Tanzania, the first time either of these 
species had been found in Africa. At least two other populations 
represented new undescribed species, while a tentative identification 
of M. hispanica from Tanzania, if confirmed, would be the first known 
record of this species on coffee in Africa. Again, our vast lack of 
knowledge on pathogens in this region was underscored.
The recovery of M. africana from Tanzania creates interest from both 
taxonomic and pathological perspectives, as it is an early branching 
species of Meloidogyne that causes severe damage on coffee roots. 
From morphological measurements of our cultured populations, 
juveniles and females measured up perfectly with the description of 
M. africana by Whitehead (1959). Strangely though, the males perfectly 
matched the description of M. decalineata, which were also recorded 
by Whitehead (1968) from populations recovered from the same area 
as our M. africana from Lushoto, Tanzania. Sequencing of ribosomal 
and mitochondrial genes, however, confirmed that all specimens 
Left: Galling of roots by Meloidogyne africana.  belonged to a single species. By carefully analyzing the typeslides, 
Right:  Coffee tree root ball, showing extensive knotting and a galled clump of roots. and with confirmation from the molecular analysis, it appears that the 
36 36
 Perineal pattern of Meloidogyne female. Coffee production on the hillside. 
original descriptions of M. decalineata and M. africana may have been in determining the ancestral characteristics of root-knot nematodes. 
confused. Studying this nematode will allow a glimpse into their origin, permitting 
us to have an insight into the evolution of their reproduction, virulence, 
To further complicate the situation, the other “African” coffee species, and morphology. However, from another Tanzanian coffee field sample 
M. megadora, previously recovered and described from Angola and we recovered a population that is likely to represent a new, undescribed 
Uganda and M. oteifae recovered and described from the Congo, are species, which appears to be an even earlier branching and more basal 
morphologically very close to our current M. africana cultures. Using species than M. africana. So far, therefore, two African species from coffee, 
typeslides observation of M. oteifae, perineal patterns were found to together with M. coffeicola (America) appear to be of a primitive nature, 
be very similar to those of our M. africana population. Without cultures suggesting that coffee may have played a crucial role in the evolution of 
of these two species, it is not possible, yet, to clarify the link or dispel the pest. It is clear that M. africana substantially deforms and damages 
any further possible taxonomic confusion. It does, however, pose the roots, and this is likely to lead to significant yield losses. It is also clear 
question about which species we really have infecting our coffee, and that, although there appears quite a complex diversity of Meloidogyne 
adds great weight to the value of establishing accurate diagnostic species occurring on coffee, the situation may not be as complex as the 
techniques to enable sound reliable information for use in crop and existing literature may have us believe but we have very little knowledge 
pest management decisions. about the true extent of the damage they are posing to the coffee sector.
A further intriguing aspect is that M. africana is an early branching And you thought having that aromatic “African” coffee was just as 
species within the genus. This basal position is of crucial importance simple as brewing and pouring some into a cup!
Making Crops Healthy 37 37
banana in the East African Great Lakes region where they are a highly 
valued staple food for over 80 million people. EAHB are so important in 
Uganda (the second largest producer in the world) that the local name 
matoke (or matooke) is synonymous with food. An average Ugandan 
consumes about 0.7 kg of banana daily. 
Given the importance of EAHB for food security in the Great Lakes Region 
and in the context of a rapidly changing climate bringing with it extremes 
of environmental conditions and changes in pest and disease distributions 
and patterns, a more thorough understanding of the genetic variability—
and how to tap it—is crucial to ensure their continued existence and 
maximize their potential. Presently, EAHB have reached only 9% of their 
yield potential in Eastern Africa while biotic stresses, such as nematodes, 
weevils, and diseases such as black sigatoka, and Banana Xanthomonas 
wilt (BXW), have made a heavy impact on production.
IITA conducted a study funded by Irish Aid to advance our understanding 
of the genetic variability in EAHB in the context of their evolutionary history 
and determine their potential to adapt to current and future threats. 
Bananas galore. 
Photo by IITA. East African Highland Banana: Saving 
the future by understanding the past1 EAHB display quite a range of variation of plant types, grouped in five clone 
sets: Nfuuka, Musakala, Nakabululu, Nakitembe, and Mbidde. Grouping 
Morag Ferguson and Rony Swennen, IITA Tanzania  was based on 73 morphological traits and fruit quality attributes. Simple 
(Dar es Salaam and Arusha) sequence repeats (SSR)—a type of DNA molecular marker—was used 
to measure the genetic diversity among the different plant types. About 
Banana (Musa spp.) is one of the world’s most popular fruits and a 90 phenotypically diverse cultivars were collected from the Uganda and 
mainstay on the family table along with rice, wheat, and maize. Bananas Kenya germplasm collections which represent the cultivated genepool. 
produce few, if any, seeds and are instead vegetatively propagated by These samples were then DNA-fingerprinted using 100 SSR microsatellite 
taking a part of the plant—an offshoot or a sucker—and sticking it into markers to investigate their population genetic diversity, to correlate 
the ground to grow a genetically identical “copy” of the mother plant. genetic variability with morphological classes, and to determine the 
However, the absence of seeds generated by sexual recombination limits evolutionary origins of EAHB from the time they were introduced into 
the potential of banana to produce genetically diverse offspring that could Africa.
withstand future environmental and biological threats.
The findings are surprising. They revealed that EAHB presently cultivated in 
 The East African Highland Banana (EAHB) are a specific type of cooking Africa have minimal genetic variation and are largely genetically uniform, 
1Based on: Kitavi M., T. Downing, J. Lorenzen, D. Karamura, M. Onyango, M. Nyine, M. Ferguson even between and within the Kenyan and Ugandan collections. Basically, 
and C. Spillane (2016). The triploid East African Highland Banana (EAHB) genepool is genetically the research showed that all EAHB existing today, asexually propagated over 
uniform arising from a single ancestral clone that underwent population expansion by 
vegetative propagation. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 129:547-561. multiple generations, can trace their origins from a common ancestor. The 
38 38
research also indicated that EAHB have a significantly lower genetic variability in the Great Lakes Region (evident from the molecular data gathered 
than other types of banana such as plantain and the sweet Cavendish by the research). Through this rapid expansion, somatic DNA-mutations 
banana. The variability found in morphological traits (i.e., flower, fruit, etc.) and/or epi-mutations are thought to have accumulated, resulting in the 
for EAHB is not reflected at the level of genetic diversity. Consequently, the morphologically different variants we see today. 
narrow genetic base means that consumption and associated food security 
in East Africa are highly vulnerable to environmental and biotic changes and Broadening the genetic base of EAHB, while maintaining and improving quality 
stresses. Simply put, if the climate changes drastically, or if a new banana pest and yield characteristics, is a top research priority for IITA. To some extent this 
or disease comes up, we may see the end of EAHB in Africa as the crop is not requires accelerated re-domestication of EAHB which involves IITA breeders 
genetically equipped to handle such stresses. replicating the crossing events that occurred in Southeast Asia centuries ago 
with diploid wild banana. In addition, IITA researchers are investigating the use 
Cultivated  banana are thought to have arisen from the crossing of two wild of modern biotechnology tools and applying them to address the adaptability 
banana types in Southeast Asia approximately 7000 years ago. These wild of current EAHB because of their lack of naturally-occurring genetic variation. 
Banana roadside market in 
species have two copies of their chromosomes in each cell (called “diploids” All these efforts aim to ensure that future generations of Africans will still be rural South West Uganda. 
in genetic terminology). At some time in the course of eons of intermating, able to enjoy an East African Highland Banana. Photo by Piet VanAsten, IITA. 
a rare genetic event happened in which an offspring was produced with 
three copies of their chromosomes in each cell (or “triploids”). Triploid 
banana—those that we commonly eat these days—are sterile and do not 
produce fertile seeds. EAHB are one of them. 
Researchers consider that the triploid-forming hybridization event of EAHB 
originally occurred in New Guinea and Java. However, the lack of historical 
records and robust archaeological evidence means that we do not fully 
understand how and when triploid EAHB arrived in the Great Lakes Region 
from its center of origin in Asia, although it is thought that the ancestral 
EAHB first entered Africa about 2500 years ago. Irrespective of where they 
were first generated, it appears that the current day EAHB all arose from a 
common ancestral clone. 
The absence of seeds and the increased fruit size would have made humans 
prefer this type, thereby giving rise to the current predominance of sterile 
triploid cultivars. The original ancestral triploid-forming hybridization 
event would have isolated EAHB reproductively from all other banana, 
leaving them genetically isolated with minimal genetic variability to deal 
with environmental changes.
This narrow genetic base is maintained through the vegetative reproduction 
of asexual clones (copies) that are planted as suckers. Over the past 2000 
years, this has allowed a rapid expansion in the population size of EAHB 
Making Crops Healthy 39 39
CBSD in East Africa: The fight released, these varieties will be the first to have dual resistance/
continues tolerance for CBSD and CMD for the Lake Zone of Tanzania, an 
area where CBSD is so devastating that many farmers have totally 
Edward Kanju, IITA Tanzania abandoned cassava production.
Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) is a  viral disease that rots In Uganda, two IITA-developed varieties have been officially released 
cassava roots and renders them useless. Before the twenty-first during the year: TZ 130 (NARO-CASS 1) and MM 2006/0130 (NARO-
century it was largely restricted to coastal Eastern Africa. However, CASS 2). Their release is a milestone since these are the first that offer 
in the early 2000s, new outbreaks were reported from mid-altitude dual resistance/tolerance for CMD and CBSD for the mid-altitude 
areas (>1000 m above sea level) of south-central Uganda, western areas of the Great Lakes region. 
Kenya, and northwestern Tanzania, precipitated by huge increases 
in the populations of the vector, whitefly, Bemisia tabaci. CBSD has However, IITA continues to pursue the objective of developing a 
subsequently been shown to be spreading as a pandemic throughout variety that is truly resistant to CBSD. By definition, a truly resistant 
the major cassava-growing regions of East and Central Africa and variety should not be readily infected, even when exposed to large 
threatens to spread further westwards into Central and West Africa. amounts of vector-borne inoculum. If and when infected, such a 
variety should develop inconspicuous symptoms without adverse 
Research by IITA has shown that the most effective and convenient effects on growth and yield. It should also support low virus (if any) 
approach, particularly for resource-poor farmers, to reducing losses content and thus be a poor source of infection. Developing a truly 
from CBSD is the use of host-plant resistance or the deployment of CBSD-resistant variety will entail using different modes  and new 
less-susceptible cultivars. Historically, much of the breeding work to sources of resistance. 
combat CBSD has focused on tolerance since complete resistance to 
infection is rare. To this end, IITA breeders have started to look for and identify 
such sources of resistance by introducing germplasm from IITA’s 
In 2015, IITA continued efforts to control, contain, and even push back Genetic Resources Center in Ibadan, Nigeria. Nine Nigerian cultivars 
CBSD on this front. In Tanzania, four IITA-developed varieties tolerant were introduced by tissue culture into Tanzania, where they were 
of CBSD and resistant to Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD, another evaluated for CBSD resistance in the field for three seasons at 
widespread disease of the crop) were officially released for use by Chambezi, a known disease hotspot. Initial findings have shown that 
farmers in the country. These were: KBH 2002/363 (Chereko), KBH two cultivars —TMS-IBA961089A and TMS-IBA000388—had either a 
2002/066 (Kipusa), KBH 2006/026 (Mkuranga 1), and KBH 2002/482 significantly higher marketable yield of fresh roots or else performed 
(Kizimbani). as well as Kiroba, the improved control variety. Furthermore, the two 
cultivars showed no quantifiable virus concentrations. Due to their 
In addition, IITA is in the advanced stages of evaluating more than outstanding performance, TMS-IBA961089A and TMS-IBA000388 
30 highly promising breeding lines in Tanzania. Four of these (UKG have been earmarked for on-farm evaluation across several sites 
2009/0052, UKG 2009/0128, UKG 2009/0164, and UKG 2009/0181) after which they will be included in NPTs just before official release 
have performed very well under on-farm conditions and have been in Tanzania. If they consistently perform well, these cultivars will be 
proposed for a one-year evaluation under National Performance used as new sources of resistance to generate new varieties in future 
Trials (NPT)—a final step towards full official release. Once they are that are truly resistant to CBSD.
40 40
Integrated Systems
41
A decade of CIALCA: Lessons learned initial success, the consortium’s contract with the Belgian donor (DGD) 
from integrated systems R4D in the was approved a second phase (2009-2011). CIALCA now focused more 
on the scaling of agricultural innovations through communication, 
Great Lakes Region partner training, novel value addition options, and assisting farming 
communities with new business models. More than 1000 trainers from 
Marc Schut, IITA-Burundi; Piet van Asten, IITA-Uganda;  partner organizations were trained on novel production technologies, 
and Bernard Vanlauwe, IITA-Kenya such as new varieties and improved soil management, and novel 
The Consortium for Improving Agriculture-based Livelihoods in Central processing technologies, such as soybean milk. CIALCA was also at 
Africa (CIALCA) emanated from three individual project proposals the forefront of combatting the BXW— the bacterial wilt disease that 
submitted by IITA, Bioversity International, and the International Center wiped out banana production in entire farms and villages. 
for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) that were approved by the Belgian 
Directorate General for Development Cooperation (DGD) in 2006. Moving innovations from the plant 
As the projects were to operate largely in the same parts of Rwanda, to the plot to the farm 
Burundi, and DR Congo, with similar national partner institutes, and From 2009 onwards, CIALCA has been testing banana-coffee mixed 
with complementary activities, the three institutes agreed to operate systems for climate change mitigation, pest reduction, and diversified 
together to improve operational efficiency and livelihoods impact. farmer income. It turned out to be a very good match! The story on 
Initially, their research-for-development (R4D) agenda focused on coffee/ banana intercropping was picked up by BBC Africa Network 
enhancing crop production technologies (i.e., improved germplasm, with a live radio interview, and by AFP, Reuters, and other large media 
soil management, and pest control) in legume- and banana-based houses. It led the Rwanda Agricultural Board to start their trials on 
systems, while creating an enabling environment for the uptake of banana/coffee intercropping, which was controversial as the Rwandan 
these practices. CIALCA was one of the first agricultural R4D projects Crop Intensification Program (CIP) does not promote intercropping. 
investing in an area that was torn apart by years of civil strife and — Based on good results, the Minister of Agriculture requested additional 
back then—dominated by humanitarian relief aid. research on coffee cup quality. Results were supporting intercropping 
and—although the CIP policy was not formally adjusted—banana/ 
Successful development, testing, and scaling  coffee intercropping was since then tolerated by the Rwandan 
of banana and legume technologies government in large parts of the country. CIALCA also introduced 
Throughout the first phase of CIALCA (2006-2008) several cropping novel cassava-legume, maize-legume, and banana-legume systems, 
systems and pest management technologies were tested. CIALCA increasing smallholder farm productivity by improving soil fertility 
became particularly known for its work with local stakeholders on management with novel intercrop arrangements and practices. 
on-farm testing and validating of improved germplasm, pest control Farmers that tested the innovative practices on-farm became 
and integrated soil fertility management technologies in banana and ‘technicians’ and not ‘unemployed’ people in their eyes. Supported 
legume systems. The project also restarted collaborative activities by local structures and partners, collective marketing and collective 
between the national researcher organizations from Burundi, Rwanda, seed production (e.g., banana macropropagation) became important 
and DR Congo, while providing PhD and MSc training to several of their drivers for increased income and collective action. Choice experiments 
staff in partnership with local and Belgian universities. Based on CIALCA’s in Burundi showed that farmers had a strong preference for climbing 
42 42
bean varieties that resulted in higher yields and improved soil fertility, techniques, new crop varieties, postharvest processing, and collective 
while the maturation period and the responsiveness to fertilizer were marketing.
less important. Such choice experiments take into account farmers’ •	 CIALCA has contributed significantly to advancing science related 
preferences and accelerate the agricultural innovation processes. to integrated soil fertility management (Lambrecht et al., 2015b; 
Vanlauwe et al., 2014), climate-smart opportunities for smallholders 
From farming systems to integrated livelihood systems (Ekong, 2015, van Asten et al., 2015) and the effectiveness of 
By the end of its second phase in 2011, reforms had started to agricultural extension and other partnership modalities in 
reshape the CGIAR landscape with the arrival of the CGIAR Research supporting (specific groups of ) farmers (Lambrecht et al., 2015c; 
Programs (CRPs). CIALCA became a key operating platform for the CRP Schut et al., 2016).
on Humidtropics. With its multi-CGIAR center and multistakeholder Looking to the future
model, CIALCA was well placed in Humidtropics. By building on many 
years of innovation investments and partnerships, CIALCA was able CIALCA has shown to continuously reinvent and reorient itself. This 
to jump-start activities and mobilize multi-stakeholder networks will remain needed. In the field of research for development, CIALCA 
in Burundi, Rwanda, and eastern DR Congo. The integrated systems will further strengthen its strategic engagement with policy actors 
approach includes understanding livelihood diversity, gender, value and other investment actors. CIALCA contributed to a continental 
chains, nutrition, markets, natural resource improvement, institutional study on drivers of the food security of African smallholders (Frelat et 
innovation, and scaling of successful innovations through multi- al., 2015). This study showed that while there are clear opportunities 
stakeholder partnerships (Fig. 1).  to strengthen agricultural production, marketing and income for 
many of the ‘better-off’ farmers, a large proportion of smallholders 
Major CIALCA impacts (20-40%) seem incapable to significantly improve their livelihood 
•	 An impact assessment conducted in 2014 by the IITA Impact Group through agriculture and off-farm income is key. Strengthening 
concluded that in South Kivu, DR Congo and Rwanda, CIALCA has the capable farmers with improved production, handling and 
contributed to lifting an estimated number of about 560,000 people marketing innovations will need to be accompanied with efforts 
out of poverty. Changes in poverty rates due to CIALCA are between to strengthen (agricultural) job opportunities for the vulnerable 
3%, 10%, and 21% for Burundi, South Kivu (DR Congo), and Rwanda, groups, including youth and women. This will require working 
respectively. with public- and private sector investors in a holistic approach. 
•	 CIALCA’s strong science capacity building resulted in the training of The multi-stakeholder platforms and tools identified a clear need 
over 10 PhDs and 40 MSc students in a region that had lost of much for institutional innovation (e.g., with alternative land tenure 
of its science capacity during years of conflict. Many former CIALCA arrangements, and service provision to farmers), which will require 
MSc and PhD students are now in key positions in Ministries and more attention and concrete investments in future integrated 
NARS in Burundi, Rwanda, and DR Congo. systems programs. Other areas that need more attention are the use 
•	 CIALCA has trained over 50 partner organizations and more than of ICT in agricultural innovation processes, technology development 
1000 trainers in—among others—seed multiplication technologies and service provision. Reinvention and reorientation of CIALCA is 
(e.g., macropropagation) and effective pest and disease control (e.g., ongoing to accommodate these and other future systems research 
BXW management), good agricultural practices and intercropping and development challenges. 
Integrated Systems 43 43
Value chain and credit 
innovations that link 
smallholders, youth and 
women to markets  
Improving 'whole farm' Insights in gender and 
productivity in smallholder youth dynamics enhance 
systems the targeting of 
Figure 1. Key building development interventions
blocks of CIALCA’s 
integrated livelihood 
systems R4D.
Multi-stakeholder 
partnerships for priority 
setting, collective action 
and impact
Improving livelihoods Dietary diversity and 
through the adoption of nutritious foods to 
agricultural  technologies enhance human health 
Capacity building of 
individuals and institutions
Integrated soil fertility management and coffee-banana intercropping in 
climate-smart agriculture
Dries Roobroeck, IITA-Nairobi, Kenya (ICIPE); and Dennis Ochola,   The Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture (GACSA, ) was launched 
IITA-Kampala, Uganda during the Climate Summit in September 2014 to engage leaders and advance 
The impacts of global changes become more and more tangible, climate action and ambition. GACSA is led by a team from FAO and CCAFS; to 
particularly on how we grow food, and governments, researchers, farmers, date more than 100 organizations have signed up with GACSA, including the 
and other stakeholders are increasingly turning their attention to Climate- African Union Commission (AU), the World Bank, the International Fund for 
Smart Agriculture (CSA). With the rapidly changing climate, CSA builds on Agricultural Development (IFAD), and Yara International. 
three dimensions: (1) intensifying productivity; (2) enhancing resilience; In July 2015, the Knowledge Action Group of GACSA released a series of practice 
and (3) reducing greenhouse gas emissions. briefs (http://www.fao.org/gacsa/resources/csa-practice-briefs/en/) that sought 
44 44
to provide operational information about the contributions of management period. This study presents some of the most comprehensive evidence about the 
practices to different indicators of CSA. Together with colleagues from the Natural contributions of ISFM to CSA. It showed that the grain yield of crops, resilience to drought, 
Resource Management Unit and partners from the Alliance for a Green Revolution and the conservation of soil carbon in maize systems are all substantially greater when 
in Africa (AGRA) and the Institut des Siences Agronomique du Burundi (ISABU), we inorganic fertilizers and organic inputs are combined compared to other input practices. 
developed briefs on Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) and Coffee-Banana The CBI brief, on the other hand, revisited studies on coffee-banana intercropping 
Intercropping (CBI). Each brief gives an overview of the practice, contributions of trials on fields of farmers and at research stations of IITA and its partners over the last 
the practice to specific dimensions of CSA, and challenges to adoption, investment 7 years. Research from Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi was used to demonstrate that 
needs, metrics for evaluating impact, and case studies of implementation. mixed coffee and banana planting benefit household incomes, improve resilience 
The ISFM brief was a mini review of long-term trials and large dissemination to climatic impacts, and sequester larger amounts of carbon than when growing 
programs in cereal-based systems comparing key indicators for the three CSA either of these crops on their own. Figure 2 illustrates that practicing CBI can double 
dimensions of practices. It illustrated that the combinations of mineral fertilizers with annual revenues on land where coffee is grown without banana. Evidence showed 
inputs of biomass residues or rotation of legumes result in a consistently greater that growing banana in newly established coffee farms reduces the farmers’ risk by 
crop productivity and value-to-cost ratio of inputs that improves food security and offsetting cash flow constraints worth $10,000 during the first 4 years. It also described 
livelihood of farmers. how the shading by banana reduces canopy temperatures in coffee by 2–3oC and 
Several long-term studies have shown that ISFM practices reduce the variability prevents the distribution of pests and diseases. This makes the systems more resilient 
in production between seasons implying that crops are more resilient to climate to climate change impacts and improves quality. 
deviations. Cases were presented illustrating how input of organic residues or mixing The CBI brief gave evidence that mulching of banana in intercropped systems leads 
of legumes can maintain a greater soil carbon stock, enhance fertilizer recovery to accumulation of carbon and nitrogen in the soil that may reduce greenhouse gas 
by crops, and substitute for inorganic nitrogen inputs. The brief argued that ISFM emissions. CBI is a traditional practice in areas with high population density due to 
practices may largely mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions compared to practices diminishing farm size and soil degradation. It shows a great potential for adoption that 
where only fertilizer is used or without inputs at all. could benefit 20-25 million farmers who depend on coffee and/or banana for their 
Figure 1 gives the average grain productivity and seasonal variation in yield of maize livelihood. It also emphasizes the need for change in the attitudes of value chain actors 
cropping under different input practices across a 20-year trial at the research farm in as well as decision support about the variety of banana, optimal planting densities, 
Ibadan along with the total carbon content of soils at the start and end of the study and proper timing and frequency of pruning to bring the CBI practice to scale. 
Figure 2.  Annual revenues from coffee-banana intercrops (IC) and coffee monocrops 
Figure 1. Maize grain productivity, seasonal variability in yield and soil carbon content (MC). Central and Northern are growing Robusta, while Eastern, South Western and  
under different input practices over a 20-year study. LSD= Least Significant Difference. West Nile are growing Arabica.
Integrated Systems 45
Impact and Outscaling
46
Benefits and impact of drought- the total extension areas (EAs) per LGA were randomly selected. From 
tolerant maize varieties in Nigeria the list of communities obtained from the NPC, two communities were 
randomly selected in each of the selected EAs. Finally from the households 
Tahirou Abdoulaye, IITA-Ibadan; Tesfamicheal Wossen, IITA-Abuja; in each of the selected EAs, five farming households were randomly 
Shiferaw Feleke, IITA-Tanzania; Abebe Menkir, IITA-Ibadan; Baffour Badu- selected, resulting in a total of 2305 households. The survey questionnaire 
Apraku, IITA-Ibadan; Arega Alene, IITA-Malawi; Bola Awotide, and Victor included information on socioeconomic characteristics of the households, 
Manyong household expenditure on food and non-food items output for maize 
and other notable crops, and income from various sources. The data was 
The Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa (DTMA) project was initiated with collected electronically using the “surveybe” software.
the aim of developing drought-tolerant maize varieties (DTMVs) with 
a potential yield of 1 t/ha under moderate drought conditions, increasing Measuring adoption and outcome variables
productivity under farmers’ conditions by 20-30%, and producing grain Adoption was measured based on whether or not the household was 
with an annual average value of $160-200 million in drought-affected cultivating one DTMV or more in the 2014/2015 production season. The 
areas. The project was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and outcome variables are maize productivity as measured by maize yield (kg/
jointly implemented by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement ha), household welfare as measured by per capita food expenditure (N/
Center (CIMMYT) and IITA in partnership with the national research and year), and the Foster, Greer and Thorbecke (FGT) indices of poverty (head 
extension systems of 13 African countries. count index, poverty gap index, and poverty gap-squared index). The head 
count index measures the rate of poverty, the proportion of people living 
Since it was  launched in 2006, the DTMA project has documented below the poverty line, which was computed using the World Bank’s $1.25 
successes in the development and dissemination of DTMVs in Africa. About per capita per day measured at Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)1. The poverty 
160 DTMVs were developed between 2007 and 2014. Most have been gap index measures the depth of poverty, which is the extent of income 
successfully disseminated to maize farmers in 13 African countries. This shortfall from the poverty line. The poverty gap-squared index measures 
report provides some evidence on the productivity and welfare impacts of the severity of poverty that indicates the degree of income inequality 
adoption of DTMVs in Nigeria, a country participating in the DTMA project. among the poor themselves. 
Sampling and data collection Adoption rate of DTMVs in Nigeria
Data for this report came from a household survey conducted in Nigeria About 52% of the sample maize farmers reported they had access to DTMVs 
from November 2014 to February 2015. To ensure the selection of a through the DTMA project. The adoption rate among them was about 
representative sample of households, a multi-stage random sampling 44%, suggesting that not every farmer who had access to the DTMV seeds 
procedure was applied. First, based on the area of land devoted to maize actually planted DTMVs. Irrespective of access to seeds, the adoption rate 
production, the 36 States in Nigeria were divided into five homogenous was 24.5% in the study sample, which is quite appreciable if we remember 
subgroups; 18 of these States were randomly selected, accounting for that the first DTMVs are not even 10 years old (Fig. 1). For estimating impact 
about 62% of the total area of land devoted to maize production in the of adoption, we used 24.5% as the effective adoption rate and employed 
country. Then, following the recommendation of the National Bureau of an Endogenous Switching Regression (ESR). 
Statistics (NBS) for a nationally representative data collection, 10% of the 
local government areas (LGAs) in each of the selected States and 5% of 1We used per-capita expenditure to compute this value
Impact and outscaling 47
Figure 1. Adoption rate of DTMVs among households that have access to seeds Figure 2. Maize productivity gains (kg/ha) by gender and ecology.
through the DTMA project, and all sample households in Nigeria, 2014/2015.
Productivity and welfare impacts of DTMVs Per-capita food expenditure. Like productivity gains, 
Productivity Impacts. Adoption of DTMVs in Nigeria has changes in per-capita food consumption were also sizable as a 
resulted in measurable gains in maize productivity and impacts result of the adoption of DTMVs. Our result shows that adoption has 
on household welfare. Our result shows that maize yield has increased per-capita food consumption by N10,683 (about $35).
increased by 23% (268 kg/ha) as a result of the adoption. Per-capita food expenditure by gender. Analysis of impacts 
Impacts by gender by gender revealed that as a result of adoption of DTMVs, male-headed 
Analysis of impacts by gender revealed that adoption of DTMVs has greater households increased their per-capita food consumption by N11,303 
productivity gains on average among female-headed households (314 and female-headed households by N5919. Note that this should not be 
kg/ha) than male-headed households (262 kg/ha). In addition, average interpreted as a gender-biased outcome. Since the initial level of per-capita 
productivity gains were much higher in dry savanna agroecological zones food expenditure was higher among female-headed households in our 
(Fig. 2). Despite about 314 kg/ha productivity gains for female-headed DTMA sample; it is reasonable to see such large increases among male-
households average productivity gains for the whole sample were much headed households. 
lower (268 kg/ha) since the these households constituted only 10.45% of Per-capita total expenditure. Changes in per-capita total 
the total sample. consumption expenditure similar to improvements in per-capita food 
expenditures,were also sizable as a result of the adoption of DTMVs. Our 
result shows that adoption has increased per-capita total consumption 
expenditure by N13,907 (about $46 per year).
48
Per-capita total expenditure by gender. Analysis of Looking at impacts by gender, we found that the poverty headcount rate 
impacts by gender revealed that as a result of adoption of DTMVs, declined by 23% points among male-headed households and 7% points 
male-headed households increased their per-capita total consumption among female-headed households. We reported a higher productivity 
expenditure by N14632 and female-headed households by N7384. gain among female-headed households in the previous section. However, 
Impacts on poverty outcomes while examining the poverty impacts of adoption by gender, we found 
higher effects for male-headed households. This result shows that higher 
Based on preliminary results from the endogenous switching regression productivity gains are accrued for more affluent (non-poor) female-headed 
approach using awareness about DTMV as an instrument, we estimated households.
poverty outcomes for adopters. Using per-capita total consumption 
expenditure values and the World Bank’s $1.25 per-capita per day Individuals lifted above the poverty line
measured at Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), about 62% of adopters were The next challenge is then to calculate the total number of households lifted 
observed to be below the poverty line. Had they not adopted DTMVs, our above the poverty line as a result of adoption.  Based on adoption rates and 
preliminary results suggest that the rate of poverty among adopters would predicted poverty reduction rates, the total number of households lifted 
have been about 83%, suggesting that the gain in maize productivity due above the poverty line as a result of DTMV adoption is estimated to be 
to adoption had eventually led to about 21% point  poverty reduction (Fig. 2.68 million individuals (0.37 million households). This result reflects only 
3) among adopters of DTMV. When it comes to depth of poverty, adoption direct effects—effects on households that adopted DTMV. Indirect effects 
of DTMVs yielded a 15.8% point reduction in depth of poverty for the same on non-adopters and consumers through reductions in prices are not 
group. Furthermore, it helped to reduce the severity of poverty among the included.
poor by 9.4% points for the same adopters. For the population of maize 
farmers as a whole, this translates into an average poverty reduction point Conclusion 
of only 4.9% in 2014/2015. The account provided some evidence on the productivity gains and 
welfare impacts of adoption of DTMVs in Nigeria. The report also provided 
heterogeneity impacts of adoption, focusing on gender and ecological 
zone. Results indicate that adoption of DTMVs resulted in a 268 kg/ha 
gain in maize productivity and N10683 per annum in welfare benefits as 
measured by the gain in annual per-capita food expenditure. In terms of 
poverty reduction, we found a 21% point reduction in poverty as a result 
of adoption. An estimated 370,000 households (equivalent to 2.7 million 
individuals) managed to move out of poverty as a result of adoption of 
DTMVs. Further estimated impacts on productivity gains suggest that the 
program was more beneficial to female-headed households. However, 
estimated results on poverty outcomes suggest that the project targeted 
better-off female-headed households. Moving forward, there needs to be 
a more targeted intervention for addressing disadvantaged groups such 
as poor female-headed households. In particular, constraints related to 
access to DTMV seeds and other barriers associated with adoption have 
to be addressed.
Figure 3.  Poverty headcount, poverty gap, and poverty gap squared  
with and without adoption. 
Impact and outscaling 49
Building stronger cocoa farmer 
groups through ICT
Richard Asare, IITA-Ghana
Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L)—the main ingredient of that delectable 
global favorite chocolate—has been the backbone of the economies 
of the four West Africa countries, Côte D’Ivoire, Cameroon, Ghana, and 
Nigeria, which together account for about 70% of the world’s total cocoa 
production. This top production position comes at a steep environmental 
price to these countries as the main mode of cultivation has been by 
continuous expansion into pristine forest areas in a situation called “forest 
rent” in which cocoa farmers cultivate newly opened, nutrient-rich forest 
soil as a means of reducing production costs in terms of fertilizer and agro-
chemical inputs. This practice has led to widespread reductions in forest 
cover in these countries and has had a negative impact on the environment.
For years, stakeholders in the cocoa industry in West Africa have been 
trying different approaches to influence, if not change, cocoa farmers’ 
“forest rent” practice to reduce the impact of related activities on the 
environment. In an effort to contribute to this cause in Ghana, IITA with 
the Grameen Foundation and SNV revitalized a 100,000-member cocoa 
cooperative called Kuapa Kokoo under the Humidtropics’ Cocoa-Eco 
project by building a real-time online agricultural information and 
communication technology (ICT) system (http://humidtropics.iita.org/
share/s/XQl33lI4RGyv2deQKdBgag), thereby strengthening the group’s 
monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system.
With the always-available agricultural information made possible by this 
ICT system, the project was also able to strengthen the capacity of Kuapa 
Kokoo in helping its farmer-members modernize their cocoa farming for 
sustainable production through the concept of ‘entrepreneurship’. Here, 
the cocoa farmer is taught to be an entrepreneur and an ecosystem 
manager and much more than just the ‘owner’ of the farm, thereby placing 
farming as a modern business venture instead of a passive activity. For a 
cooperative such as Kuapa Kokoo, it was vital to develop this perspective 
A facilitator training farmers on farming as a business in Ghana (Photo by Richard Asare, IITA). with the farmers for long-term buy-in. Modernizing the outlook about 
50
cocoa farming as a business also helps to erase the common image that 
cocoa cultivation is for old people—an attitude that ignores the vast 
opportunities of the sector. 
To achieve this, the Cocoa-Eco project has developed and implemented 
participatory brokerage systems for improved planting materials and 
guaranteed on-time delivery of unsubsidized fertilizers to entrepreneurial 
members as well as providers of pest and disease management services. It 
is envisaged that this will help farmers to identify their needs and service 
providers for these needs to engender service on request for assistance 
rather than doing things according to traditional beliefs. The project 
has also developed information and decision tools to guide farmers in 
sustainable cocoa farming, the first of its kind for cocoa in West Africa 
(http://humidtropics.iita.org/share/s/fHA2WQjDR6CCeMViTpy1iA ). 
Similarly, Cocoa-Eco also introduced a smartphone-based ‘last-mile 
extension’ within the cooperative. This technology is essentially an 
offline mini encyclopedia on the latest cocoa extension knowledge 
on cocoa rehabilitation and new establishment (PRD). This provides 
information on practical and sustainable cocoa production techniques 
that take into account farmers’ current situation, selecting suitable 
sites for cultivation, sources of improved planting materials and other 
agro-inputs, field preparation and farm management techniques, and 
options for tree diversification (http://humidtropics.iita.org/share/s/
atiHCVRgTdmsjATEmp_KAg). This low-cost innovation has been 
enthusiastically received by members of Kuapa Kokoo and is also being 
adopted by other cocoa rehabilitation projects across West Africa, 
especially in Ghana and Cameroon. 
A study conducted in Ghana looking at the adoption of this technique 
showed that, on average, 80% of farmers that had been trained on this 
technology had a cocoa seedling establishment rate of 80% over a two-
year dry period, regardless of the planting location. The study also showed 
no significant difference in rates of cocoa establishment in different land 
types. This supports the argument that new cocoa plantations have equal Differences in mean distribution of the survival rates of hybrid cocoa seedlings 
or even better chances of establishment through land recycling than between gender and land use types in Ghana [Source: Asare et al. 2016].
through planting in newly opened forest lands.
Impact and outscaling 51
The available regional market and attractive farm-gate prices with an 
inadequate domestic supply offer a huge growth potential to soybean 
in Mozambique. Despite the rosy outlook smallholder farmers are still 
hampered by low production due to a lack of good quality seeds of locally 
adapted varieties, and poor crop management practices. IITA and USAID, 
with other partners, are changing that situation.
Planting the grains of success
Through the USAID-supported Platform Mozambique Project (2009-2015) 
and in partnership with the Instituto de Investigação Agrária de Moçambique 
(Mozambique National Agricultural Research Institute, or IIAM), NGOs, and 
farmers associations, IITA introduced five soybean varieties [Sana (TGx 1485-
1D), Wàmini (TGx1740-2F), Zamboane (TGx 1904-6F), Wima (TGx 1908-8F) 
and Olima (TGx 1937-1F)] that have been officially released in Mozambique. 
The varieties were selected through on-farm participatory variety selection, 
ensuring that their characteristics are well suited to local conditions and 
needs. The varieties are high-yielding, and tolerant of drought and most of 
the common diseases; they yield >40% more grains (2 t/ha) than the widely 
grown local varieties. They can also fix a large proportion of their nitrogen 
Fields of gold: farmer-
managed trials under Of grains and gains: Realizing the requirements from the atmosphere, thereby reducing the need for nitrogen 
Platform Mozambique fertilizers and lowering input costs for farmers. 
helped determine potential of soybean in Mozambique
the soybean varieties 
released in the country. Steve Boahen, IITA-Mozambique To get the best out of these varieties, the project developed complementary 
Photo by IITA. management practices to maximize their potential under smallholders’ 
There is a lot going for soybean (or ‘soya’) in Mozambique. Although a farming conditions. These practices included best planting times in different 
relative newcomer to the country, the crop offers vast income opportunities production zones, appropriate row-spacing, optimum plant populations, 
for smallholder farmers particularly those in the high rainfall areas such as phosphorus fertility management, inoculation, and appropriate cropping 
Zambezia, Lichinga, Nampula, Manica, and Tete provinces. Production and systems. These practices were then developed into ‘technology packs’ and 
prices are improving. Back in 2004, soya production was estimated at 770-880 disseminated to smallholders and extension agents across the soybean 
t with an average yield of 450 kg/ha (Estrada, 20041). Today, the average yield production zones through on-farm demonstrations, field days, field visits, 
is estimated at 1300 kg/ha and total production is about 50,000 t (Luis Pereira, and training workshops. This was done in collaboration with various 
Technoserve, pers. comm., 2014). In 2006, the prevailing farm-gate price/kg for other initiatives led by IIAM, IITA, CLUSA (Cooperative League of USA), 
soybean grain was 7-9 meticais (MZM) ($0.25-0.33). By August 2013, the price Technoserve, IKURU (Empresa Comercial dos Productores Associados), and 
had doubled, hovering at about 18 MZM/kg ($0.64). The growing domestic Inovagro. Through these channels, farmers, for example, became aware of 
poultry industry also has a high demand for soybean which is largely met the negative consequences of late planting, such as a yield loss of at least 50 
through imports of soybean cake from Argentina, Brazil, and India. kg/ha for every day of delay in planting after the first planting date. At the 
1Estrada, J. M. 2004. Regional overview of the soybean markets: Challenges and prevailing farm-gate price, this translates to a loss of $20/ha for every day 
opportunities for smallholder farmers in Southern Africa. Study commissioned by IITA. that planting is delayed.
52
Gains on the ground “This big improvement in my yields and income motivated me to 
The combined efforts of IITA and USAID are already starting to change the lives of stay with soya. I benefited a lot from IITA, CLUSA, and Technoserve 
Mozambican smallholder farmers. through training and associated field days in which we learned 
how to do things better. We are grateful to USAID and all the 
Take the case of 48-year old Florinda Biriate, who started producing soybean 10 other donors such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the 
years ago. “My initial foray into soya production was in 2006 when I cultivated one Norwegian Funds that made all these possible.”
hectare. I harvested 13 bags (approximately 650 kg/ha at 1 bag ≈50 kg) of grains 
which I sold at around 5-7 MZM/kg ($0.18-0.25). Encouraged with this, I gradually “These days I easily get between 1250 kg/ha to 2000 kg/ha following all 
increased my soybean area every year until I reached 8 ha in 2010. At that time, I recommendations from the technicians and also using a good variety,” 
produced 237 bags (about 11,850 kg) of grains, selling them at 15 MZM ($0.54)/kg”. Fernando explained. In 2014, he planted 5 ha for certified seeds and 4 
ha for grain. He sold the seeds for 25 MZM/kg ($0.89) and the grain for 
Florinda got the highest price for her soya in 2011 when she sold it at 17-19 MZM/ 13 MZM/kg ($0.46). 
kg  ($0.60-0.67). This, she said, was a game-changer for her. “The price and the high 
yield of soya motivated me to grow more of it than any other crop,” she explained. “With my soya I was able to buy a motorbike, two bicycles, refrigerator, 
a mill to make flour from maize and other crops, a TV set with a satellite 
In 2014, she cultivated 6 ha of soya, with 5 ha for grain and 1 ha for certified seeds. dish, and other household items. I was also able to improve my house, 
She harvested 1,500 kg/ha from the first and 1,150 kg/ha from the second “I used roofing it with iron sheets,” Fernando said proudly.
to get just 600 kg/ha of soya, but now my harvests have more than doubled!” 
Other gains in a grain Farmer Florinda Biriate at her 6-ha 
soybean farm in Ruace, Zambezia 
Asked what turned things around for her, she said, “It was the support that I The Platform Mozambique Project has trained more than 5700 farmers, province, Mozambique.
received through the USAID project with the technical backstopping of IITA and 230 extension agents, and technicians on improved soybean production 
CLUSA. With the knowledge gained from them, not only did I get better yields practices, and 1327 final-year students from local universities and 
but also reduced labor. I now plant my soya in early December and in straight polytechnics on a 6-month field training internship. In addition, it introduced 
lines of 50 cm by10 cm instead of in the traditional scattered planting. Previously, soybean-fortified local dishes to more than 26,000 people to enhance the 
I weeded 3 or 4 times before harvest but now I weed only twice, sometimes even quality of their diet. The project also established 450 demonstration plots 
once. It is also easier to weed when the plants are in line.” and organized more than 100 farmers’ field days and field visits. More than 
100 t of foundation seeds were made available to partners. 
“I lost my husband two years ago so I farm alone now. These technologies not 
only make things better but also easier for me and my children,” added Florinda. It is estimated that the project has directly benefited more than 50,000 
households, and has indirectly reached even more. Farmers continue to 
“With my earnings from soya, I was able to buy two refrigerators, a motorbike, two test different varieties to find those with the highest potential on their 
bicycles, a television with a satellite dish so I can watch news from around the farms. Average yields have increased from 700 kg/ha at project start to 
world, a DVD player so that my kids can watch movies any time, and I have money 1300 kg/ha presently. Incomes from soybean have also increased by about 
to send them to school. Best of all I am building a new house,” she related happily. 56% among adopters of improved technologies introduced by the project. 
Such technologies, such as soybean-maize rotation planting, have also 
Another farmer, Fernando Maliango, also recounted his soya journey. He started led to average yield increases of 21-1000% for maize when planted after 
Fernando Maliango with his harvest 
with a half-hectare field of 0.5 ha in 2004, selling his produce at 4.70 MZM ($0.16)/ soybean compared with the common practice of planting maize-after- of soybean from his field in Ruace, 
kg. Today, he has 11 ha that yield 18 t. He sells his produce at 17 MZM ($0.61)/kg. maize with no fertilization. Zambezia province, Mozambique. 
Impact and outscaling 53
DeMISSTifying the soybean seed IITA conducted 31 field days which attracted 2374 farmers from the 
system in Malawi 7 project districts to capture their perceptions and technological 
preferences. The field days established that most farmers (59%) preferred 
Akinwale Gbenga, IITA-Malawi the option of Tikolore with inoculant and P-fertilizer because of its 
earliness and high yield (1.5 t/ha) despite adverse drought conditions. 
In Malawi, soybean is the lifeblood of thousands of smallholder farmers. To ensure seeds of the preferred variety are available and accessible 
It offers them a myriad  opportunities: a readily available market, at the community level, 200 t of certified seeds were produced by 333 
attractive farm-gate prices, and the potential to improve their nutritional community-based seed producers. About 80 t of quality basic seeds were 
security. However, current production levels are low, averaging less than also produced through contractual arrangements with seed producers, 
1 t/ha. There is minimal adoption of improved varieties and agronomic using seed revolving funds.  
practices because these farmers, in particular, have limited access to 
better varieties. Through the MISST project, IITA promotes drought resilience by 
promoting this early maturing, drought tolerant variety (Tikolore). The 
The Malawi Improved Seed Systems and Technologies (MISST) project project distributes 5 kg packs to farmers in drought-prone areas. So far, 
is led by IITA, supported by USAID’s Feed-the-Future Initiative, and co- the project has reached 1252 smallholder farmers with this intervention 
implemented by IITA, ICRISAT, CIMMYT, and CIP. and IITA is closely working with partners to make available 400 t of 
certified seeds of Tikolore to affected farmers through the community-
Recognizing the importance of seeds in improving productivity, the based seed production program.
soybean component is making high quality seeds of three improved 
varieties (Tikolore, Nasoko, and Makwacha) more accessible and Recently, drought has become a regular phenomenon in Chirombo 
available. The project is working through support for seed production, village, causing widespread maize failure. This year, many maize farms 
increasing adoption through variety demonstration and promotion, failed completely. 
capacity building, strengthening of seed partnerships, and by using 
public-private partnerships for seed production, distribution, and In the midst of this sea of brown, one green soybean field planted to 
marketing. Tikolore stood out. The field is owned by Mrs Agnes Nicholas, a farmer 
who has been growing maize for the past 20 years. Through her local 
IITA collaborated with the national farmers’ organization, NASFAM, to government extension agent, she received a 5 kg pack of Tikolore from 
establish 50 technology demonstration plots across 7 districts of the IITA in 2015. “Without this soybean plot, this would’ve been one of the 
Feed the Future zones of influence: Lilongwe, Mchinji, Dedza, Ntcheu, worst years in my farming life,” she exclaimed. 
Balaka, Machinga, and Mangochi. The aim was to create awareness and 
stimulate the adoption of improved varieties with appropriate crop Now her farm has become an informal farmer field school for soybean 
management practices. The technologies demonstrated were Tikolore, production, with many of her co-villagers coming daily to learn about 
Makwacha, and Nasoko each with inoculant and P- fertilizer and soybean growing from her. Mrs Nicholas plans to expand her soybean 
Tikolore with fertilizer only. Additionally, 8 t of basic seeds of Tikolore production area to 1 ha next season
were distributed through NASFAM to 333 community-based seed-
producing farmers to multiply certified seeds. Through the farmers’ MISST is tapping into community-based seed systems to make more 
association, the selected seed farmers were trained on seed production quality soybean seeds available to more farmers across the country. So 
and quality control. far, the project has trained over 1279 community-based seed producers, 
54
735 men and 544 women, supported them with basic seeds, and 
facilitated their registration with the Seed Service Unit as certified seed 
producers. These farmers are currently producing certified seeds of the 
three improved varieties being demonstrated by the project on 485 ha 
across the 7 impact districts.  
As a result of this intervention, Mr Chionetsero Thomasi is now a seed 
entrepreneur in his home village of Napuru in the Dedza district 
of Malawi. In 2015, he became one of the 1279 beneficiaries of the 
community-based seed production program under the MISST project 
with the aim of selling and distributing quality seeds to farmers and seed 
companies within their respective communities.  
After receiving seeds from the project, Mr Thomasi dedicated 1 ha out of 
his 4-ha land to Tikolore seed multiplication.
“I am very excited about this project,” said Mr Thomasi, “and with the 
way my Tikolore crop is looking it seems I am going to have a bumper 
seed harvest by the end of this season. From the proceeds I plan to buy a 
motorbike to help me market my seed business better.” 
Mr Tsekulani Jonasi has been farming tobacco for more than 20 years in his 
village of Kakopa in the Demera EPA of Lilongwe district. In December 2014, 
he became a host farmer for a soybean project demo.  He secured more 
seeds from IITA through NASFAM and cultivated 0.7 ha of Tikolore following 
the management practices being promoted by the project. During the 
2014/2015 season, Mr Jonasi harvested 30 50-kg bags of Tikolore.
Mr Jonasi decided to expand his Tikolore farm during the 2015/2016 
season, acquiring 200 kg of certified seeds produced through the 
project last season to cover 2.5 ha of his 4-ha land originally committed 
to tobacco production. 
“I have been farming since I was born, and I never imagined that soybean 
farming could be as profitable as this,” Mr Jonasi said, visibly excited. “I 
now believe that legumes can be as valuable as tobacco. IITA and the 
MISST project are on the right track to promote seed production as a 
lucrative income generating venture,” he added. Mr Thomasi proudly showing his Tikolore seed field in Linthipe EPA, Dedza
55
Scaling model for the tripartite Africa RISING, NAFAKA 
RISING out of poverty in Tanzania Things started to turn around for her when she learned about, and joined 
Jonathan Odhong, Africa RISING, IITA-Ibadan the Africa RISING joint technology project.
The USAID-funded and IITA-led program Africa Research in Today, Masheshe is a model farmer in her community. In 2015, thanks 
Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation (Africa RISING) to the technologies introduced by the project, she harvested an 
is creating opportunities for smallholder farm households to move impressive 60 bags of maize despite a severe drought that affected 
out of hunger and poverty through sustainably intensified farming Kiteto district.
systems that improve food, nutrition, and income security, particularly 
for women and children. This research-for-development project is “My life changed thanks to the Africa RISING-NAFAKA-TUBORESHE 
currently being implemented in Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Ghana, CHAKULA scaling project,” said Masheshe, beaming proudly. She was 
and Mali. In a nutshell, the project pilot-tests agricultural technologies one of the many beneficiaries of training on climate-smart farming in 
then scales them out by putting together investment plans with Kiteto District where she learned good agronomic practices and soil-
development agencies. water conservation strategies in such semi-arid areas. Eventually, her 
farm became one of the demonstration farms for the project. 
The USAID Country Mission in Tanzania was impressed by the 
technologies of the program and funded a $6-million, 3-year joint “We learned about planting drought-resistant maize varieties, line 
technology scaling project between Africa RISING and the local spacing, fertilizer application, and the use of tied-ridges to conserve soil 
development programs NAFAKA and TUBORESHE CHAKULA in 2014. Its water. I implemented all the best practices I learned, and I am grateful it 
goal is to ensure that 47,000 households in maize- and rice-based has paid off in such a big way!” she says with a bright smile. “My fellow 
smallholder farming communities in the Manyara, Dodoma, Morogoro, 
Iringa, and Mbeya regions of Tanzania have access to improved 
agricultural technologies. The project also aims to expand the area 
under improved technologies of rice production to 58,000 ha and 
increase yields of both maize and rice by 50%.
Only in its second year of implementation, the joint technology scaling 
project is already registering some very impressive outcomes.
No water? No problem
Masheshe Salum is a small-scale maize and legume farmer in Ngipa 
village, Kiteto District, in central Tanzania. Four years ago, maize yield 
from her 4-acre farm was barely enough to feed her family of five. Her 
farm is in a semi-arid region with low and erratic rainfall, so access to 
water was a big problem. And, just like other farmers in Ngipa village, 
she also planted recycled seeds. Year after year, she would use the 
broadcasting technique to plant her maize, and year after year, the 
A beaming Masheshe Salum. Thanks to implementing climate-smart farming practices 
result would be the same –a poor harvest. She knew she could get more such as planting drought resistant maize varieties and using soil water conservation 
from her farm but didn’t know what to do to improve productivity. techniques, she was able to get a good harvest from her farm.  Photo by Shabani Ibrahim, IITA.
56 56
Scaling model for the tripartite Africa RISING, NAFAKA 
RISING out of poverty in Tanzania Farmers using the 
farmers wondered if I used uchawi (magic) in my farm since it remained motorized maize-
Jonathan Odhong, Africa RISING, IITA-Ibadan green while others were drying,” she adds shelling machine at 
Yohana Isaya’s farm 
during a postharvest 
The USAID-funded and IITA-led program Africa Research in “The higher yields from my farm were largely because of the tied- training organized by the 
Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation (Africa RISING) ridges that held the little available rain water for longer periods.  My Africa RISING – NAFAKA 
is creating opportunities for smallholder farm households to move crops had access to moisture in the soil for longer periods than in the scaling project in 
Ndurugumi village.  
out of hunger and poverty through sustainably intensified farming traditional flat planting which my neighbors are practicing and which I Photo by Francis Muthoni, IITA.
systems that improve food, nutrition, and income security, particularly used to practice as well.” 
for women and children. This research-for-development project is 
currently being implemented in Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Ghana, “Thanks to the technologies of Africa RISING, I now have more than 
and Mali. In a nutshell, the project pilot-tests agricultural technologies enough to feed my family! And with the postharvest knowledge that 
then scales them out by putting together investment plans with I gained from training, I intend to store my surplus and sell later at the 
development agencies. best time and price so that I can pay my children’s school fees,” she 
happily concluded.
The USAID Country Mission in Tanzania was impressed by the 
technologies of the program and funded a $6-million, 3-year joint Less postharvest losses, more food 
technology scaling project between Africa RISING and the local For many farmers in Ndurungumi village of Kongwa District, Central 
development programs NAFAKA and TUBORESHE CHAKULA in 2014. Its Tanzania, maize farming is not an option. It is a stressful, laborious, and 
goal is to ensure that 47,000 households in maize- and rice-based often loss-making activity, but essential if one is to eat. Such was the 
smallholder farming communities in the Manyara, Dodoma, Morogoro, predicament of Yohana Isaya, a 56-year-old subsistence maize farmer.
Iringa, and Mbeya regions of Tanzania have access to improved 
agricultural technologies. The project also aims to expand the area For a start, shelling the maize harvested from his 5-acre plot is a Farmers have been introduced to other technologies, not only the 
under improved technologies of rice production to 58,000 ha and backbreaking job which he, with his wife and their five children, can’t maize shelling machines. The postharvest training has also focused on 
increase yields of both maize and rice by 50%. finish on their own. They need at least eight extra pairs of hands to finish a complete package including collapsible drier cases capable of drying 
the job in three days. Isaya then stores the maize using a traditional 400 kg of maize in 5 hours under the sun, and storage in hermetic bags. 
Only in its second year of implementation, the joint technology scaling Kilindo, a small cylindrical bin made from peeled miombo tree bark. The As a result, farmers are able to process their crops faster, reduce their 
project is already registering some very impressive outcomes. problem with this bin is that the stored maize will become moldy and postharvest losses, and provide more food for their families.  
inedible after a short time.
No water? No problem In the semi-arid areas of northern and central Tanzania, 20-40% of grains 
Masheshe Salum is a small-scale maize and legume farmer in Ngipa Then the Africa RISING joint scaling project came to his community. and legumes are usually lost during harvesting. A further 5% is lost 
village, Kiteto District, in central Tanzania. Four years ago, maize yield during shelling, even when the amount of grains shelled per day was 
from her 4-acre farm was barely enough to feed her family of five. Her “Before joining the Africa RISING-NAFAKA-TUBORESHE CHAKULA scaling very small because of the drudgery and lack of improved technologies. 
farm is in a semi-arid region with low and erratic rainfall, so access to project, I was using a raised wood platform for shelling maize. Usually it Another 15-25% is lost during storage due to pest infestation and mold. 
water was a big problem. And, just like other farmers in Ngipa village, took me up to three days to shell 700 kg.  We sometimes had to ask for 
she also planted recycled seeds. Year after year, she would use the help from our neighbors and compensate them with food, local brew, Practices such as drying grains on bare floors and storage when the 
broadcasting technique to plant her maize, and year after year, the and sometimes cash. But after the project trained us on using simple moisture contents are too high also often lead to deterioration. These 
result would be the same –a poor harvest. She knew she could get more and affordable machines like the motorized maize sheller, I can do the are the challenges that the postharvest technologies being promoted 
from her farm but didn’t know what to do to improve productivity. same work in only 30 minutes,” explained Yohana. by the Africa RISING joint scaling project is addressing in Tanzania.
Impact and outscaling 57 57
Scaling N2Africa products through Scaling operations required an innovative approach. To this end, 
Private-Public Partnerships N2Africa sought synergies and complementarities with compatible 
projects and implemented its activities through formalized, 
Edward Baars, IITA-Abuja; Fred Kanampiu, IITA-Nairobi;  comprehensive, and well-defined Private-Public Partnerships (PPPs).
and Theresa Ampadu-Boakye, IITA-Nairobi
Over the past two years the PPP concept has been adopted by N2Africa. 
Putting Nitrogen Fixation to Work for Smallholder Farmers in The project continuously receives requests for collaboration across 
Africa(N2Africa) is a project that is working to expand the farm area its operational countries, making it a “go to” initiative based on the 
planted to grain legumes (common bean, cowpea, groundnut, successful partnerships it has formed.
chickpea, faba bean, and soybean) and enhance their yields to improve 
smallholder farmers’ incomes and food and nutrition security.
At the end of Phase 1 (2010 to 2013) the project had benefited some 
225,000 small-scale farmers in its target countries of Ghana, Nigeria, 25
Kenya, DR Congo, Rwanda, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. 
Because of its success, N2Africa was approved for a 4-year Phase 2, 
from 2014 to 2018. In this second phase, the project will focus in scaling 20
proven technologies from Phase 1 to reach an additional 555,000 
farmers –about 800,000 beneficiaries over the course of Phases 1 and 2.
15
Three new countries have also been added: Tanzania, Uganda, and 
Ethiopia, which, together with Ghana and Nigeria, comprise the 
project’s core countries. The six other countries are ‘Tier-1” countries 10 2014
that will consolidate earlier achievements and have lower target 
numbers than the core countries. In Phase 2, the project intends to 2015
reach an additional 105,000 farmers in both Ghana and Nigeria, 65,000 5
in each of the following: Tanzania, Uganda, and Ethiopia, and 25,000 in 
each of the six Tier-1 countries. 0
In Phase 2, the project will specifically address the issues of (a) moving 
to scale the operation to reach 550,000 farmers; and (b) ensuring 
sustainable input and output supply chains for farmers to buy and 
use the N2Africa products developed and tested under Phase 1 (i.e., 
certified seeds of improved varieties, inoculants, legume fertilizers, and 
labor-saving tools and services). Figure 1. Number of partnerships per country (2014-2015); total 86. 
58
 To date, N2Africa has formalized 86 partnerships (Fig.1) with public 
and private organizations in its 11 operational countries benefiting 
some 260,000 farmers. Forty-four of these formalized PPPs are with 
dissemination and delivery entities linked to high-value supply chain 
projects with objectives similar to those of N2Africa, thus leveraging 
resources and creating synergies that benefit thousands of smallholder 
farmers. 
Partnerships initiated by N2Africa are built on four pillars: (1) capacity 
building; (2) dissemination; (3) input supply including seed systems; 
and (4) markets. Other partnerships are research-oriented comprising 
diagnostics and rhizobiology. 
Working within the concept of PPPs, N2Africa has ascertained that 
when efforts of various partners with common goals and interests join 
forces and resources and learn from one another’s experiences, the 
attainment of the goals of all parties involved become exponentially 
higher. Therefore, in signing partnership agreements, N2Africa puts a 
high priority on coordination, particularly on structures and modes of 
operations. 
N2Africa puts heavy emphasis on sustainable input and output supply 
chains in establishing PPPs for its scaling out efforts. 
N2Africa also saw cross fertilization among partnerships. A good 
example of this is the Legume Alliance, coordinated by the CABI-African 
Soil Health Consortium (ASHC-II). The Alliance is now implementing 
the campaign on Maharage Bingwa (Champion Beans) in which they 
develop and share information on common bean technologies with 
different partners. One of its strengths is that different partners use 
different media to disseminate information, ranging from radio to 
comics, thereby reaching different audiences. 
Participants at a cowpea demonstration site at Ujariyo in Kebbi State, Nigeria. 
Photo by Charles Iyangbe, CRS.
Impact and outscaling 59
Training and Seminars
60
In 2015, IITA focused its efforts on providing training for partners in 
the national programs, especially scientists and research technicians. 
Training programs include Professional Capacity Advancement Program, 
Graduate Research Program, and Short-Term Courses. 
Table 1 shows the breakdown for degree-related training: postgraduate 
students recruited (54 MSc and 45 PhD with 62 males and 37 females) and 
those who completed the research portion of their degrees at IITA: 70 MSc 
and 38 PhD students broken down into 55 males (51%) and 53 females 
(49%).
Table 1. Summary for graduate students, 2015.
MSc PhD Total Grand total
Male Female Male Female Male Female
Students 31 23 31 14 62 37 99
commenced  
in 2015
Students 33 37 22 16 55 53 108
completed  
in 2015
Total 64 60 53 30 117 90 207
Training courses and seminars conducted in the different hubs totaled 243 
and 110, respectively. Table 2 shows the breakdown by hub/region. Training topics covered the four major research themes: biotechnology and crop Researchers 
improvement, natural resource management, plant production and health, and inspecting cassava 
plants. Photo by IITA.
Table 2. Summary for training and seminars, 2015. social science and agribusiness, and other topics such as monitoring and evaluation, 
Hub Training (no.) Seminars (no.) gender, research methods, field trials and data collection and management, 
extension, safe handling of chemicals, value chains, production, planting 
Central Africa 43 25 technologies and practices, health and nutrition, marketing collaboration, technical 
East Africa 46 54 and financial reporting, team building, and science writing.
Southern Africa 16 17 Seminar presentations in the different hubs featured topics such as CGIAR 
Research Programs, grant policies and priorities, monitoring and evaluation, 
West Africa 138 14 bioinformatics, ICT, partnerships, DSpace/CG Space, ICT, communication, 
243 110 gender, administration, food security, proposal development, and tablet-
based data collection and management,  among others.
Training and Seminars 61
Effective Project Administration
62
IITA’s success depends largely on our partnerships, hence, external 1&2 funds with a separate agreement), 49 were window 3 projects, and 
capacity building of national partners is very important to IITA. Over 141 were bilateral projects.
the years, IITA has been working with partners to achieve this. Last 
year staff from the Project Administration Office (PAO) participated in Figure 1 shows the allocation of the 2015 projects (windows 1, 2, 
several launching meetings or annual project meetings to train and 3 and bilateral) under disciplines or research themes. The largest 
work with the partners on project administration and reporting, and proportion of projects falls under Plant Production and Health 
visited some partners who needed capacity development in these (32%), followed by Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (28%). 
areas. Social Science and Agribusiness make up 25%, and Natural Resource 
Management, 15%. 
There has been a progressive growth in large projects over the last 
years, increasing the number of IITA subcontractors or partners, 
as under larger projects there is more cooperation with partners.  
The subcontract agreements issued to partners under the projects 
increased almost 3 times from 248 in 2011 to 703 in 2015. Some 
partners are subcontracted under several projects, but the number of 
partners also increased substantially, from 176 in 2011 to 455 in 2015.
PAO, being the focal point for the CGIAR Intellectual Assets (IA), is also 
responsible for IA compliance. A list of 108 project-related agreements 
and 48 memoranda of understanding and other non-project related 
agreements signed in 2015 by IITA was reviewed for their compliance 
by our IP consultant, who concluded that all signed agreements 
complied with the IA principles. Aflasafe and NoduMax registration 
was reported, but in 2015 IITA did not sign any Limited Exclusivity or Figure 1. Allocation of projects per discipline Figure 2. Allocation of projects by hub for 2015. 
Restricted Use Agreements. In November 2015, during R4D week, PAO for 2015.
organized IA and Open Access (OA) quizzes during the lunch-time 
seminars, to create more awareness among staff. These quizzes were NRM = Natural Resource Management 
lively occasions, with the active participation of quiz contestants and PPH = Plant Production and Health 
the audience. SSA = Social Science and Agribusiness 
GI = Biotechnology and Genetic 
Improvement
In 2015, IITA also started an IP Register. The purpose of this register is for 
IITA to have a better understanding of the IA that is part of—or generated 
by—projects. Knowing our IA is increasingly important to donors, and Figure 2 gives the distribution of the 2015 projects (windows 1, 2, 3 
hopefully this register will be a fairly easy way of capturing it. and bilateral) under the four hubs. Almost half of the projects (49%) fall 
under the Western Africa Hub, followed by Eastern Africa (24%), with 
In 2015 PAO administered a total of 210 projects. Of those, 9 were the the least projects allocated to Central and Southern Africa, with 14% 
CRP projects and 11 were CRP additional/related projects (windows each. 
63
Publications
64
Struthers, R., Ivanova, A., Tits, L. A., Swennen, R. & Coppin, P. 2015. 
In 2015, IITA scientists published 154 publications in peer-reviewed, 
Thomson-indexed journals. Selected articles from the different hubs are Thermal infrared imaging of the temporal variability in stomatal 
presented here by research theme. conductance for fruit trees. International Journal of Applied Earth 
Observation and Geoinformation, 39. 9—17. 
Natural resource management
Craparo, A.*, Van Asten, P., Laderach, P., Jassogne, L. & Grab, S.* 2015. Coffea Plant breeding and biotechnology
arabica yields decline in Tanzania due to climate change: global Abberton, M., Batley, J., Bentley, A., Bryant, J., Cai, H., Cockram, J., Costa de 
implications. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 207. 1—10. Oliveira, A.*, Cseke, L.J., Dempewolf, H., De Pace, C., Edwards, D., Gepts, 
Giller, K., Andersson, J.A., Corbeels, M., Kirkegaard, J., Mortensen, D., Erenstein, P., Greenland, A., Hall, A., Henry, R., Hori, K., Howe, G.T., Hughes, S., 
O. & Vanlauwe, B. 2015. Beyond conservation agriculture. Frontiers in Humphreys, M.W., Lightfoot, D., Marshall, A., Mayes, S.*, Nguyen, H.T., 
Plant Science, 6. 1— 16. Ogbonnaya, F.C., Ortiz, R., Paterson, A.H., Tuberosa, R., Valliyodan, B., 
Varshney, R.K. & Yano, M. 2015. Global agricultural intensification 
Hernandez, R.R., Debenport, S. J., Leewis, M.-C., Ndoye, F.*, Nkenmogne, during climate change: a role for genomics.  Plant Biotechnology 
I.E.K.*, Soumare, A.*, Thuita, M., Gueye, M.*, Miambi, E., Chapuis-Lardy, Journal, 1—4. 
L.*, Diedhiou, I.* & Dick, R.P. 2015. The native shrub, Piliostigma 
reticulatum, as an ecological "resource island" for mango trees in Atkinson, H. J., Roderick, H. & Tripathi, L.  2015. Africa needs streamlined 
the Sahel. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 204. 51—61. regulation to support the deployment of GM crops. Trends in 
Biotechnology, 33. 433—435. 
Kintche, K., Guibert, H., Sogbedji, J.M.*, Leveque, J., Bonfoh, B.* & Tittonell, 
P. 2015. Long-term mineral fertiliser use and maize residue Cizkova, J., Hribova, E., Christelova, P., Van den Houwe, I., Hakkinen, M., 
incorporation do not compensate for carbon and nutrient losses Roux, N., Swennen, R. & Dolezel, J.  2015. Molecular and cytogenetic 
from a ferralsol under continuous maize-cotton cropping. Field characterization of wild Musa species. PLoS ONE, 10. 1—19. 
Crops Research, 184. 192—200. De Vega, J.J., Ayling, S., Hegarty, M., Kudrna, D., Goicoechea, J.L., Ergon, A., 
Ngo-Mbogba, M.*, Yemefack, M. & Nyeck, B.* 2015. Assessing soil quality Rognli, O., Jones, C., Swain, M., Geurts, R., Lang, C., Mayer, K.F., Rossner, S., 
under different land cover types within shifting agriculture in Yates, S., Webb, K.J., Donnison, L.S., Oldroyd, G.E., Wing, R., Caccamo, M., 
south Cameroon. Soil and Tillage Research, 150. 124—131. Powell, W., Abberton, M. & Skot, L. 2015. Red clover (Trifolium pratense 
L.) draft genome provides a platform for trait improvement. 
Norgrove, L. & Hauser, S. 2015. Biophysical criteria used by farmers for Scientific Reports,  1—10. 
fallow selection in West and Central Africa. Ecological Indicators, 
1—7. Duc, G., Agrama, H., Bao, S., Berger, J., Bourion, V., De Ron, A. M., Gowda, C.L.L., 
Mikic, A. *., Millot, D., Singh, K.B., Tullu, A., Vandenberg, A., Patto, M.C.V., 
Paul, B.K., Vanlauwe, B., Hoogmoed, M., Hurisso, T.T., Ndabamenye, T.*, Warkentin, T. & Zong, X. 2015. Breeding annual grain legumes for 
Terano, Y., Six, J., Ayuke, F.* & Pulleman, M.M. 2015. Exclusion of soil sustainable agriculture: new methods to approach complex traits 
macrofauna did not affect soil quality but increased crop yields in and target new cultivar ideotypes. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 
a sub-humid tropical maize-based system. Agriculture, Ecosystems 34. 381—411. 
and Environment, 208. 75—85. 
Dwivedi, S.L., Britt, A.B., Tripathi, L., Sharma, S., Upadhyaya, H. & Ortiz, R. 
Rutting, T., Cizungu-Ntaboba, L.*, Roobroeck, D., Bauters, M., Huygens, D. & 2015. Haploids: constraints and opportunities in plant breeding. 
Boeckx, P. 2015. Leaky nitrogen cycle in pristine African montane Biotechnology Advances, 33. 812—829. 
rainforest soil. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 29. 1754—1762. 
65
International Cassava Genetic Map Consortium, (., Alaba, O.A., Bredeson, Tripathi, L., Babirye, A., Roderick, H., Tripathi, J., Changa, C.*, Urwin, P. E., 
J.V., Egesi, C.N.*, Esuma, W.*, Ezenwaka, L.*, Ferguson, M., Ha, C.M., Hall, Tushemereirwe, W.K.*, Coyne, D. & Atkinson, H J.  2015. Field resistance 
M., Herselman, L.*, Ikpan, A., Kafiriti, E.*, Kanju, E., Kapinga, F.*, Karugu, of transgenic plantain to nematodes has potential for future 
A., Kawuki, R.*, Kimata, B.., Kimurto, P.*. Kulakow, P., Kulembeka, H.*, African food security. Scientific Reports, 5. 1—10. 
Kusolwa, P.*, Lyons, J. B., Masumba, E.*, van de Merwe, A.*, Mkamilo, Tripathi, J., Oduor, R.O. & Tripathi, L. 2015. A high-throughput regeneration 
G.*, Myburg, A.A.*, Nwaogu, A.*, Nzuki, I. *., Olasanmi, B.*, Okogbenin, and transformation platform for production of genetically 
E.*, Owuoche, J.O.*, Pariyo, A.*, Prochnik, S., Rabbi, I. Y., Rokhsar, D.S., modified banana. Frontiers in Plant Science, 6. 1—13. 
Rounsley, S., Salum, K.*, Shuaibu, K.S.*, Sichalwe, C.* & Stephen, 
Yoneyama, K., Arakawa, R., Ishimoto, K., Kim, H.I., Kisugi, T., Xie, X., Nomura, T., 
M.* 2015. High-resolution linkage map and chromosome-scale 
Kanampiu, F., Yokota, T., Ezawa, T. & Yoneyama Koichi. 2015. Difference 
genome assembly for cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) from 10 
in Striga-susceptibility is reflected in strigolactone secretion 
populations. G3: Genes Genomes Genetics, 5. 133—144. 
profile, but not in compatibility and host preference in Arbuscular 
Kole, C.*, Muthamilarasan, M. *., Henry, R., Edwards, D., Sharma, R.*, Abberton, mycorrhizal symbiosis in two maize cultivars. New Phytologist, 206. 
M., Batley, J., Bentley, A., Blakeney, M., Bryant, J., Cai, H., Cakir, M., Cseke, 983—989. 
L.J., Cockram, J., Costa de Oliveira, A.*, De Pace, C., Dempewolf, H., Ellison, 
Vanhove, A., Vermaelen, W., Swennen, R. & Carpentier, S. 2015. A look behind 
S., Gepts, P., Greenland, A., Hall, A., Hori, K., Hughes, S., Humphreys, 
the screens: characterization of the HSP70 family during osmotic 
M.W., Lorizzo, M., Ismail, A.M., Marshall, A., Mayes, S.*, Nguyen, H.T., 
stress in a non-model crop. Journal of Proteomics, 119. 10—20. 
Ogbonnaya, F.C., Ortiz, R., Paterson, A.H., Simon, P. W., Tohme, T., 
Tuberosa, R., Valliyodan, B., Varshney, R.K., Wullschleger, S.D., Yano, M. Plant production and health
& Prasad, M.* 2015. Application of genomics-assisted breeding Bennett, K.L., Linton, Y., Shija, F., Kaddumukasa, M.*, Djouaka, R.F., Misinzo, G.*, 
for generation of climate resilient crops: progress and prospects. Lutwama, J.*, Huang, Y., Mitchell, L.B., Richards, M.*, Tossou, E. & Walton, 
Frontiers in Plant Science, 1—16. C. 2015. Molecular differentiation of the African yellow fever vector 
Nair, S.K., Babu, R., Magorokosho, C., Mahuku, G., Semagn, K., Beyene, Y., Aedes bromeliae (Diptera: Culicidae) from its sympatric nonvector 
Das, B., Makumbi, D. +., Kumar, P. L., Olsen, M. & Boddupalli, P.M. 2015. sister species, Aedes lilii. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 9. 1—19. 
Fine mapping of Msv1, a major QTL for resistance to maize streak Diame, L.*, Blatrix, R., Grechi, I., Sane, C.A.*, Vayssieres, J., De Bon, H. & 
virus leads to development of production markers for breeding Diarra, K.*  2015. Relations between the design and management 
pipelines. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 128(9). 1839—1854. of Senegalese orchards and ant diversity and community 
Nyaboga, E., Njiru, J. & Tripathi, L. 2015. Factors influencing somatic composition.  Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 212. 94—105. 
embryogenesis, regeneration, and Agrobacterium-mediated Kumar, P.L., Selvarajan, R.*, Iskra-Caruana, M.-L., Chabannes, M. & Hanna, R. 
transformation of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) cultivar 2015. Biology, etiology, and control of virus diseases of banana and 
TME14. Frontiers in Plant Science, 6. 411. plantain. Advances in Virus Research, 91. 229—269. 
Saski, C.A., Bhattacharjee, R., Scheffler, B.E. & Asiedu, R. 2015. Genomic Legg, J., Kumar, P.L., Makeshkumar, T.*, Tripathi, L., Ferguson, M., Kanju, E., 
resources for water yam (Dioscorea alata L.): analyses of EST Ntawuruhunga, P. & Cuellar, W.  2015. Cassava virus diseases: biology, 
sequences, De Novo sequencing and GBS libraries. PLoS ONE, 10(7). epidemiology, and management. Advances in Virus Research, 91. 85— 
1—14. 142. 
66
Mahuku, G., Lockhart, B., Wanjala, B.*, Jones, M., Kimunye, J.N., Stewart, L.R., Manda, J., Alene, A., Gardebroek, C., Kassie, M. & Tembo, G.* 2015. Adoption 
Cassone, B.J., Sevgan, S., Nyasani, J.O., Kusia, E., Kumar, P.L., Niblett, C.L., and impacts of sustainable agricultural practices on maize yields 
Kiggundu, A.*, Asea, G.*, Pappu, H.R., Wangai, A.*, Prasanna, B.M. & and incomes: evidence from rural Zambia. Journal of Agricultural 
Redinbaugh, M.G. 2015. Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN), an emerging Economics, 67. 130—153. 
threat to maize-based food security in sub-Saharan Africa. Manda, J., Gardebroek, C., Khonje, M.G., Alene, A.D., Mutenje, M., Kassie, 
Phytopathology, 105(7). 956—965. M. 2015. Determinants of child nutritional status in the eastern 
Patil, B.L.* & Kumar, P.L. 2015. Pigeonpea sterility mosaic virus: a legume- province of Zambia: the role of improved maize varieties, Food 
infecting Emaravirus from South Asia. Molecular Pathology, 16(8). Security. DOI 10.1007/s12571-015-0541-y.  
775—786. Schut, M. & Florin, M.J.  2015. The policy and practice of sustainable 
Patil, B.L.*, Legg, J., Kanju, E. & Fauquet, C. 2015. Cassava brown streak biofuels: between global frameworks and local heterogeneity - 
disease: a threat to food security in Africa. Journal of General Virology, the case of food security in Mozambique. Biomass and Bioenergy, 72. 
96. 956—968. 123—135. 
Social science and agribusiness Schut, M., Klerkx, L., Rodenburg, J., Kayeke, J.*, Hinnou, L.C.*, Raboanarielina, 
C.M., Adegbola, P.Y.*, Van Ast, A. & Bastiaans, L. 2015. RAAIS: Rapid 
Ainembabazi, J.H., Tripathi, L., Rusike, J.*, Abdoulaye, T. & Manyong, V. 2015. 
Appraisal of Agricultural Innovation Systems (Part I); a diagnostic 
Ex-ante economic impact assessment of genetically modified 
tool for integrated analysis of complex problems and innovation 
banana resistant to Xanthomonas wilt in the great lakes region of 
capacity. Agricultural Systems, 132. 1—11. 
Africa. PLoS ONE, 10. 1—21. 
Schut, M., Rodenburg, J., Klerkx, L., Kayeke, J.*, Van Ast, A. & Bastiaans, L. 2015. 
Awotide, B.*, Alene, A., Abdoulaye, T. & Manyong, V. 2015. Impact of 
RAAIS: Rapid Appraisal of Agricultural Innovation Systems (Part II); 
agricultural technology adoption on asset ownership: the case of 
integrated analysis of parasitic weed problems in rice in Tanzania. 
improved cassava varieties in Nigeria. Food Security, 7. 1239—1258. 
Agricultural Systems, 132. 12—24. 
De Moura, F.F., Moursi, M., Lubowa, A., Ha, B., Boy, E., Oguntona, B.E.*, Sanusi, 
R.* & Maziya-Dixon, B. 2015. Cassava intake and vitamin A status 
among women and preschool children in Akwa-Ibom, Nigeria. * indicates author with affiliation in a developing country institution.
PLoS ONE, 10. 1—14. 
Gbegbelegbe, S.D., Lowenberg-DeBoer, J., Adeoti, R., Lusk, J. and Coulibaly, 
O. 2015. The estimated ex ante economic impact of Bt cowpea in 
Niger, Benin and Northern Nigeria. Agricultural Economics, 46: 563—
577. doi: 10.1111/agec.12182 
Khonje, M., Manda, J., Alene, A. & Kassie, M. 2015. Analysis of adoption 
and impacts of improved maize varieties in Eastern Zambia. World 
Development, 66. 695—706. 
67
Our Finances and Supporters
68
Funding overview
Funding for 2015 was $107.315 million, of which 99.3% came from 
CGIAR investors and 0.7% from other sources. (net of indirect cost 
recovery of $10.711 million), Expenditures were $106.422 million of 
which 91.1% was used for program expenses and 8.9% for management 
and general expenses.
Figure 1 shows the governments and agencies that provided the 
largest share of our funding in 2014 and 2015 (top 10 donors).
IITA`s 2015 total budget-cum-total expenditure are reflected in Figure 
2 while 2015 investment by CGIAR Research Program is shown in Figure 
3.
Table 1 lists the investments by CGIAR Research Program, whereas Table 2 
shows financial performance indicators for 2015. The list of investors are 
shown on Table 3.
05 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
An experimental cowpea field in IITA, Ibadan. Figure 1. Funding: top 10 donors, 2014 and 2015.
69
s 
s 
Figure 2. 2015 investment by CRP budget. Figure 3. 2015 investment by CRP expense. 
Table 1. 2015 Investment by CGIAR Research Programs.
Budget ($`000) Actual expenses ($`000)
CRP title W1/W2 W3 / Bilateral Total W1/W2 W3 / Bilateral Total
Project Project
1.2: Humid Tropics 9,311  24,661 33,972 9,810  16,518 26,328
2: Policies, Institutions & Markets 300  356 656 300  361 661
3.2: Maize 1,594  13,971 15,565 1,594  12,698 14,292
3.4: Roots, Tubers & Bananas 2,813  31,066 33,879 4,577  24,143 28,720
3.5: Grain Legumes 806  11,803 12,609 806  11,304 12,110
4: Nutrition and Health 1,277  8,159 9,436 1,277  7,198 8,475
5: Water, Land & Ecosystems 120  6,321 6,441 120  6,565 6,685
7: Climate Change (CCAFS) 0  2,693 2,693 1,160  926 2,086
8A: Genebanks 1,018  999 2,017 1,036  886 1,922
CRP 17,239 100,029 117,268 20,680 80,599 101,279
Unrestricted /NCRP 549  4,838 5,387 684  4,459 5,143
17,788 104,867 122,655 21,364 85,058 106,422
1  Includes CRP1.2 Windows 1&2 Partners’ expenditures (2015: 5.026 M and 2014: $8.909 M) per CGIAR Advisory Note
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Table 2. Performance indicators: Financial health.  Table 3. List of IITA investors.   
2014 2015
2014 2015 Investor      (expressed in US$ thousands)
African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) 44  16 
Short-term Solvency (or African Development Bank 14,599  16,660 
Liquidity)  37 days  39 days AGRA 752  819 
Austria 13  92 
Belgium 1,890  1,409 
Long-term Financial Stability Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 11,331  15,157 
(adequacy of Reserves)  37 days  39 days BMZ, Germany 1,124  321 
California University 159 183
Catholic Relief Services 88  12 
CIMMYT 1,999  2,361 
Indirect Cost Rates  18.61% 14.96% CORAF/WECARD  - 77
Commission of the European Communities 1,279  727 
Common Fund for Commodities 822  91 
Cash Management on Cornell University 851  999 
Restricted Operations   0.30 0.33 Consortium of IAR Centers 33,583  20,680 
Delloite Consulting LLP 506  1,090 
Denmark 24  6 
Audit Opinion Unqualified / Clean Bill DDPSC  -  177 
 of Financial Health DRC 1,011  - 
FARA 60 
Food and Agriculture Organization 91  72 
France 330 - 
GIZ 995  2,369 
Global Crop Diversity Trust (GCDT) 173  235 
ICIPE 13  - 
ICRISAT 1,287  670 
Illinois University 168 328
International Fund for Agricultural Development 1,200  - 
IFPRI 552  2,001 
ILRI 267 
Ireland 43  - 
Japan 1,196  936 
Leventis Foundation 75  - 
Meridian Institute  -  657 
Michigan State University 368 
Netherlands 1,262  900 
Niger 352  269 
Nigeria 4,656  2,453 
Purdue University 292  411 
Sierra Leone 238  207 
Sweden 1,054  65 
Switzerland 231  604 
United States Agency for International Development 15,297  20,436 
Wageningen University 4,306  4,884 
World Bank - - 
Miscellaneous projects 3,831  5,501 
Challenge Programs 986  1,989 
Grand Total 108,703 106,559
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Board of Trustees
72
Bruce Coulman, Chair John Pickett Lalitha Vaidyanathan
Professor and Head of the Plant Sciences Professor, CBE, DSc, FRS Managing Director, FSG
Department Michael Elliott Distinguished 3421 Broderick Street, Apt #1,
College of Agriculture and Bioresources, Research Fellow San Francisco, CA 94123, USA
University of Saskatchewan Rothamstead Research 
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Harpenden, United Kingdom Bill Cunningham
Chartered Accountant
Amos NamangaNgongi Sonny Echono 55 Trees Road
Chair, African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Permanent Secretary Mount Merrion
Partnership and Chairman of Kose Estates Federal Ministry of Agriculture Co Dublin, Ireland
P.O. Box 43 and Rural Development
Limbe, Cameroon Area Eleven, Garki PMB 135, Abuja Nteranya Sanginga
Director General 
Tom Medlycott Josephine Okot IITA, Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria
Director of Internal Audit Managing Director 
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Victoria Seeds Ltd
Dublin 2, Ireland P.O. Box 11913, Kampala
Roel Merckx Olusola Oyewole
Professor, Soil Fertility Vice-Chancellor
Faculty of Bio-Science Engineering and Head University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
Department of Earth and Environmental P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta 
Sciences Ogun State
Katholieke Universiteit Nigeria 
Leuven, Belgium
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Headquarters and Hubs
74
Headquarters and Hubs
Headquarters and Western Africa Hub Stations  IITA-Ghana (Tamale) IITA-Tanzania (Arusha)
PMB 5320, Oyo Road, Ibadan 200001 Near Tamale Sport Stadium c/o AVRDC- The World Vegetable Centre
Oyo State, Nigeria IITA-Benin 1st Road, Off Sagnarigu Main Rd. P.O. Box 10, Duluti, Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +234 2 7517472 | USA Tel: +1 201 6336094 | 08 BP 0932 Tri Postal P.O. Box TL 6, Tamale-Ghana Tel:  +255 27 255 3051
Fax: +44 208 7113786 Cotonou, Republic of Benin Tel: +233 3720 28913
+229 64181414, +229 95961159  IITA
Central Africa Hub E-mail: iita-benin@cgiar.org IITA-Nigeria (Ibadan) c/o The Nelson Mandela African Institution 
IITA Central Africa Hub PMB 5320, Oyo Road, Ibadan 200001 for Science and Technology ( NM-AIST)
IITA, c/o icipe, P.O. Box 30772-00100 IITA-Burundi Oyo State, Nigeria P.O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania
Nairobi, Kenya P.M.B: 1893 Bujumbura-Burundi Tel: +234 2 7517472 | USA Tel: +1 201 6336094 | IITA-Tanzania (Dar es Salaam)
Tel: +254 20 8632900 Quartier Kabondo Fax: +44 208 7113786 Plot 25, Mikocheni Light Industrial Area
Avenue du 18 Septembre, 10 Mwenge Coca-Cola Road, Mikocheni B, PO 
IITA-DR Congo (Kalambo) +257 (0) 79 331024 IITA-Nigeria (Kano) Box 34441
Route Kavumu, Km 18, bifurcation Birava Sabo Bakin Zuwo Road Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Site UCB (Université Catholique de Bukavu), IITA-Cameroon P.M.B. 3112, Kano, Nigeria Tel: +255 22 2700092 | Fax: +255 22 2775021
Phone +243 999 78 82 78 | +243 979 30 22 03 Ecoregional Center, BP 2008 (Messa) Tel: +2348060522205, +2347034847459 E-mail: iita-tanzania@cgiar.org
Yaounde, Cameroon
Eastern Africa Hub Tel: 237 2 2237434, 22237522 IITA-Kenya (Nairobi) IITA-Uganda
IITA-Tanzania (Dar es Salaam) E-mail: iita-cameroon@cgiar.org Plant Biodiversity and Genomics Facility Plot 15, East Naguru Road
Plot 25, Mikocheni Light Industrial Area c/o International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) P.O.Box 7878
Mwenge Coca-Cola Road, Mikocheni B, PO Box 34441 IITA-Cote d’Ivoire P.O. Box 30709 – 00100, Nairobi, Kenya Kampala, Uganda
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 2pltx, 7eme Tranche Tel: +254 20 4223000 Tel: +256 (0) 414 285060/4
Tel: +255 22 2700092 | Fax: +255 22 2775021 Rue L54-27 E-mail: iita-kenya@cgiar.org E-mail: iita-uganda@iita-uganda.org
E-mail: iita-tanzania@cgiar.org B.P. 696 Abidjan 27, Cote d’Ivoire
Tel: 225 22 52 37 32 IITA-Liberia IITA-Zambia
Southern Africa Hub CARI Southern Africa Research and Administration 
IITA-Zambia IITA-DR Congo (Kinshasa) Suakoko, Bong County Hub (SARAH) Campus
Southern Africa Research and Administration Hub 4163, avenue Haut-Congo Liberia Plot 1458B, Ngwerere Road (5 km off Great 
(SARAH) Campus Quartier Revolution, Commune de la Gombe North Road and adjacent to ZamSeed Farms)
Plot 1458B, Ngwerere Road (5 km off Great North Road Kinshasa, Republique Democratique du Congo IITA-Malawi Chongwe District, Lusaka Province, Zambia
and adjacent to ZamSeed Farms) Tel: +243 990212603 Chitedze Research Station Tel: +260 211 840365 |  Fax: +260 211 285417 
Chongwe District, Lusaka Province, Zambia Email: admins@iitadrc.org Off-Mchinji Road PO Box 310142, Chelston
Tel: +260 211 840365 |  Fax: +260 211 285417 P.O. Box 30258 Lusaka, Zambia
PO Box 310142, Chelston IITA-DR Congo (Kalambo) Lilongwe 3, Malawi
Lusaka, Zambia Route Kavumu, Km 18, bifurcation Birava Tel: +265 (0)1 707 014/022, Fax: +265 (0)1 707 026
Site UCB (Université Catholique de Bukavu) Email: iita-malawi@cgiar.org
International Mailing Address Phone +243 999 78 82 78 | +243 979 30 22 03
IITA, 7th floor Grosvenor House IITA-Mozambique
125 High Street IITA-Ghana (Accra) P.O. Box 709, Nampula, Mozambique
Croydon CRO 9XP UK Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Tel: +258 2 6216381
INSTI Building E-mail: iita-mozambique@cgiar.org
Off Augustinho Neto Road
Airport Residential Area IITA-Sierra Leone
P.O. Box M32, Accra, Ghana SLARI Building, Tower Hill
Tel: + 233 303931 023 P.M.B. 134
E-mail: iita_ghana@cgiar.org Freetown, Sierra Leone
Headquarters and Hubs 75
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