iita’s approach to regional agricultural research - ylva hillbur

Regional approach to ag research

IITA – facts & figures

IITA in West Africa

3 new regional initiatives

IITA – facts & figures

Project sites

Regional hubs

Humid Forest

Cassava, yam, banana/plantain in WA and CA lowland

Cassava expansion in EA and SA

Humid Forest

Cassava, yam, banana/plantain in WA and CA lowland

Cassava expansion in EA and SA

Mid-altitude Savanna

Banana cropping systems

Mid-altitude Savanna

Banana cropping systems

Sahelian Drylands

Cereal, cowpea and livestock integration

Sahelian Drylands

Cereal, cowpea and livestock integration

Moist Savanna

Diversified maize-legume systems

Moist Savanna

Diversified maize-legume systems

Cross-cutting

High value cropsVegetables, fruit, cocoa

Cross-cutting

High value cropsVegetables, fruit, cocoa

IITA strategicentry points

Breeding programs

1100 employees180 scientists

NRM Biotech Social science Plant production

Humidtropics (28%)

MAIZE (10%)RTB (26%)

Grain Legumes(10%)

A4NH (9%)

WLE (6%)

CCAFS (3%) Genebanks (1%)

PIM (7%)

W12 + W3/bilateral = 103 million USDW12 = 24 million USD

CRP portfolio

IITA in West Africa

West Africa hub and HQ

Ibadan, Nigeria

Regional characteristics

Agriculture as major source of livelihood

Aged small-holder farmers relying on rain-fed production

Weak seed and planting material sector

Low levels of agro-input supply and use

Limited mechanization

Limited national investment in agriculture and ag research

Weak extension systems

Climate variability and climate change

Agroecological zones

Entry points

Humid Forest

Cassava, yam, banana/plantain in WA and CA lowland

Cassava expansion in EA and SA

Humid Forest

Cassava, yam, banana/plantain in WA and CA lowland

Cassava expansion in EA and SA

Sahelian Drylands

Cereal, cowpea and livestock integration

Sahelian Drylands

Cereal, cowpea and livestock integration

Moist Savanna

Diversified maize-legume systems

Moist Savanna

Diversified maize-legume systems

Cross-cutting

High value cropsVegetables, fruit, cocoa

Cross-cutting

High value cropsVegetables, fruit, cocoa

Presence on the ground

Humidtropics WA action areaTier 1

Africa RISING (USAID)Tier 2

Humidtropics WA action areaTier 1

CGIAR centersPrivate sector agenciesNARS and UniversitiesFarmers’ organizations e.g. FONG, AFAN, ROPPANGOs: e.g. Africare, Catholic Relief Services, SNV, WVI

Regional/sub-regional agenciesCORAF/WECARD - WAAPP - National Centers of Specialization

CRI, Ghana: root and tuber crops ISRA/CERAAS, Senegal: drought-tolerant cerealsCNRA, Côte d'Ivoire: banana and plantain INRAB, Benin: maize INERA, Burkina Faso: vegetables

Institutional Environment

West Africa Genomics and Biotech platform

Bioscience

Genebank (Cryo-funding for clonal crops; pre-breeding)

Assessment of breeding programs - raise efficiency

Cassavabase (open crop database)

Regional IBP hub – West Africa

Strengthened bioinformatics capacity

Strengthened data management capacity

Regional bioinformatics capacity development

3 new regional initiatives

1. Cotonou Center for climate change and biotic stresses CORAF, INRAB, Africa Rice, Bioversity, CIRAD, IITA

“Agropolis”

Regional center for research and capacity development

Francophone countries

Initial workshop, May 5-7, 2014

Benin Ghana

Burkina Faso Guinea

Cap Verde Mali

Cameroon Niger

CAR Nigeria

Chad Senegal

Congo Republic Sierra Leone

Cote d’Ivoire The Gambia

Democratic Republic Congo Togo

NARS participants

Highlights

•New and emerging biotic stresses

•Regional importance of biotic stresses

•List of priority problems, capacity and gaps

•Limited capacities in diagnosis

•Lack of concerted approach to common problems

•Need for a coordinating body

Action plan

•Permanent coordinating structure

•Center strategy and vision (Nov 2014)

•Fund raising

•Training curriculum in close partnership with WCA Universities

•Office and training space (accommodation)

•Other institutions (icipe, AVRDC, CCAFS, etc.)

2. Youth Agripreneurs

2. IITA Youth Agripreneurs

2. IITA Youth Agripreneurs IFAD-funded pilot

BSc holders – different disciplines

Gender-balanced group

Mentoring – resource intensive

Agriculture as livelihood/business opportunity

Agripreneurial training across the value chain

Science-based technologies (quality seed)

Capacity development of other youth

Nigeria, Tanzania

2. Youth agripreneurs Meeting in Ibadan in June 2014

AfDB + NARS leaders SSA countries

Concept note “ENABLE Youth in Africa”

IITA model + AGRA model – more rural youth

Long and short term training courses

Communication networks

Gender equity

Supportive policies and finances/credit

3. IITA BIP

3 new regional initiatives

Bridge between research and dissemination

IITA Business Incubation Platform - BIP

3 new regional initiatives

Bridge between research and dissemination

IITA Business Incubation Platform - BIP

Align research and market needsIncrease visibilityTraining and technology transferManage PPPAttract funding New knowledge

3. BIP

GoSeed

Nodumax

Aflasafe

Agriserve

crop value chain

AFLASAFENodumaxGOSEED

farmhouseholds

inputproducts

production &management

postharvesthandling

product marketing & processing

sales &consumption

BIP Phase 1 incubation

IITA core competency

AGRISERVE Training & Advisory Consultancies/ Youth in Agribusiness

Crop Improvement & Plant Health &

Production

Natural Resource Management

Social Science & Agribusiness

training & backstopping

foundation seed & seed system

development

legume inoculants & BNF services

Aspergillus displacement& food safety mechanisms

ID clients test & refine adoption packages product safety improve profits brand & promote

Linking IITA BIP to R4D

GoSeed

Most farmers in Nigeria use seeds from informal sources – saved seeds, from friends, relations, other farmers

Unreliable demand – limited supply of quality seed

MoA + Nigerian seed companies – consultative event

GoSeedCrop Area

cultivated (Ha)

Certified seed req. (MT)

Foundation seed req. (MT)

Breeder seed req (MT)

% Available (range)

Maize OPV 2,335,102 46,702 2,335 116.70 9.4 - 11

Maize Hybrid

1,000,758 15,011 1,001 66.72 9.4 - 11

Soybean 608,650 30,433 1,268 63.4 4.8 - 30

Cowpea 3,200,000 96,000 2,880 108 0 – 4.8

GoSeedKey: Gap in breeder and foundation seeds supply must be filled to enhance quality certified seeds availability to farmers

GoSeedKey: Gap in breeder and foundation seeds supply must be filled to enhance quality certified seeds availability to farmers

GOSEED WILL PRODUCE AND SELL BREEDER AND FOUNDATION SEEDS TO SEED COMPANIES – start Jan 2015

MoA/Nigeria Agricultural Transformation Agenda, WAAPP

Maize, cowpea, soybean, cassava

NodumaxFactory

Design and

Workstations

Nodumax

BMGF (N2Africa)

Rhizobium inoculant

Increased soybean production

Increased biological N-fixation

Challenges – quality and quantity

2 batches of good quality…!

Aflasafe

Aflasafe

Fungal strains that outcompete aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus strains

USAID, BMGF

CRPs MAIZE, A4NH

Aflasafe Agresults (World bank)

Creating demand for a product with ‘invisible’ effect

BIP Aflasafe sells to partners (e.g. Doreopartners) who market to farmers

Agresults – advocacy and capacity dev for PREMIUM price for aflasafe maize/groundnut (babyfood producers, poultry industry, farmers themselves)

Agresults – end product check – if aflasafe has been applied -> BONUS to partners

2nd year – partners have doubled-tripled the number of farmers they work with

Aflasafe

Produced on demand for: Nigeria, Zambia, Mozambique, Ghana, Kenya, Burkina FasoSetting up small scale plants in Senegal

3. BIP

GoSeed

Nodumax

Aflasafe

Agriserve

IITA exit –> private sector3-5 years

Plants for other purposes